Simulation Challenge

The 2024 KidWind Simulation Challenge has closed! We had great participation this year with over 75 teams joining. Come back in the fall to sign up for the 2025 challenge.

2024 Winners

Middle School

Rank
Score
Student(s)
Classroom/Team
1
100
Gopal
Meadowbrook Middle School
2
97.82
Utkarsh M
Meadowbrook Middle School
3
97.32
Tenley
Heppner Jr/Sr High School
4
77.66
Darby
Heppner Jr/Sr High School
5
76.329
Wyatt C, Lane A, Aryan M, Charlie G, Brandon P, Tayven L, Bandr C, Reilly S, Kayden C, Flint H
Hermosa School
6
66.78
Kathryn
Heppner Jr/Sr High School
7
66.78
Ashlee
Heppner Jr/Sr High School
8
62.43
Gage
Heppner Jr/Sr High School
9
61.26
Naomi
Heppner Jr/Sr High School
10
57.24
Emilla
Heppner Jr/Sr High School

High School

Rank
Score
Student(s)
Classroom/Team
1
100
Kalvin M
Postville Jr/Sr High School
2
98.9
Edwing G
Charles E. Shea High
3
95.3
Kenneth R
MIT Academy
4
83.7
Elvis J
Charles E. Shea High
5
79.6
Lewis D
Charles E. Shea High
6
77.5
Eben B
Exeter West Greenwich HS Seagull Engineering
77.5
Cristiano C
Charles E. Shea High
7
74.50
Stanley M
Charles E. Shea High
8
72.80
Quaid
Heppner Jr/Sr High School
9
68.60
Logan O
Exeter West Greenwich HS Wacky Wavy Inflatable Windmen
68.60
Jesse R
Exeter West Greenwich HS Wind Soup

What is the KidWind Simulation Challenge?

KidWind helps teachers and students creatively explore the science, technology and implications of a world powered by renewable energy.

Join KidWind and Flinn Scientific’s WhiteBox Learning (WBL) to try your hand at building a simulated turbine! In this National Challenge, students use the WhiteBox Learning simulation software to construct and test virtual turbines and wind farms. 

While learning the software takes a little time, students will not need any of their own materials to participate. The only requirement is an internet-connected computer (tablets are not supported) and the turbine kit we will mail out. View details on system requirements.

Turbine Blade Design and Performance

Students used a simplified CAD program to design complex blades and see how they perform on a KidWind scale turbine in different conditions. Students learned a great deal about airfoils, physics, and other related fields as they designed their blades. The material in this part of the simulation can get complex.

Wind Farm Designs

Students designed and constructed wind farms. They took several factors into account to build a wind farm that produces the most power at the lowest cost. It was a challenge! The simulation is done in a game mode where participants earn points for how well their designs perform, how much they iterate on their designs, and how they do on quizzes. The simulation had 5 levels and it got more challenging to complete each level as students progresses

Blade Construction & Turbine Testing

In 2024 we have added a new dimension to this challenge because we want students to experiment in the real world and see how well they can transfer knowledge from the game to real life.
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    How it Works

    Who can participate?

    The content found in the KidWind Simulation Challenge is most appropriate for high school students who have taken a physics course. Middle school students can also participate but some of the physics concepts maybe challenging.

    Registration

    An adult educator, coach, or parent must complete the registration for a student or student team in order to have an account made. The cost for this account is $25 , which you may pay during the registration process. This account holder will then be the primary contact for the National Simulation Challenge and may register as many students or teams as they would like for the National Simulation Challenge. 

    Once registered, that account holder will receive an email confirmation. In January, we will provide instructions as well as individual team codes that allow access to the Simulator.

    Divisions

    There are middle school (6th-8th grades) and high school (9th-12th grades) divisions in the National Simulation Challenge. Students can participate alone or on a team.

    Scoring

    Simulation Performance 
    The majority of the overall score is derived from how well you and your teammates perform on the simulation based challenges of blade design and wind farm design.

    Blade Construction & Turbine Testing
    Those who wish to print and test their blades can submit them to the corresponding National Simulation Online Challenge. Top performers in this special online challenge will receive an invitation to the World KidWind Challenge.

    Leaderboard

    As the competition heats up, a bi-weekly leaderboard of the top performers will be posted within the Whitebox Learning portal. It will display and rank all participants by their performance scores as well as if they have uploaded a physical turbine design to the Online Wind Challenge.

    Informational Webinars

    We will host an informational webinar in November of 2024. Until then, you can take a peek at last year’s webinar here.

    Thanks to our 2023-2024 Sponsors!

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