The Learning Center in Murphy NC recently held The Foody 500. The race was similar to a pinewood derby, with one major difference…the cars were all edible. Before the event I walked around and looked at the cars on display. I was totally impressed with the imaginative designs the students had come up with.
I assumed the cars would be judged on appearance only. Once I realized the cars were actually going to be sent sailing off a very tall long ramp I got kind of worried. I was afraid the cars would fly all to pieces, leaving a whole bunch of disappointed kids. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
As the crowd gathered close to the ramp you could feel the anxious excitement filter through all the kids as well as the adults. One by one the teams sent their edible cars sailing off the incline to the sound of cheers and clapping. The car that went the greatest distance was crowned winner of The Foody 500. There were other awards given too.
Knowing the students built the cars out of food and engineered them to actually stay together and roll down the ramp makes me say they were all winners. Not bad for an elementary school in Appalachia uh?
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
I was all set to attend this great function, then the computers went out at work Thurs. afternoon until late Friday. I can only hope to make it next year!! Looks like I missed a great event 🙂
What a cute idea! And whether the car stayed together or not, there was a “treat” for the driver at the end of the race too. LOL
God bless.
RB
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Some very clever kids who learned a lot and had loads of fun doing it!
Wow, what a neat idea! Those elementary kids did a great job. Hooray for them and the people at the Murphy Learning Center!
My hat goes off to the skill and imagination of these youngsters. And i’m sure they had a ton of fun conceiving and creating those delectable little cars.
Tipper,
Those car-cakes are very impressive, especially for elementary students. I liked what I see, like the double Oreos for tares (that’s what Richard Petty ’em.) Our young people have that ingenious ability like those that were here long ago. Great job…Ken
Tipper,
Now that’s what I’m talking about!…Those children are getting in touch with there roots, so to speak. I am not being factious in my comment either, since I do see sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, butternut squash and our Appalachian treat, graham crackers..
I am not at all surprised that these Appalachian children could do this…We come from a long line of thinkers, studying and pondering with an idea to make do and make it work and complete that job. Why anybody could take a piece of wood and well pipe and build themselves a cart. Again, todays kiddo’s have those LEGOs on hand. Why, I’ve seen a three year old put those plastic blocks together in the form of a car, I can even do that and I’m old and can’t see.
That is why I think our Appalachian heritage is so important….We need to bring back that problem solving tradition of our forefathers…pull it out of their little minds the way we used to do things that made us who we are today….
No, I am not surprised that they could do this….after all they are from the generations of the,
USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT, MAKE IT DO OR DO WITHOUT” ancestry!…..
Thanks Tipper,
Now that is cool! Kids are smarter than we think, especially when they get focused on a project.