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K'nex Design Challenge

Several young girls collaborate on a building project in the foreground, while adults and other children are visible in the blurred background.
In the foreground, a boy in a black hoodie works on a project at a table filled with supplies, while in the background, a group of students and an adult in a blue jacket are gathered in a classroom setting.
Children in the foreground are engaged in a robotics project at tables, while others in the background observe and participate in a classroom setting.
Three young boys in the foreground are engaged in a building activity at a table, while in the background, other students and an adult are present in a classroom setting.
Children in the foreground are engaged in a building activity at a table, while adults observe in the background near a projector screen.
Children in a classroom are working on a project with colorful building blocks and wheels in the foreground, while other students and tables are visible in the background.
Children in a classroom are building a yellow and red vehicle with colorful blocks, while other students work on projects in the background.
In the foreground, three young boys are engaged in a building activity with colorful blocks, while in the background, other students and adults are present in a room with bookshelves.
In the foreground, a group of students are engaged in a hands-on project, while in the background, a projector displays a timer and a video.
A young boy in the foreground works on a robotics project at a table, while other students and displays fill the background of a classroom or event space.
In the foreground, a boy in a black hoodie works on a robotics project at a table, while in the background, other students and adults are engaged in similar activities in a brightly lit room.
Three children are engaged in a building activity with colorful blocks on a table in the foreground, while a projection screen with blurry figures is visible in the background.
In the foreground, children in blue shirts work on a K'nex construction project, while in the background, other students and adults are visible in a classroom setting with a projector screen displaying a timer.
Children work on projects at tables in the foreground, while a large digital timer and other people are visible in the background.
Three girls in the foreground are building a K'nex helicopter at a table, while a projection screen is visible in the background.
Children and adults work on building projects at tables in the foreground, while a digital timer and a projection screen are visible in the background.
Three children are building a colorful structure with toy pieces on a table in the foreground, while a projector screen and windows are visible in the background.
A young girl in a blue shirt stands at a table with building toys in the foreground, while a group of people and a projection screen are visible in the background.
Three children in a classroom are gathered around a table with building blocks, while a projector screen displays an image in the background.
A group of children and an adult are building a colorful structure with toy pieces on a table in the foreground, while a projector screen and chairs are visible in the background.
In the foreground, a woman in a purple shirt holds an open notebook while a girl in a blue shirt looks on, and in the background, a digital timer displays 1:39:10 above a group of children.
In the foreground, a young person in a red shirt leans over a table of science projects, while in the background, adults and students mingle in a brightly lit room.
In the foreground, a woman in a red shirt interacts with a table of projects, while in the background, people mill around a brightly lit room with various displays.
In the foreground, a young person in a red sweatshirt interacts with a science project, while in the background, adults and other students observe and engage in a lively event.
In the foreground, a young person in a red shirt leans over a table of colorful building toys, while in the background, adults and children gather in a brightly lit room.
Children in the foreground are engaged in an activity at a table, while adults and other children are visible in the blurred background of a room.
Children in blue t-shirts work on projects at tables in the foreground, while other students and adults are visible in the blurred background of a classroom.
In the foreground, four young students in blue shirts work on a project at a table, while in the background, other students and adults are engaged in activities in a brightly lit room.
In the foreground, children in casual clothing are gathered around a table with various items, while in the background, adults and more children are visible in a brightly lit room with a clock on the wall.
Three children and an adult are gathered around a table in the foreground, working on a colorful construction toy, while a projector screen and chairs are visible in the background.
A young girl with curly brown hair sits on the floor in the foreground, engrossed in building a colorful kite, while blurred figures of other children are visible in the background.
Children in blue shirts work on Lego projects at tables in the foreground, while other children and adults mill about in the background of a brightly lit room.
Children in the foreground are engaged in a hands-on activity at a table, while adults and other children are visible in the background of a brightly lit room.
Children in blue shirts work on STEM projects at tables in the foreground, while other children and adults mill about in the background of a brightly lit room.
Children in gray t-shirts work on a yellow construction toy in the foreground, while other children and tables with projects fill the blurred background.
Children in the foreground are engaged in a hands-on activity at a table, while others observe or participate in the background of a brightly lit room.
In the foreground, two young girls examine a colorful robot project on a table, while in the background, other students and adults are gathered around various displays in a brightly lit room.
In the foreground, two young girls stand by a table with a colorful construction project, while in the background, a bald man in a vest converses with them amidst a busy science fair with other students and displays.
Four young girls stand behind a table with a colorful building toy, while a woman stands in the background.
Four children stand around a table with a laptop and a robot, with wooden cabinets in the background.
Four young girls present their %22Pollution Scrubber%22 project at a science fair, with a projector screen displaying a presentation in the background.
Four young girls present a project titled %22Pollution Scrubber%22 with a model on a table in the foreground, while a classroom setting with other students and windows forms the background.
Four young girls stand at a table with a colorful construction project in front of them, while adults observe in the background.
Three children stand at a table with K'nex creations in the foreground, while adults and a colorful display are visible in the background.
In the foreground, three children stand behind a table displaying complex K'nex structures, while in the background, a projector screen displays an image and a poster reads %22POLLUTION SCREEN.%22
Three children stand behind a complex K'nex structure in the foreground, while a sign with %22TUTTI RUBR%22 is visible in the background.
