Robotics Meeting for Elementary Kids Set for Tuesday

There will be an open meeting for all elementary students on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Jefferson School. This is an information session on robotics programs in the district with the intent of forming teams of students.  Parent volunteers would be needed for two to four hours a week to host a small group; robotics background not required.

Elementary principals are sharing the opportunity for students and their families to get involved.  RSVPs are not required and attending the information session does not require a commitment.

Information will be shared on the following Robotics/STEM competitions:

 1) Jr. First Lego League (Ages 6-9).  This is a competition for very young students.  Students investigate a theme and create aPoster and a LEGO Model.  They incorporate simple machines and movement into their creation, but do not program robots.

 2)  First Lego League (Ages 9-14, Grades 4-8) (which you learned mostly through the district meeting)

This is a great competition for beginners since it puts very little emphasis onrobotics itself.  Only 1/6th or your judged score comes from the roboticscompetition.  The other parts judged are a research project and core values.

3)  Vex IQ, a new robotics competition. (Ages 9-14, Grades 4-8) This is strictlyrobotics, no project, has remote control and a longer competition season. VEX IQ is also a beginner's robotics competition but preps kids for the next level ofrobotics much better both from a building and programming standpoint.  Be that for VEX or the high school FTC team.  If your child has real interest in robotics, we strongly suggest this route.  We will have more information about this at the meeting.