Robotics Academy Bringing robotics to the younger crowd

Activity • • Architect/Builder Person A will build a structure with all the legos in the bag but Person B CANNOT look at Person A’s structure Person A will give instructions to Person B on how to build that same structure using Person B’s legos Compare!

Why younger audiences? • Lack of representation in Laredo • • FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, and BEST- high school FIRST Lego League- middle and late elementary FIRST Junior Lego Leauge- early elementary Lack of interest in STEM fields by th the time students reach 4 grade

Program Overview • • Very little to no competition Thematic approach to robotics • • s e r u t n e v d A n a e c O Safari Adventures, City Designers, Ocean Adventures Apply real-world science concepts Solve problems using Lego We. Do kit Lego Smart Kits City D esign ers

Structure • • Intro to robotics- myth vs. reality Fundamentals of roboticsgears, motors, sensors Apply concepts learned to thematic missions Parental involvement

Program Details • • Three blocks of four sessions each Each session builds upon each other and each block builds upon the other Sessions are two hours each “Debriefing”

Reach • • 200+ children have experienced the Academy since September of 2010 or its curriculum in summer/winter/spring break camps Annual Engineering & Robotics Expo