THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604190187
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
A HARD AND HEAVY squash is perfect for the body.
Raisins serve as great hubcaps.
And firm, round oranges make darn good wheels.
These were just some of the lessons learned by fourth-graders at Windsor Oaks Elementary School when they participated in the school's first-ever ``Lunch Box Derby,'' a nationwide race for model cars made completely out of fruits and vegetables. It is sponsored by the Washington Apple Commission.
``We want them to see how healthy foods make you go farther in life,'' said Mary Schulte, one of the coordinators of the event. Distance, she added, not speed, was the key to the contest. ``They know from nutrition lessons that junk foods don't have the nutrients in them to make you go the distance.''
Schulte got wind of the derby by mail.
``I ordered some freebie stuff from a cereal box,'' she said. ``I think I got on a mailing list.''
The commission sent Schulte a brief lesson plan and the few rules, and she and co-worker Debbie Gowen wrote out a plan of action, experimented with their classes and pitched it to the other fourth-grade teachers.
They all agreed on it. Students divided into teams of four, started designing their cars on paper, naming their teams and picking ``drivers'' and ``pit crews'' in the middle of March.
It was just after 1:30 p.m. on a recent warm and sunny Friday afternoon, when the ``experiment'' came to life. About 100 fourth-graders, all wearing white painter's caps and laminated badges advertising team names such as ``Awesome Apples'' and ``Radical Raspberries,'' gathered at five long lunchroom tables to prepare for the 2 p.m. race.
After principal John A. Mirra gave the signal, the teams assembled their race cars on blue plastic trays, according to their diagrams. While sitting and kneeling on the orange and turquoise seats, the children bound together everything from apples to zucchini, using bamboo skewers and toothpicks - one of the contest's requirements.
``I'm afraid it's going to fall apart,'' said 9-year-old ``Fast Fruit'' driver Sarah Sievert, rolling the cucumber-orange-pepper-mobile made by her team.
``We're supposed to balance it like a balanced meal,'' explained John Pegram, 10.
Like most teams, the members of ``Fast Fruit'' couldn't sit still. Nervous and excited, they fidgeted with their car (and even tried to polish it), making sure it was perfect.
At 2:06 p.m., Mirra announced ``drivers, take your positions.''
Each carried his or her team's car to an assigned spot in the middle of the floor, and stared at the three blue wooden ramps - each as tall as they were.
After the formalities, including introductions of volunteers and the national anthem, and a pre-derby gag race between Mirra and assistant principal Deborah O. Etheridge, the heats started. The emcee was John S. Kalocay, chief operations officer for schools.
From the first seconds of the first race, the youngsters were on their feet, showing every sign of race anxiety - from nail biting to cheering.
Three at a time, drivers sent their cars down the ramps, while the judges waited off to the side with yardsticks. While many made the ride successfully, some crashed, sending their parts flying.
After all was said and done, winners were announced and prizes were awarded. Then, Timothy R. Jenney, school superintendent, closed with a few thoughts that sounded familiar to the students, staff and 100 or so helpers, guests and visitors.
``I've been here for two months,'' he said, standing in the middle of the cafeteria. ``This is the most fun I've had in two months.
``Making learning fun . . . that's what this whole experience is about.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Katie Andres, left, of the Cool Cucumbers and Chanda Cross of the
first-place C-Tops show every sign of race anxiety.
Darrin Askew shows off the racing entry of the Wild Carrots. As
driver, he released the car down the ramp.
Austin Muhly, ``driver'' of the Lime Lemons team, sends their car
down the race ramp.
by CNB