This year, I started a team to participate in the 2014 Lego League.

My team is made of 6 third graders who will in the next 8 to 12 weeks understand, research, and build a model that represents the solution for the annual Challenge set forth by the League. The model must be entirely made of Lego pieces and created by the children.

The League requires the use of at least one moving and functional part in the model using any of the Lego battery pack/motor set.

It is a non-competitive league, but offers a lot of fun for kids who enjoy venting their imagination via Lego. The purchase of the base kit is highly recommended, but not required, therefore, there could be some $ that the team would have to spend and share.

Anyone can register to become a coach and form a team.

Has anyone tried it within your school/community/etc.?

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Dimple2001

Sounds great, Dimple - Kudos! I have a couple of friends who are lego fanatics and my daughter is a big lego fan hersef (albeit the girls "lego friends" kind).

I have never tried it and at this point, am too caught up in work to coach or form a team, but keep us posted on your experience and some of us would take it on in the future.

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Are you there?

Thanks BL.

I agree time is a huge constraint. In my case, all the kids, including mine, are involved in a multitude of other activities that it took some finagling to agree upon a common meeting time.

Also, fortunately, right now, my commute is less than 10 min and hence able to spend time on my hobbies. The Lego League is an autonomous activity under the guidance of the organizers.

If anyone is interested, the website to look up for information are:

http://www.usfirst.org/ - provides general info about the league
http://www.juniorfirstlegoleague.org/ - provides info on the Junior league (6 to 9 year olds)
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/jr.fll - provides more information

Coaches have to register their team and there is a $50 USD fee. Coaches may also have to go through a background check.

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Dimple2001

Based on what I read these days on CD, I realize this topic is, at best, carries zero interest. However, I thought I'll close the loop with an update.

Our team of myself (the coach) and the six third graders successfully completed the Lego challenge. We spent about $270 shared among the six. The challenge was to build a Learning Tool which in our case - as decided by the kids - was a museum depicting the Cretaceous period.

Our moving part depicting the concept of a simple machine was the asteroid that simulated the creation of the crater. The asteroid was tethered to the Lego string module that rolled around a spool which was driven by a motor placed on a platform on the top of a tower. the tower was constructed using holed beams, within which was a battery pack that powered the motor.

I am now training myself and my son on the next level which involves robotics. The EV3 kit is made up of a control unit into which a program developed using the EV3 software can be downloaded. Connected to the control unit are the various sensors and servo motors of varying torques. These when attached to lego components create (unlimited number of imaginative) robots that can perform various tasks. The control unit is Bluetooth and Wifi capable, some using a dongle.

The plan is to coach another team following the start of this academic year in Sep.

All in all, a very enriching and fulfilling experience.

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Dimple2001

'Bhains ke aage been bajana' - ek muhavara

Congratulations Dimple2001.. That's great news, thanks for sharing. It is heartening to know at least 1 CD is involved in 'constructive' activity. .

Is the robot part of the same league? One of my friend's son participated in the FIRST robotics challenge couple of years ago and they qualified for the finals competition. That was a similar activity as you mentioned above, they had to design and construct a robot from a given set of items with specific functions and limitations on size. Eventually the robots had to take part in a competition. The team whose robot scored the most points were awarded. Points were awarded for speed, accuracy, adaptability and overall performance. Quite exciting for high school kids (10th grade) and excellent exposure to scientific concepts, team work and project execution.

Wish you good luck in your next project...

Hiren

Quote:

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Originally posted by geetakhanna

'Bhains ke aage been bajana' - ek muhavara

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Dimple2001