Janet Robison, a science instructor at Woodland High School, has been directing the countywide tournament since 2002.
She explained a total of 11 teams consisting of 18 third- to fifth-grade students competed in 18 different events that tested a student's ability in either structural building or content knowledge.
Schools represented at the competition were Adairsville, Clear Creek, Euharlee, Hamilton Crossing, Kingston, Mission Road, Pine Log and White Elementary.
Names of events ranged from "Chopper Challenge" to "Large Number Estimation" to "A is For Anatomy," and during the events, two students represented their team.
"The nice thing about the events is teamwork," Robison said. "Students can interact with each other and consult each other for an answer."
Students preparing for the competition have been doing so since before Christmas, working with a teacher or parent volunteer known as a "coach" after school to master the material.
Robison said students not involved in ESO were still part of the fun by entering a button contest.
"The winning design goes on the front of the program cover and all the students receive a button with their design on [the program]," Robison said.
She said the top three competing teams will receive trophies and an invitation to the State Elementary Science Olympiad tournament at Kennesaw State University on May 14.
"This is probably one of the most rewarding things in the aspect of teaching, because to see the excitement and spark in these children's eyes just reassures me why I do what I do," Robison said.
Melissa Zarefrost is the principal at Adairsville Elementary School. This year, she has been in charge of organizing the ESO teams at the school.
"We actually have two teams for the first time this year because there has been so much interest," Zarefrost said.
She said although the school has only been participating in ESO for the past three years, students have made it clear through their dedication to training that the competition has a role at AES, adding the increased participation has made ESO a schoolwide event.
"Just the excitement the kids have [at ESO] competing in their events let us know [at Adairsville] we wanted to continue giving kids this opportunity," Zarefrost said. "It's fun to watch students build and create."