Three young students stand behind a complex K'nex structure in the foreground, while a blurred background shows a classroom setting with posters and other students.
Three young girls stand in front of a complex K'nex structure and a science fair board in a classroom.
Four young students in black t-shirts stand behind a table with a Lego robot and papers, while other students and displays are visible in the blurred background.
A group of students stand behind a table with projects, while others watch in the background.
Four young students stand behind a table with a robot in the foreground, while a blurred background shows a classroom setting with a projector screen and other students.
Four students stand behind a table with a small robot in the foreground, while a presentation screen and other students are visible in the background.
Four young students in black t-shirts stand behind a table with a robot and presentation materials, while others observe in the background.
In the foreground, three young boys stand close together, one holding a microphone, while in the background, a group of children watch attentively.
Four young students in black t-shirts stand at a table with a robot and papers, while a projector screen and a green banner are visible in the background.
A colorful K'nex creation with wheels sits on a table in the foreground, while blurred figures and displays fill the background.
In the foreground, two young boys stand with papers in hand, while in the background, a group of students in blue shirts watch attentively.
Four children in blue shirts stand in the foreground presenting a colorful construction project, while a crowd of onlookers watches in the background.
A boy with a microphone speaks to a group of children in blue shirts, with a blurred background of a school hallway.
Two young boys in the foreground, one speaking into a microphone, stand before a group of students in blue shirts in the background, with a display board visible to the left.
Four children in blue shirts stand in the foreground presenting a colorful construction project, while a crowd of other children watches in the background.
Four children in gray t-shirts stand in front of a science fair project titled %22Trash Roboto%22 with a blue wall and a doorway in the background.
Four children in gray t-shirts stand in front of a science fair project titled %22Trash Roboto,%22 with other students and a wall with a logo in the background.
Four children stand in front of a science fair project board titled %22Trash Roboto,%22 with other students and a wall in the background.
Four children in gray t-shirts stand in front of a science fair project titled %22Trash Roboto%22 with a blue wall and a door in the background.
A young girl with a green headband holds a microphone while another girl in an orange sweatshirt stands to her right, with colorful decorations visible in the blurred background.
In the foreground, a young boy with a surprised expression stands next to a colorful robot model, while in the background, a group of children present their projects to an audience.
Three young girls stand in front of a blue wall with a sign, with one girl speaking into a microphone and two elaborate K'nex structures on display.
Three young girls stand in the foreground with a microphone and K'nex structures, while a blue wall with text is visible in the background.
Four young girls stand around a table with a model bridge in the foreground, while a blue wall with a logo is visible in the background.
Four young girls stand in front of a K'nex bridge model, with a blue wall and a partial logo in the background.
Four young girls stand at a table with a colorful bridge model in the foreground, while a blurred background shows a wall with text and other displays.
Four young girls and a boy stand in front of a K'nex bridge model, with a blue wall and a logo in the background.
Four students present a science project with a colorful model in the foreground, while an audience watches in the background of a classroom.
A young boy speaks into a microphone while standing in front of a K'nex structure, with other children and adults in the blurred background of a classroom.
Four children in matching t-shirts stand in front of a science fair project titled %22Trash Roboto,%22 with a boy in the background looking on.
Four children stand in the foreground presenting a project with a colorful structure, while in the background, other students and adults are visible in a classroom setting.
Three young boys stand in the foreground with a colorful K'nex bridge model, while other students and adults are visible in the blurred background of a classroom or workshop.
Four students stand behind a table displaying a project, with a large blue wall featuring the %22Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit%22 logo in the background.
In the foreground, two boys examine a K'nex bridge model on a table, while in the background, other students and adults observe projects in a brightly lit room.
Three children stand behind a display board with a colorful bridge model in the background, in front of a wall with a large logo.
Three children stand behind a K'nex bridge model with toy cars in the foreground, while other students and a projector screen are visible in the background.
Three children stand in the foreground presenting a K'nex bridge, while other students and displays are visible in the blurred background.
Three young people stand behind a K'nex bridge model on a table in the foreground, while a projector screen and other students are visible in the background.
In the foreground, a group of young people examine a colorful K'nex structure, while in the background, other students and adults observe.
In the foreground, three young people stand around a colorful K'nex structure, while in the background, an audience watches them in a brightly lit room.
Two young girls are building with colorful construction toys on a carpeted floor, with other people and tables visible in the blurred background.
Teenagers in the foreground examine a colorful K'nex structure, while others in the background observe and participate in an indoor activity.
Two girls are building with colorful blocks on a carpeted floor, with other children and building materials visible in the background.
Two boys are building a structure with colorful rods and connectors on a carpeted floor, with chairs and a wall in the background.
Two girls are building a colorful contraption on the floor, with other people and tables visible in the blurred background.
Two young boys are building a complex structure with rods and connectors in the foreground, while a table with supplies and chairs are visible in the background.
Two girls are building with colorful blocks on a carpeted floor, with other children's legs visible in the background.
Four smiling children hold up a K'Nex creation in front of a projected screen displaying %222025 K'Nex Winner 4th-5th Grade%22 and a blurry image of a classroom.
Four children stand in the foreground holding a tall, colorful structure, while a projection screen with abstract shapes and images is visible in the background.
Four students present a complex K'nex structure on a table in the foreground, with other students and a classroom setting in the background.
In the foreground, four young students stand around a colorful K'nex structure on a table with laptops, while in the background, other students and adults observe the presentation in a classroom.
A teenage boy in a %22Mustangs Wrestling%22 sweatshirt holds a microphone next to a K'nex creation on a table, while other students watch in the background.

