Monroe County, Indiana – A group of fifth-grade students from Childs Elementary School has proven that big ideas can come from small hands, earning second place in a statewide computer science competition with a project aimed at reducing flooding in their community.
The team, part of the Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC), competed in the 2025 CSforGood Elementary Division, a statewide contest that challenges students to design technology-based solutions to real-world problems affecting their schools or neighborhoods. The competition was held December 3 at the Indiana Statehouse and brought together young innovators from across the state.
Rather than choosing a simple or abstract problem, the Childs Elementary team focused on an issue many communities know well: clogged storm drains and flooding caused by fallen leaves. Their solution was an AI-enabled “Leaf Cleaning Robot,” designed to identify and clear leaves from drains before heavy rain could cause water to back up onto streets and sidewalks.
Before building anything physical, students began by thinking through what the technology would need to do. They envisioned a robot equipped with an AI-powered camera capable of identifying leaves and distinguishing them from other debris. From there, they imagined a system that could chop or break down the leaves, allowing water to flow freely through storm drains.
Once the concept was clear, the students moved into the design phase. Using 3D-printing tools and software such as Tinkercad, they built a physical prototype of their robot. The process required careful planning, testing, and revision, giving students hands-on experience with engineering concepts and collaborative problem-solving.
Each member of the winning team received a cash prize for their achievement, while the project’s teacher sponsors were awarded $1,000 to be used toward classroom technology. School leaders said the recognition reflects not only the strength of the idea, but also the dedication behind it.
Childs Elementary Principal Steven Marshall praised the students for taking on a complex challenge and following it through to completion.
“Our students are the first line of defense against real-world issues of the future — many of which may not yet even exist — and their commitment to this project shows they are capable of designing timely innovations that will improve outcomes for all,” said Marshall.
Teachers Abby Brass and Ellie Kwon served as sponsors for the team, but the competition effort extended beyond just a few students. Brass explained that all fifth graders at Childs Elementary worked in teams to design solutions for problems they selected, creating an environment of shared learning and cooperation.
“The communication between teams was key,” said Brass. “They were problem-solving and working together between teams to help each other and give each other feedback. As fifth graders, they did not have to do coding for their prototype, but they were really focused on the process of problem solving.”
That process included testing ideas, questioning assumptions, and refining designs. Brass said students often debated specific details, such as the shape and orientation of the robot’s blades, to determine what would work best.
“Students were debating and deciding on the shapes of their blades, for example, asking, ‘If we used a bulldozer-shaped blade, what orientation should it be?’ They dug deep into the details of the problem. They also used their skills with Tinkercad to build their prototype. To do this, they had to deconstruct the prototype and create individual parts and put them together, using the engineering process.”
Principal Marshall also highlighted the commitment shown by the teachers guiding the project.
“Seeing the time and effort Mrs. Brass and Ms. Kwon put into this process was a stark testament to the great lengths our teachers will go to in making exciting programming viable for all students,” said Marshall.
To further support the students, Indiana University Associate Professor Dr. Ugur Kale from the School of Education visited Childs Elementary as part of the preparation process. Kale, whose work focuses on developing learning interventions in computer science, reviewed student projects and offered feedback alongside graduate students from IU.
“Dr. Kale and graduate students from the IU School of Education came to see the projects and give our students feedback,” said Brass. “It made our children feel important to have the attention. They enjoyed getting feedback from professionals.”
In addition to technical skills, students also strengthened their ability to communicate their ideas clearly. At the competition, teams were required to present their projects to a panel of judges.
“They had to write a script to present their project clearly to a team of four judges,” said Brass. “I’m sure they were nervous, but they really rose to the occasion to prepare. The judges asked some questions our students were not prepared for, but they took turns and answered really specifically. They had it all prepared in their minds — more than we even thought they had!”
For Brass and Kwon, one of the most meaningful outcomes was watching students grow more confident.
“Presenting at the competition was a stretch for them, and it was a really good challenge,” said Brass. “It was really neat to see a different part of them shine that might not have come out in a classroom.”
The second-place finish not only brought recognition to Childs Elementary, but also demonstrated how early exposure to computer science, engineering, and teamwork can empower students to tackle real-world challenges with creativity and confidence.
