Community Corner
Lego Robotics Tournaments Helps Children Build Skills
The FIRST Lego League regional qualifier helped students on 41 teams build more than Lego robot vehicles; they also built up their teamwork skills and knowledge about science.
Elementary and middle school teams put their Lego robot vehicles and research projects to the test during the FIRST Lego League’s regional qualifier, held Saturday at Henry Ford II High School in Sterling Heights.
For the scores of students, team coaches and parents who came to root on their teams, Saturday’s regional FIRST Lego League competition marked the culmination of hours of preparation since beginning in early September. The event, attracting 41 metro Detroit teams, including 20 from Utica Community Schools, was the largest FIRST Lego League regional competition in Michigan, said regional tournament director Lisa Yaxley.
The team from Bemis Junior High School was the overall champions of Saturday's tournament.
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“This is our 10th official year,” Yaxley said. “The goal is to introduce them to technology (and) programming. … On top of all that, they learn teamwork and gracious professionalism.”
The teams bought Lego kits and learned how to program their robot vehicles using specialized software. In the gymnasium, students, parents and coaches cheered exuberantly as their team’s robot autonomously navigated a table course, completing different tasks.
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FIRST Lego robotics competitions – geared toward students aged 9 through 14 – also require teams to compete in teamwork challenges and, in accordance with this year's theme, "Food Factor," develop and present research projects examining a food-related problem of their choosing.
For instance, students from Messmore Elementary in Sterling Heights researched contamination of fish from Japan.
“Our team met after school two days a week or more,” said team coach Stephanie Lutz, a trained engineer. The last few weeks they met every day.
Worldwide, this year’s challenge will involve more than 200,000 students from more than 55 countries.
Regionally, the 14 best ranked teams from the region will move on to the state competition in Flint and White Lake. Seven of the 14 teams that advance to the state finals were UCS schools.
1. Crissman Elementary
2. Dresden Elementary
3. Schuchard Elementary
4. Roberts Elementary/ Malow Junior High
5. Jack Harvey Elementary
6. Beck Elementary/Shelby Junior High
7. Bemis Junior High
However, it’s not all about winning and losing, said tournament co-director Jacob Palmer.
“It’s about going through the process, going through the learning experience,” he added.
ThunderChickens Team 217, a robotics team of students from Utica Community high schools, hosted the tournament.
The Lego Legends, another team comprised of students from Roberts Elementary and Malow Junior High, gathered at least once a week. During the last week, they stepped up their schedule, meeting every day.
“They showed spirit, they showed cooperation …,” said Lego Legends coach Cristina Stamatin of her team. “They listen better (and) respect each other’s thoughts, not just (on the team) but at school too.”
