GRADES: 6-8
TEAM: 1
Students will take a math exam that will measure competency in the mathematical concepts, respective to their current math course, from the Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools (2000 Revised Edition). All students who participate in MESA Day will take a math exam with the exception of those enrolled in Team Math Quest.

GRADES: 6-8
TEAM: 1
Students will work as a team to solve a set of challenging, non-routine problems that will require core mathematical knowledge, creative deductive abilities, and collaborative reasoning skills.  The competition is designed to introduce, develop, and foster the use of various strategies to solve exciting and complex mathematical problems.

GRADES: 7-8
TEAM: 1-2
Students will construct an original model of the human gastrointestinal tract and will answer questions drawn from an assigned list using reading material provided in the MESA Day curriculum.

GRADES: 7-8
TEAM: 1-2
Students will design and construct a package of restricted size, which will protect as many eggs as possible from breaking after a fall from a height to be determined by the Host Center.  The package should be designed in a way to maximize BOTH the number of total eggs in the package and the percentage of eggs which survive the impact of the collision with the ground.

GRADES: 7-8
TEAM: 1-2
Students will design and create a website.  Judges will view and judge the website in advance of the MESA Day competition.  Students will also give an oral presentation on MESA Day.  Students may use commercial software to create the website.

GRADES: 8 (only)
TEAM: 1-2
Students will design and construct a model bridge from two manila file folders that will carry a maximum load while using as little materials as possible.  Efficient design, neatness and craftsmanship are essential elements of this engineering activity.  Two standard, single-ply, letter-size manila file folders and any type of glue.