BAY VILLAGE, Ohio — It was a pumpkin party Thursday morning at Cahoon Park in Bay Village. But it wasn't about Halloween or Thanksgiving as the 6th grade students were competing in the 6th annual Punkin Chunkin STEM event -- all in the name of science.
"This is really like bringing those boring laws of physics to life," said Bay Village Middle School Principal Sean McAndrews.
The students have been preparing for weeks, using STEM skills to both design and engineer their pumpkin-launching devices.
"They come up with teams and then they can pick a couple different categories. For example, the slingshot or catapult," McAndrews said.
The project takes about three weeks. Then, with the help of family members and friends, they put their scientific methods to the test.
"They brainstormed and they worked together as a team," Jen Lyons, a parent, said of her daughter's team. "They weren't afraid to get dirty, I'll tell you that."
The community event was packed with physics, parents and pumpkins. And, a great reminder that learning can be fun.
"Our kids, day in and day out, they come to school, they do what they're supposed to do. And this is kind of like a little learning, but also a little reward for them that they get to spend a day outside putting science theories to the test," McAndrews said.