KidWind Challenge Rule Book
Reviewing the rule book is essential for teams to be prepared for a challenge. The rule book contains many helpful resources, it has way more than just a list of rules!
Click Here for Current Rulebooks
All rules and rubrics are subject to change as the competition develops. Registered participants will be notified of any changes we make.
Challenge Divisions
Wind Challenge
- Elementary School Division (4-5th grade)
- Middle School Division (6-8th grade)
- High School Division (9-12th grade)
Solar Design Challenge
- Middle School Division (4-8th grade)
- High School Division: (9-12th grade)
Team Project
Each team participating in the KidWind Challenge will design and build a small-scale wind turbine or solar structure.
Click here to visit Kidwind's website full of information on how to build your project.
For additional resources and advice on building your project, check out our YouTube channel, reach out to a VA Regional Kidwind Trainer, or attend a Kidwind Webinar. For a full list of coach resources, click here.
Presentation
Teams will deliver a presentation to the judges that highlights their design and development process. Reviewing the rubrics below is recommended to understand the scoring of these presentations.
Wind teams each have a presentation time of 10 minutes (15 minutes is slotted for each team for bumper time). About 7 minutes will be their presentation, 3 minutes will be questions from judges, then 5 minutes bumper time for entering/exiting.
Solar teams each have a presentation time of 15 minutes (20 minutes is slotted for each team for bumper time). About 7 minutes will be their presentation, 5 minutes will be a demonstration of their project, 3 minutes will be questions from judges, then 5 minutes bumper time for entering/exiting.
Documentation
Teams are expected to bring project documentation that outlines their design process, which is typically presented in the form of a notebook, poster board, or a digital presentation like PowerPoint. This documentation should include things like (but not limited to).
- Design Process: A detailed account of how the wind turbine or solar device was conceptualized, designed, and constructed.
- Testing and Iteration: Notes on testing procedures, adjustments made to improve performance, and results from various tests.
- Research and Learning: Documentation of research into renewable energy topics that informed the design.
This documentation is used during the team's presentation to judges.
Profile Sheets and Rubrics
Profile Sheets: Teams are asked to bring a completed profile sheet on the day of the competition to give to the judges during their presentation.
Rubrics: Below are the rubrics that judges use during presentations. Use these as a guide when practicing your presentation.
Knowledge Quiz
The KidWind Challenge is a well-rounded competition with technical aspects and a thorough judging portion. In addition, we also test the students on their general knowledge of wind and solar energy to ensure they understand the context within which we discuss these technologies. The knowledge quiz is a 15 point multiple-choice quiz that the team takes collaboratively on the day of the challenge.
Questions will cover some technical aspects of renewable energy technology and general questions about energy use and generation. The KidWind 10 Big Questions provide the basis for most questions generated for this quiz.
Instant Challenge
At the state level competition, teams will be participate in an Instant Challenge to test their teamwork. This Instant Challenge takes the place of the knowledge quiz in scoring. No preparation is required and all instructions will be provided.
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