Odyssey of the Mind - The Runaway Train Problem

This was Pierce's second year of participating in Odyssey of the Mind.  Kids choose a problem, and then spend months trying to solve it with creativity and outside-the-box thinking.  This year his team did a problem where they had to build a runaway train, with obstacles, that propelled through a course.  It was very technical.

Pierce really wanted to be the conductor in their skit.  He practiced really hard for the part.  He was thrilled when he got it!  Here is a sign he made as one of their props:

Pierce doesn't seem to have any stage fright.  He spoke loud and clear as he scooted his train around the edge of the track (there was a second, smaller train that you can see along him that actually went along the track). 

Afterwards, the kids took the coaches around and explained how they built everything.  Pierce talked to the coaches for a long time. He likes to explain things.

Unfortunately, they did not place this year.  It was hard seeing all those crestfallen faces after they worked so hard.  But they did a great job, and it was all excellent practice for next year!