K’NEX STEM DESIGN CHALLENGE

Join the STEM Design Challenge, an exciting engineering competition for students in grades 4–8! In teams of 2 to 4, you’ll put your creativity and problem-solving skills to the test as you tackle a real-world challenge. Using K’Nex, and/or Engino, you’ll design and build a one-of-a-kind project, craft a Design Notebook, and draw up your team’s blueprint.

Bring your best ideas—because the top team at the regional event will earn a spot at the state competition in May! It’s hands-on STEM fun with big-time bragging rights on the line!

The 2026 STEM Design Challenge is 
Eco-Factory: Build a Sustainable Production Machine!

In this challenge, elementary and middle school students will design part of a factory that produces a product using sustainable practices and prepare a prototype demonstration to showcase how the machine works and supports sustainable production. Using K'Nex, Engino, and/or recycled materials, the prototype must emphasize sustainability by minimizing waste, maximizing efficiency, and/or using simulated recycled or reusable parts or materials. 

The foreground displays the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals logo and the icon for Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, set against a plain white background.


For more information about the STEM Design Challenge, 
please go to the state competition website.

Parts of the Competition

For more information

Colleen Epler-Ruths
(570) 523-1155 Ext. 2206
cepler-ruths@csiu.org

Save the Date

Teacher On-Boarding:
October 23, 2025

Teacher
On-Boarding Registration
Zoom Recording from
On-Boarding 

Register By:
March 7, 2026

Team Registration

Local Competition:
March 24, 2026 (Elementary and Middle School)
Snow Date: March 26, 2026
 

Photo Release Form

First page of the PDF file: KNex_STEM_Photographic_Release_Formdocx

Please have all student participants complete the photo release form.