LVMS Robotics Team “Baybots” move on to FLL Championship Tournament on March
4th at Longwood HS
On January 29th, Locust Valley Middle School sent their Robotics Teams to compete at the First Lego League (FLL) Qualifier Tournament, at Berner Middle School in Massapequa. The tournament was sponsored by School Business Partnerships of LI (SBPLI). The 6th Grade all girls team, the Baybots, took first place in Mechanical Design, as well as achieving the third highest score of the day for the performance of their beloved robot, Lucy. [The judges were wowed by the nifty scissor arm attachment used to deliver bacteria and viruses to the sink on the challenging mission field]. The team also achieved high marks for their research project and skit about celery and the use of organophosphates on celery farms.
FLL challenges students from grades 4-8 to design and program a robot, made solely of Legos and a computerized brick (brain). The students are given a series of missions, or tasks, which must be completed in 2 ½ minute rounds, in a daylong competition. In addition to the robot work, the teams are asked to complete a research project, identify a problem, and then come up with a solution, and present their project in a creative way. This year’s theme was Food Factor.
The Baybots will compete again at the Championship Tournament on March 4th at Longwood HS in Middle Island. Teams that qualified from all over Long Island will take their robots and research projects to the next round. Two teams will be selected to compete in a national tournament this spring in either California or Florida.
Here is what the Baybots have to say about their experience in Robotics:
“Our team was very determined and confident.”(J.) “My experience in Robotics has affected me by making me better at problem solving in real life.” (C.) “The scissor arm was amazing, we were so excited to impress the judges!” (E.) “I am very proud of my team for taking First Place in Mechanical Design.” (B.) “We invented a litmus paper that you would use for testing fruits and vegetables to see if they are contaminated with OP’s.” (Ez.) Our project about celery and organophosphates is very interesting and I learned a lot.” (R.) “The Robotics practices and meetings are so much fun.” (M.). “I now look at things side ways, upside down, and from a different angle to solve all problems. Thank you Robotics!” (G.)