Villa's "Destination Imagination" Science and Engineering Team On Their Way To State Championships

Villa's 5th grade D.I. Team: Minola D., Jonah C., Mia L., and Cami H.

Amanda, with Villa Academy, would like to share the latest news from Villa Academy:

The  5th grade Destination Imagination (D.I.) team recently qualified for the Washington State championship after taking second place at regionals. They also received the prestigious Da Vinci Award for the most outstanding creative solution to the D.I. challenge, while Villa’s 6th grade D.I. team was presented with the Spirit Award.  

These were two of three special awards for which all 78 teams participating, ranging in age from elementary to high school, were eligible – quite an impressive showing for Villa Academy! 

Destination Imagination is a global competition in which student teams solve open-ended science or engineering based Challenges and present their solutions in performances at tournaments.  

The 5th grade D.I. team was challenged to create a structure from a list of 18 potential materials (cork, straws, corrugate cardboard, monofilament line, aluminum foil, etc.) that could withstand 300+ pounds of crushing pressure and torque forces. Following months of experimenting and refining ideas, the kids presented their solution in an 8-minute creative and structural performance that parodied the Cat in the Hat, written completely in rhyme.  

Learning through this creative process is what draws kids to D.I. “You think of things in a new way, use your imagination and come up with crazy ideas,” said team member Cami H. 

The 5th grade team will travel to Wenatchee on April 6 for the state tournament.