The goal of the 8th grade Soap Boat Challenge was to SYSTEMATICALLY design a soap boat that would go the farthest distance.  The “systematic” part was the key.  Students were supposed to change one variable at a time to see how it affected the boats movement.  However, this was easier said than done for many.  Their excitement to succeed in the challenge (and win :)) made it difficult for many students to slow down and test variables in a systematic way.   Student self-assessments, however, were telling in that they were able to articulate how they had been systematic or not and what they would have done differently next time.  Many students posted their process and prototypes on their blogs.  Check them out!