FLL Project Solution Found – Body Forward 2010

We took advantage of a no school day to meet in the morning for a couple of hours. We got ALOT done toward the Project! I looked through the judging rubics to think of some questions to ask the team. If the team didn’t have a quick shout it out reply – we separated into two teams to look up the information on the internet. We gathered back up and the team shared what they learned with each other. One of our Parent Mentors played Judge and went through the questions – the team did great! They need to come up with a way to present to the judges – I am thinking they should replay what they did today – goofy moves, game show style – like Jeopardy Show. I’d do more like Let’s Make a Deal – but I don’t think the shy young team would go for it. . . . Maybe if Wayne Brady were our Mentor. :) The team mates went to the dining room to draw out a few prototypes of our solution piece – one team mate came up with 6 prototypes. We have 2 or 3 levels of product – a low cost to a I just Won the Lottery and Want to Get Fixed Up price. Maybe Late Night Infomercial.

Creating the Prototypes –

We talked about the Idea – Research – Problem Solving – Solution – Prototypes – Sharing cycle of Engineering today – and ate a lot of apples.

Answering to the Judges

The kids had a fun time answering the questions. They would all swing their arm to point to the person they knew had the answer. It was pretty entertaining. I might encourage them to work this into the presentation. I am SOOO thankful that our parents have all agreed to be co-coach/mentor/volunteers!!!!

The Robot in Progress

The team took apart the robot at our meeting last night. They are still putting it together. I know this is part of the process. And that it is better for them – to have a customized robot – but for the mom. Looking at the calendar. Who forgets to just be the coach. My heart is getting a little bit tight. AAAK. Ok. Coach Mom is back. I am excited that the kids are seeing that the robot needs changes to do the missions better – and are taking the time to reconstruct. And eat apples. (The Mom of the Boys is NERVOUS!!!!)

Team Work Skills

We had a couple of Ice Breaker openings to help the team mates talk and listen to each other. The kids came from an open call from the Library – so many have not met before our club, or they might recognize each other, but have not socialized together. They are doing great at melding as a team. One activity was to make a house out of index cards – they each built one individually, with three different building plans. Then I asked them to build one together – using everyone’s ideas and the came up with a pretty cool house.