Summer SAVY, Session 4 Day 4, Coding and Robotics (5th – 6th)
The Final Challenges Begin! Day 4 -Coding and Robotics Course
Welcome back to Day 4, where the excitement reached its peak as the participants embarked on their final challenges. Over the past few days, these talented young minds have been exploring the world of robotics, programming, and engineering with LEGO Spike Prime. Today, students put their skills to the test as they work on the ultimate tasks that showcase their coding, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
Embracing the Spirit of Competition
As the students gathered in the buzzing atmosphere of the camp, they started the morning with a recap of the lessons learned this week regarding programming and the engineering design process. Next, students began testing their new prototype designs for our Hopper Races! The students cheered on each other as we watched the last team standing in our Hopper Race Championship bracket. The top four teams were the A.A.P’s H.C., Speedster 2.0, Girl Power, and E!
Unveiling the Final Challenges: Robotics in Space
Next, we switched gears to prepare for our final challenge: creating a functional Space Rover that completes missions on Mars. Students virtually observed robot engineers who worked on creating robots for present and future space missions. This led to discussions about the future of robots in space. As a result of these discussions, students were reeling with ideas on how to create rovers to autonomously move their “moon rocks”, quarantine aliens, relocate astronauts, and return to the main base. The room filled with anticipation as the challenge designed to stretch their abilities and push their limits began. The campers chose teammates, fostering collaboration and camaraderie, as they prepared to tackle these exciting tasks.
Leading to the end of the day, campers started with the brainstorming phase of the engineering design process. The Mars Rover obstacle course calls for a display of technical prowess and nimble problem-solving skills. Each team is tasked with constructing a robot capable of navigating a complex obstacle course. The Mars Rover challenge pushes the campers to think like robotic engineers. Students worked tirelessly to design their robots, and put plans into action, iterating and improving their designs as they go.
This evening, please discuss with your young engineer regarding plans for their Mars Rover. What improvements will need to be made in preparation for completing the obstacle course? Students are encouraged to research designs and programming tips that can enhance their robot’s functionality.
Even though our week is ending, we look forward to the display of innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving as students face the obstacle course with their Mars Rover. The competition will be fierce, and the atmosphere will be electric as the teams strategize, tweak their robots, and test their programming skills to secure victory over the most mission points.
Thus far, the students have showcased their talent, ingenuity, and perseverance demonstrating their ability to think critically and solve complex problems. The journey from the first day of the camp to the final challenges was not just about building robots; but also, fostering a passion for STEM, nurturing teamwork, and empowering young minds to become the innovators of the future. Good luck with tomorrow’s FINAL challenge!
–Ms. Young