CREATE-A-TREE COMPETITION

A fun practical, problem-solving competition for Primary school children to take part in during National Science and Engineering Week 2012

The Challenge:

• ‘Create’ a tree out of only 4 sheets of A4 paper (from your recycling crate)
• Use only scissors and engineering skills to create your tree
• No glue, sticky tape, staples or paper clips to be used
• Take no longer than an hour, including practicing techniques
• Recycle your trees at the end of the competition

How to manage the competition in your school:
• Register your interest in taking part in the competition by emailing SETPOINT Herts at admin@setpointherts.org.uk  
  with ‘Create a Tree 2012’ in the subject line.
• Organise each class into teams (or you could do the challenge in a breakfast, after school or Science club).
• Run the competition during National Science and Engineering Week 2012.
• Choose a winner from each class; you can base your choice on tallest, most creative, most life-like and so on.
• Select an overall winner from the class, key stage or entire school.
• Email a photograph of the winning tree to admin@setpointherts.org.uk by the end of March 2012 to enter the
  competition.

Winning schools will receive Garden Centre Gift Vouchers to purchase real live small trees to plant in their grounds, providing opportunities to track their growth and study their ecology for many years to come.

What are the benefits for your school?
• Raises awareness of recycling and the importance of trees in the environment.
• Raises the profile of National Science and Engineering Week 2012.
• Encourages creative thinking.
• Develops engineering and technology skills.
• Develop independent learning.
• Activity could be used as part of your CREST* Investigators awards (contact us for more information)

How to Register
Register your interest by emailing admin@setpointherts.org.uk with ‘Create a Tree Competition 2012’ in the subject line and stating the name of the teacher leading the competition in the message.

We have some great hints and tips on how to build a paper tree, and we can send these to you electronically if you register by email. Alternatively, call the SETPOINT office on 01438 755075

We will email you to remind you to hold your competition during National Science and Engineering Week 2012, and again to send in your entries by the deadline so your school will be included in the judging.

Judging will take place in the first week in April and winners will be notified and announced on our website.