Now that we have our first semester Jr. FLL program all buttoned up, we’re ready to host another team! I have three open spots for a team forming in Carrollwood on Thursday evenings. First semester, over 50 students representing 11 teams participated in Snack Attack. For this semester, the program lasts from six to eight weeks depending on how quickly the team gets through the project and model building. The expo will be on April 7th at the Glazier Museum. I’ll have more details about the expo as it becomes available.
The cost of the program is $125. It includes the meetings and the team registration with FIRST and registration for the team at the expo in April. There will likely be some additional cost to attend the expo (parking and/or admission for siblings). Admission to the museum for each team member and one parent is included. We provide all the materials for the program.
Parents are welcome (and even encouraged) to stay and help out. Each child will be responsible for a team snack at least once during the program.
Who can enroll? Students ages 6 to 9 (as of Jan 1, 2011)
Cost: $125 for the season
When? Thursday evenings 6:00 to 7:30 PM February 9th thru April 5th.
Where? Messiah Lutheran Church, 14920 Hutchison Road, Tampa, FL 33625
How? Download the registration packet, Email Bill Shaw at bill@inanimatereason.com or use the contact link to the right and ask for a registration packet.
About the program
Can Junior FIRST LEGO League teams master the science of safely preparing food? In the 2011 Snack Attack Challenge, kids will take a “hands on” approach to the topic of food safety by exploring how proper preparation and storage can help keep us healthy. Teams will learn about simple machines as they build a model made of LEGO® elements with a motorized moving part, and will create a team Show-Me Poster to represent their Snack Attack findings.
Jr. FLL has captured the imagination and minds of thousands of kids. Each year, the Challenge Advisory Team designs a new and exciting Challenge to ignite the inherent creativity in young kids. The end result of the design process is a Challenge with two defined parts – the Show-Me Poster and the Model.
The Show-Me Poster requires kids to illustrate their research and team journey. It provides an opportunity for them to share what they studied, what they learned, and how they thought to improve the problem they chose. Their creative minds get started working on how to present their information and solution.
The Model portion of the Challenge gets kids’ hands busy. This is where they build a representation of what they are researching (according to the Challenge requirements), incorporating simple machines and movement into their creation. Teams are able to utilize a motor to power movement in their model, or they can move an element of it by hand.
The Jr. FLL Challenge is based on the same general topic as the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge. It is open-ended, designed for younger kids, and customizable for every ability level.