On Saturday, November 9, 2013, some students from Hillcrest’s First LEGO League (FLL) attended a practice scrimmage at Oakwood Elementary School.  Mr Meyers, Mr Herold, Nathaniel, Jackson, Cole, Ann, John, Alex, Skylar (Mr Herold’s son), and I all spectated to see how the real scrimmage would run in the month of December when each team competes against each other in the Robot Game and the Nature’s Fury Challenge.  We also wanted to learn how the core values would play a part in the official competition.

There are 3 parts to FLL 1.) the Robot Game, 2.) Nature’s Fury Challenge, and 3.) the Core Values. In the Robot Game, we have to construct and program a robot made out of LEGOS to successfully complete certain missions (such as picking up small items or moving objects across the playing field without destroying others).  Nature’s Fury Challenge requires the team to research a natural disaster (tornado, tsunami, volcano, or dust storm, etc.) and figure out a way to prevent the disaster or clean up the major damage after the disaster has struck. The goal of the Project Challenge is for our team to develop innovative solutions that help people prepare, stay safe, or rebuild from a natural disaster.  Core Values include teamwork and treating our team members with dignity and respect.  But most importantly we should have fun!

In all, there were about 150 people at the scrimmage and everywhere kids ranging in ages from about 9-14 were preparing for the robot game and their presentations. While at the scrimmage teams were given a chance to practice their skills in the Robot Game plus they had a chance to practice their Nature’s Fury presentations in front of a panel of judges and the general public.

One of my personal favourite projects was about wildfires and how a non-flammable robot along with professional firefighters, who would control the robot, would work together in order to put out the fire safely.  It was an amazing idea and a unique way to stop hundreds of deaths and could prevent what happened in Yarnell, AZ where 19 firefighters lost their lives.

The scrimmage was a lot of fun and a great learning experience. I learned teamwork is KEY for everyone involved and participating.