GSA Robotics
By Janna Garofolo
The GSA K-2 robotics teams are off to a roaring start! Three teams (GSA Sisters, Rainbows, and ChocolateBots) will be participating in the Junior First Lego League (JFLL) challenge this semester. The goals of the challenge are to learn the difference between weather and climate, understand how scientists measure climate, and develop an appreciation for the importance of climate, and climate change, in our world. In addition, the teams will learn about, and model with Legos, several varieties of simple machines.
After completing their research and simple machine models, the teams will create a final Lego model of a tool that is used to measure climate. The tool will be either a new invention or an improvement to an existing tool, and it will include at least one example of a simple machine. To sum up all of their work, each team will also create a poster depicting their research journey and illustrating the function of their model and simple machine.
While the overall goals are the same, each team will put their own artistic and creative twist on their work. The Rainbows, for example, will study the climate of the rain forest and have already begun building rain gauges and placing them around campus. Needless to say (and much to everyone's dismay), the gauges remain just about empty. This is an excellent starting point, however, for comparing our Texas climate to that of an actual rain forest!
The ChocolateBots have decided to study the Arctic region and are particularly interested in how the climate affects polar bears and penguins. They are also quite fascinated with snow - another excellent contrast to our Texas climate.
The GSA Sisters have jumped right into the creative side of their adventure, working on the art (climate-related, of course) for their team t-shirts. They are learning about team dynamics as they channel many opinions into one team decision on what climate they should study. One possibility is Texas. The Sisters have developed an affinity for the wheel and axle simple machine, building several cars and other moving vehicles.
Our JFLL climate journey will end in a showcase event on January 10 at Round Rock High School. All Central Texas JFLL teams will share and discuss their models and posters. Last year's event was a blast and all of the girls were extremely proud of their work. Please mark your calendars to join us and support GSA robotics!