M. O. P. S.

Course

Mobile
Outdoor
Problem
Solving
Created By Kids, For Kids.
SPARC Robotics

Our world class question is How can we help improve the way others learn problem
solving?
The definition of problem solving is taking something hard that needs to be done and figuring
out a way to do it.
Our solution would teach problem solving and have the added benefits of exercise,
getting outdoors, learning to cooperate as a team, and also having fun! We would do this by
building a Mobile Outdoor Problem Solving Challenge Course (M.O.P.S). Problem solving is
important to learn because everybody needs to know how to problem solve, it helps us think
better. Almost every job includes problem solving, from Doctors and Lawyers to Truck Drivers.
Problem solving also helps in school with subjects such as math, social studies and science.
We wanted to get kids outside to learn and to counteract the increase in childhood
disorders such as obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), and depression. In addition, sending kids outside improves test scores and
grade point averages. It also develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision
making. Yet sending kids outside is really hard, because computers, television, video games,
and phones are always competing for their time. Also, parents have many fears for the safety of
their child including traffic, strangers, snakes, and accidents.
We think the best places for building our challenge course will be in a schoolyard or park,
but you could build it anywhere, even in your backyard (that is what we did). We designed our
challenge course so it will be fast, easy, and very efficient to build. We also used very
inexpensive materials so it is really cheap to build. The main thing that is different about our
challenge course from others is that it is cheap, efficient, and mobile. All the supplies and
challenges you need can fit in the back of a pickup truck or minivan.
A school field trip from Paducah to Land Between the Lakes' Brandon Spring Group
Center's challenge course costs around $900 for two school buses and 10 dollars per student. A
typical school bus holds 54 students so that is $1,080 just for the students. All in all, a typical
field trip to a challenge course is around $2,000 for 2 hours on the challenge course. With our
M.O.P.S challenge course you can set it up for just $208.11 which means you save $1,791.89
and you can use it over and over again as long as you want, plus you can move it around
anywhere you need.
You can learn and have fun at the same time with our M.O.P.S course. See our website
to see us doing our own challenge course at http://sparcroboticsky.weebly.com.

Materials List
The Wall:
Scaffolding 5 feet by 8 feet - $100
Plywood 5 feet by 8 feet - $19.98
Bolts and hardware to attach board to scaffolding $5.00
Total = $124.98
Build a Bridge:
Two boards, 2x6-6' long - $5.48 each
A few buckets - $3.00 each
Quickcrete 2, 60 lb. Bags - $2.98 each
Total = $19.92 with four buckets
Sky Lift:
Rope - $9.98
Pulley - $3.98
Bell - $5.00
Tree - free
Total = $18.96
Sorter:
A board, 2x12 inches, 12 feet long - $25.57
6 bricks, 62 cents each - $3.72
Total = $29.29
Swinger:
Boards for the steps - $4.98
Rope - $9.98
Total = $14.96
Total Price: = $208.11

Sky Lift
Objective:
To get your team to ring a cowbell at the top of the tree.
How to Build It:
1. Find a tree that has two sturdy branches (it can also go on a jungle
gym).
2. Tie the rope to one of the branches (or a bar).
3. Drill two holes in the board to sit on.
4. Thread the rope through the board.
5. Hang the pulley on the other tree branch (or the other bar).
6. Put the rope through the pulley and hang the cow bell.
Rules:
1. Everybody has to ring the bell.
2. Once you ring the cowbell you cannot help anymore.
Safety:
1. Do not let go while lifting!
2. If you are being lifted, hold on to the rope with at least one hand.
3. Do not stand up while being lifted.
4. Do not yank.
5. Do not stand under the swing.

The Sorter
Objective:
The objective of the sorter is to switch people around on the board based
on height and age.
How to Build It:
To build the sorter you will need a 2 by 6 piece of wood, 12 feet long
good for 10 people, 6 bricks.
Rules:
Do not touch the ground
Safety:
Do not run on the sorter
Do not link arms or fingers

The Wall
Objective:
To get everyone up and over the wall without using tools.
How To Build It:
In order to build this you will need scaffolding.
Take scaffolding and raise it up and put platform five feet off the
ground. After you do this, attach 5x8 piece of plywood to front side of
scaffolding using bolts and hardware.
Rules:
Once you get over the wall you can help pull people up but you cannot
come back down and help push.
Safety:
do not grab sides of the wall
do not dangle off of the wall head first
Use proper lifting skills
Feet must remain on the floor when helping lift from the wall platform.
Spotting is necessary

Build a Bridge
Objective:
Get a group of five people to the end without touching the ground using
two boards.
How To Build It:
1.

Pour quickcrete into 12 buckets

2.

Set up a starting and ending line

3.

Place buckets

Rules:
You cannot touch the ground between the beginning and the end
if you touch the ground you go to the beginning

Safety:
if you feel like you will fall off just step off
do not let the boards free fall
don't slide your hands on the boards
take turns going across
do not run, jump, or leap on the boards

The Swinger
Objective:
To figure out how to get a team of three across the swinger.
How To Build It:
To build the swinger you need 4 thick pieces of treated wood cut from a
2' by 12' board, you need to insert eye bolts through all 4. Find out
where you are going to hang it. Good places could be monkey bars,
trees, or anything else you can find that is high and sturdy, hang each
disc at the same height and hang them each 4 feet apart. Get some
good rope and tie it onto the eye bolt, and then hang the discs.
Rules:
You cannot touch the ground but if you do then you go to the beginning.
Safety:
do not wrap rope around hands
no jumping/lunging out to rope
do not tie knots or loops in ropes
make sure you have a person to spot you if necessary.

Different Ways to Make Challenges Harder

Give kids handicaps to make challenges harder and more fun, like
1. blindfolding them
2. no talking
3. give them a buddy who is disabled and can't walk

Making New Challenges

Give your kids items like these to make their own challenges:
1. rope
2. bricks
3. cinder blocks
4. boards
5. pulleys
6. buckets
7. metal cans
8. blindfolds
9. water
10. wood poles
11. tires
12. other things like sticks and rocks

References
Websites
Problem Solving. Google. Web. 12 Sept 2014.
https://www.google.com/search?q=problem+solving&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS359US363&
oq=problem+solving&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i65l3j69i60l2.2227j0j4&sourceid=chrome&
es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#q=what+is+problem+solving
Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligence. LDPride.net. Web. 12 Sept 2014.
http://www.ldpride.net/
Vitelli, Romeo, Ph.D. Are There Benefits in Playing Video Games? Psychology Today.
Sussex Publishers, LLC, Feb 10, 2014. Web. 12 Sept 2014.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/media-spotlight/201402/are-there-benefits-inplaying-video-games
How many people can fit on a school bus? | Ask.com. Web. 9 Dec 2014.
http://www.ask.com/vehicles/many-people-can-fit-school-bus-860bc56d2aeaaopd
Lowe's Home improvement. | Lowe's.com. Web. 7 Dec 2014
Lowe's.com

Periodicals
Strauss, Valerie. Why so Many Kids Cant Sit Still in School Today. The Washington
Post 8 July 2014.

Books
Louv, Richard. Last Child in The Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit
Disorder. Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books Of Chapel Hill, 2005.

Interview
Karen Armstrong, 4th grade sience teacher, Clark Elementary School, 8 October 2014.

problem-solvingnoun

the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues.