Students vie for First Lego League championships

Date: 12/8/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



AGAWAM -- The nine-member First Lego League (FLL) "Lightning Lego" team from Agawam Middle School has been laboring to create a robot that will solve this year's "Smart Move" challenge.

Their work, completed under the tutelage of four parent mentors, will be put to the test at the FLL Agawam Qualifying Tournament on Dec. 12. This year's challenge requires teams to identify contemporary transportation problems and create a robot to solve those issues.

"The key to the 2009 'Smart Move' Challenge is accessing people, places, goods and services in the safest, most efficient way possible," Wincy Chan, parent and team coordinator, explained. "Teams need to identify a transportation related problem in their community; create an innovative solution; and must share the findings with their community.

"Because a few high profile accidents involved senior drivers over the last few months in Massachusetts, Lightning Lego decided to look into the issues of safe driving for elderly drivers," she continued.

"In conjunction with our research, our team organized and hosted a free Safe Driving Workshop presented by the Registry of Motor Vehicles at Agawam Senior Center on Dec. 1. We also conducted an on-site survey in order to collect data to support our research findings at the workshop," she explained.

Chan added her team is focused on making the cut at the Dec. 12 qualifier in order to move on to the 64-team Massachusetts State Championship in Worcester on Dec. 19. The winner of the state competition will go on to compete in the World Festival in Georgia in April.

Chan said by participating in FLL, children gain a greater appreciation for science and technology via fun, challenging activities. "They also cultivate life skills such as planning, brainstorming, collaboration and teamwork, as well as research, presentation and technical skills."

Sixth grader Nathaniel Humphries explained he joined Lightning Lego because of his love for electronics. He added he has since learned how to make the roads in his town safer by working on this year's challenge.

"I learned [through the 'Smart Move' challenge] that teamwork is the most important thing," Jordan Sibilia, a fifth grader on Lightening Lego, said.

Members of the team said it's their ultimate goal to make it to the World Festival in Georgia.

Lightning Lego must first make it through the Agawam Qualifying Tournament this week where they will be judged on four areas, including project presentation; robot performance; technical design and robot programming; and teamwork.

The qualifier will take place on Dec. 12 at Agawam Junior High School.