What is it?
This year Prince of Peace is participating in the FIRST Lego League program. Sponsored by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in conjunction with the Lego Corporation, the FLL's goal is to get students ages 9 - 14 interested in science and technology.
Why Robotics?
Robots are an excellent way to teach problem-solving, science, math, engineering design, and critical thinking skills using real-world applications.
Robotics gives meaning to the science concepts of force, energy, mass and work, and hands-on experience with basic math, algebra, and geometry.
Robotics teaches students the skills and teamwork necessary to be part of tomorrow's technical workforce.
AND... it's fun!
For more information visit the First Lego League Web Site.
What are we doing?
October 2003
Grade 4
By: Angelica C. & Neil R.
The Fourth grade is going to compete in the First Lego League tournament. Our name is the P.O.P. Panthers. Our team number is 2863. So far we are all getting along, and we are all excited to go. We are all working together because we want to have a chance to go to the finals, because it's our dream. Our competition will be at Scarlet Oaks on 12/13/03. Our parent demonstration will be on 11/14/03 at 6:30 PM.
4th Grade Rover
Grade 5
By Laura K.
The Fifth grade is getting ready for the First Lego League Tournament. Our team's name is the Rockin' Robots #1528. We are doing the Lego project with the help and support of our whole school. We are doing this because it's a good learning experience and it's fun. We are doing this because we can handle it and because it takes teamwork, and that's what we have here in the fifth grade at Prince of Peace School. Our competition will be 12/13/03 at Scarlet Oaks, and our parent Demonstration will be 11/24/03 at 6:30PM in the computer lab. This is our robot:
Fifth Grade Rover
On December 13, 2003 the Prince of Peace teams went to the Regional FLL tournament at iSpace (located at Scarlet Oak) and competed against 34 other teams. Teams were graded in 4 major areas: Teamwork, Technical Presentation, Research Presentation, and performance on the playing field. Both Teams did a wonderful job with the 5th Grade Rockin' Robots scoring a total of 620 points, and the 4th Grade P.O.P. Panthers scoring a total of 660 points. In addition, the P.O.P. Panthers scored a 99 out of 100 points on the Teamwork portion of the competition, taking home individual medals, a trophy for the school's trophy case, and one of the 6 packets for the State Competition. The State Tournament will be held Jan 16-17, 2004 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. At present there will be 40 teams representing the state of Ohio.
On Jan 16-17, 2004 the 4th Grade P.O.P. Panthers went to the State Tournament at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. While there were 4th graders as members of other teams, the Panthers had the distinction of being the only team comprised solely of 4th graders. The average team was made up of students in 6th - 8th grade. Even so, the 4th grade team did very well. While they did not receive any trophies, they still finished in the upper 1/2 of the overall standings. In addition, they managed to accomplish something few teams have done. At the tournament, playing fields are placed back to back. Every year FLL creates one challenge that extends into both fields, and can be solved only by working with the other team (team work). This year it was the Alliance Habitation Module. While a few teams had figured out how to push up both halves up by themselves (with attachments that reached into the other field), no teams at the Regional or State tournament had completed the module in the way it was intended to be done - by using team work.
At the tournament the P.O.P. Panthers found themselves next to the Firebots from Lakota Jr. High in the pit area, and realized that they would be against them in all three rounds of the table competition. Both teams put their heads together, and used their time at the practice tables to see if they could come up with a way to complete the Alliance Habitation Module working together. Their solution worked a couple of times during practice, and during their 3rd (and last) round at the table the Panthers and the Firebots managed to push up both sides of the module. They received a standing ovation from the audience. And, as one coach noted, next year they are going to be a force to be reckoned with.
"Pax" the 4th Grade Robot
Pax is named after the school mascot, Pax the black Panther. He has a throwing arm to throw the ball into the launcher. We used rubber bands to hold the arm on at the State tournament, because it made it easier to change the batteries. We think he's really cool.