JEC’s fifth graders spent the past week competing in the Potato Olympics, guided by Mrs. Taub. This challenge was created by the Australian Mathematical Institute and is a hands-on way of exploring different principles of physics. They began by getting their “taterletes” ready for competition by gathering their stats (height, weight, circumference), creating a flag representing their country and decorating them to be Olympics ready.

After the opening ceremony, the competitions began. The events included distance, diving, bowling, gymnastics, weightlifting and dance. They tested their taterletes speed, endurance, and buoyancy.

After the events they held a closing ceremony and the deserving taterletes and coaches received their medals and awards. For one final event, their taterletes competed in either basketball or the shot put, where many taterletes sustained injuries, but the coaches enjoyed themselves.