Imagine a metal vehicle in the shape of an ant that grabs magnetic leaves from a swimming pool cleaner pole as it is propelled forward on skateboard wheels. Now picture the participants of this zany problem-solving challenge. No, they’re not members of a middle school engineering club, but a small group of 9- and 10-year-olds from Glenview Elementary School.

The “Leafcutter Ants” team advanced to the international finals of the problem-solving Odyssey of the Mind competition last month, where they placed fifth in their division of 53 teams (and traded pins with kids from Kazakhstan, Poland, Mexico and Korea, among other countries). The ant costumes — and original songs – undoubtedly won them extra style points.

Parents and co-coaches Ana Demorest and Laura Miller worked with team members Cameron Hub, Gavin Demorest, Emily Kim, Gabriel McHugh, Sara Park, Lucy Allen and Terrence Perrier. 

Glenview was the only school in the district to take up the challenge this year, and Miller hopes other Oakland schools will catch the fever. What the kids learned through the project — that there’s no right answer, only an answer that works — is “what I want to see in the education of my kids,”  Miller said. For more information, check out this Web site.

courtesy photo