The Solar Boat Competition. The Solar Boat competition is an annual event in which Grade 6 students design, create and race a solar powered boat . The program is conducted by Monash University and involves some 70-80 primary schools and leads on to later involvement in more advanced solar projects at high school level. Blackburn Lake has participated in the Solar Boat Competition since 1996 and students have produced a variety of solar powered craft under the guidance of teachers and parent helpers. Students learn to work with a variety of materials including re-cycled components.
Emphasis is placed on the children's own ideas with a view to minimising adult input.
In this way the children learn via both their own research and trial and error, and are able to appreciate the potential and limitations of a variety of building techniques. The project encourages both team-work and initiative, but also teaches valuable skills and thought processes. In 1998 BLPS entered two teams in the Solar Boat Competition competing against 72 other primary schools. Both teams performed exceptionally well and BLPS was successful in defeating 64 of the other schools. Being amongst the top 8 final competitors was indeed an impressive result for the 6 proud team members and the school as a whole.