RACINE, OH – The inaugural Bungee Drop Invitational leaped into action at Southern High School, where math teacher Amanda Rinaldi turned a classroom project into the ultimate bungee jumping arena!
This creative math project revolved around rubber bands, action figures, and the challenge of designing and constructing the most thrilling bungee cord for an epic drop. Students rolled up their sleeves, donned their thinking caps, and dove headfirst into plotting their data and crafting mathematical equations to predict the number of rubber bands needed for their daring escapades.
Adding a sprinkle of humor, part of the assignment included a funny disclaimer: “Your doll/action figure is participating at their own risk. The organizers, sponsors, or judges are in no way shape, or form liable for any injury incurred during this event. However, suppose your doll/action figure faces unfortunate mishaps due to mathematical blunders or a lack of careful calculations by the bungee builders. In that case, those builders are responsible for any consequences and possible loss of educational resources suffered by the event organizers!”
On Thursday, December 5, 2024, excitement soared as teams performed their test drops, sending their bungee contraptions flying over the staircase near the SHS gym. Tension filled the air as students below skillfully maneuvered to align the drop zones, while Ms. Rinaldi captured all the thrilling moments in exhilarating slow motion.
With bated breath, everyone watched and cheered as each bungee creation plummeted. Students were allowed to tweak their designs by adding or removing rubber bands, eager for that perfect drop!
“It was an absolute blast watching students apply math in such a hands-on way,” Rinaldi enthused. “They poured their hearts into figuring out how the bungee cord responds under pressure and how to calculate energy conversions during their daring jumps—all for the sake of their beloved toy participants!”
Ms. Rinaldi proudly announced the contest winners: Kallie Roush, Cristian Ramirez, and Payton Barber. This group soared above the rest, crafting the best bungee jump, and showcasing their incredible skills through getting the closest to the floor without injuring their dinosaur.
Everyone left with smiles, laughter, and a newfound appreciation for the wonders of math in action!
