The middle school Lego Lions team will advance to the FIRST Robotics Competition State Championship after competing with other middle tennessee teams last weekend at Ensworth.
The FIRST Lego League is a national organization that uses Lego engineering and responsive robotics kits to challenge students to research real world problems and create innovative solutions. To compete, teams build and program a responsive robot to complete a series of tasks on a playing field.
CPA’s Purple Team (6th-8th grade) received 2nd place in robot design for the robot’s structural stability, its problem-solving mechanisms, and its programming strategy. They will compete in the state tournament on February 14, along with 48 other teams from across the state.
“We are thrilled for our Lego Lions involved in the FIRST Lego League! They have had unique opportunities this year to develop crucial 21st century skills of collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving,” says Academic Dean Katherine Koonce. “As they worked in teams to solve challenges utilizing the basic tools of engineering and robotic technology, these students distinguished themselves as learners who showed perseverance and resilience – two of the most important skills of any learner.”
As part of the team’s research and preparation, team members have Skyped with international Lego robotics champions from Australia and England. The Lego Lions compete under the core value stated by Advisor Wesley Diggs: “What we discover is more important than what we win.”
