Finally hardware!

Yesterday the three teams got started on their basic bots. They will build on these to accomplish the FLL missions. I think it was a fun meeting...I hope the students agree!

Someday...

I have NO doubt that these students will someday be capable of stuff like this!

Research is Tough

Yesterday we started to study the robot rules and had a fun LEGO building and communications activity. Hopefully this time next week we will be nearing completion of the research.

These are some great students and I am impressed by attendance and enthusiasm in spite of the fact that we have done little robotics to this point.

Thanks for the support!
Chris

Two Lines

We are breaking down our research while continuing to build our teams. Today we also learned how to make Norbert cross one line and stop on the second line. I will continue to sprinkle in some robotics during this tough research project phase.

BTW, you can get a copy of the student handbook HERE.

We have our challenge!

This is a repeat of an email I sent to all parents that I have email for. If you didn't get the email, please email me and I will make sure I have your correct email.

Welcome to the 2008 BVMS robotics season. We have 2 meetings under our belt but the season is now going into full swing. The challenge from FIRST has been published and we will start working it on Tuesday.

We have a large group of 23 students so far this year so we will be breaking up into 3 FLL teams. I will coach each team with help from Mrs. Sullivan and others. Feel free to come to any meeting to help and/or see what we are up to. We all will work together on many things but FIRST requires a maximum of 10 students per team. I feel this is a good rule as it makes the teams most effective. We will be breaking the group up into the 3 teams soon.

I had coaches training yesterday from FIRST and in addition to the good training I received; we will get a grant for ONE team registration from the Kauffman Foundation and UMKC. We are required to register all teams that go to competition so the other 2 registrations will come from last years fund raisers and/or Blue Valley Middle School.

I have a student handbook for each student so look for those to come home soon. Please help your student remember to bring this handbook to each meeting. I do not and will not require any homework for this team. If students get bored after homework and chores, there is plenty of material in the handbook to look at.

I plan to take pictures and occasional video to document our efforts but I take privacy very seriously. I occasionally will post these on the web log for you to see but please let me know if you have any concerns in this area.

We will be working on shirts very soon and as you know I have the sizes for most of your students already. The shirts will run $10 to $12 and if you want one in addition to your student's, please let me know ASAP. The sizes are adult small, medium, large, XL, and XXL. The youth sizes are small, medium, and large.

Thank you for giving your student the opportunity to respond to this challenge. I promise that they will be rewarded for their "hard fun" efforts.

Feel free to contact me ANYTIME.

Sincerely,
Chris aka Coach Locke

Playing with Blocks

More fun today playing with blocks and lining up. Ask the students about it. I hope they had fun and learned something.

Here is a link to the meeting schedule.

Tomorrow or Saturday I will post pointers to our challenge to be published tomorrow.

Can't wait!

Chris.

Wow!

We had 21 students this morning. It was a sincere pleasure meeting them all. We had some great conversation and we are off to a great start getting to know one another. Thursday we will have some fun and games while continuing to build some fellowship. Stay tuned here for details about the FLL challenge to be published Friday. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to meet and work to inspire these bright students.

Chris.