Quick thinking on show at Tournament of Minds

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School (STMCPS) hosted the Tournament of Minds (TOM) competition on Sunday, August 25, bringing together teams from the Margaret River Independent School and Margaret River Montessori for a day of creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.

TOM challenges students to work together in teams to solve two open-ended and demanding challenges – a Long-Term Challenge that students prepare for over six weeks and a Spontaneous Challenge, where they must think on the spot to deliver a creative solution in real-time.

This year’s competition at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School saw teams from all participating schools display their innovative thinking and collaborative skills.

Each team had a Facilitator who helped prepare them for the competition, guiding them in solving the complex challenges while fostering teamwork, communication, and creativity.

St Thomas More’s team, consisting of seven Year 5 and 6 students, tackled the STEM Challenge titled “Not So Fantastic Plastic.”

Their challenge was based on the environmental crisis of plastic pollution, a growing global issue affecting ecosystems worldwide.

The team was tasked with identifying a specific type of plastic pollution, before setting out to devise an innovative device to mitigate its impact.

As part of their presentation, the students had to demonstrate their prototype device, provide a scaled drawing and explain how their invention would work to remove plastic waste.

The challenge also required the team to address what would happen to the plastic waste once collected, pushing them to think deeply about sustainable solutions.

The young inventors developed a unique and eco-friendly device, designed to combat microplastics in the ocean without the use of mains-powered electricity.

Their presentation demonstrated not only the device’s functionality but also their commitment to protecting the environment.

The day also featured the Spontaneous Challenge, an exciting exercise that required quick thinking and creativity under pressure.

Each team was presented with a previously unseen problem, forcing them to collaborate on the spot to develop an inventive solution within minutes.

Tournament of Minds offers students an invaluable opportunity to express themselves through various roles, from dramatic presentations to scripting and solution-finding, making it a unique and dynamic approach to critical thinking competitions.

The competition fostered essential life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and communication while providing a fun and engaging environment.

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School’s hosting of the event further strengthens its reputation as a school that encourages the holistic development of its students, promoting innovation and collaboration.

The teams from Margaret River Independent School and Margaret River Montessori also shone on the day, presenting their own creative solutions to the various challenges.

The spirit of camaraderie and competition filled the school library, with students enjoying the chance to showcase their hard work and ingenuity.

STMCPS looks forward to continuing its participation in future TOM competitions, inspiring its students to think critically and creatively while contributing to real-world solutions.

As the event concluded, the sense of achievement and pride was evident in the smiles of the students, who left with not only new knowledge and skills but also a deeper appreciation for working together to tackle global challenges.