Fifth graders at Oak Hill Elementary School got some design pointers from Congressman Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, who visited the campus April 29 to observe a hands-on science project partnering with IBM.

Using paper, straws, LifeSavers, paper clips, tape and scissors, students constructed small vehicles—some resembling boats, others cars—they then propelled by blowing on their paper sails.

"Today, to power a car you have to have an electric engine or a gasoline engine, right? Well we're going to see more wind power in the future of our country. You're probably going to grow up [using] a lot more solar power from the sun and wind power," he said. "This kind of fun project, even if it becomes a little bit more complicated along the way, is going to be a fun project that's going to help you learn and help make a better life for a lot of people, too."

Students competed to see whose vehicle traveled the farthest. The project is part of an initiative to help increase student interest in science, said Sandy Dochen, IBM's manager of corporate citizenship. While students seemed to be having fun taking part in the project, Dochen said the work helps to familiarize them with important fundamental concepts.

"This is very serious science," he said. "It's a way to illustrate for fifth graders how you can do something with wind energy."

The visit was also an opportunity for Smith to get to know some of his newer constituents, Dochen said. Since redistricting, the Oak Hill area is new to Smith, who serves as chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

IBM's Rick McMaster, who explained the project to students, said that Texans have used wind power for many years, and today nearly 40,000 windmills help move water through fields.

"Texas leads the nation in terms of energy generated by windmills," he said.