2023 Goat Runners LEGO Robotics Team are the Alphabots!
This year’s Goat Runners robotics team is the Alphabots! Our 14 kiddos are in four crews, the Zucs, Cucs, Melons and Gourds!
Emphasizing teamwork as our roughly 7 year olds take on 7th graders, we’ll compete in the South Metro FIRST LEGO League Challenge Qualifier Tournament at Chatfield High School on Saturday, November 18th. Come cheer us on!
Team HideOut (under construction)
This year we are recruited kiddos age 6-10+ to form a “robot game only” FIRST (R) LEGO (R) League robotics team. We’ve met for one session in August and September, and we’ll meet twice in October and November before our November 18th tournament.
Though designed for grades 4-8, younger ages are allowed. We have equipment and 10+ years experience for this program. For now, we intend to have a fully registered team but only compete with in three of four categories—robot game, robot design and core values. The fourth category, the innovation project is not robot focused and as a research project, would be technically challenging for our seven year olds. We would not be qualified to advance to the state tournament but kids would get tournament experience.
Contact Brenton (brenton@steamhouse.club) if you have interest.
FIRST is a k-12 family of robotics programs that have a tagline touting being “more than robots”. Annually they have a science and society theme, and they give emphasis to teamwork and “core values” of Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork and Fun.
Brenton coached and served as tournament director for FIRST LEGO League teams when he was at Campus Middle School. So there is familiarity with middle school version of the program (FLL Challenge), but less so with younger aged programs.
We have four Spike Prime robots, and we have 10 EV3 (previous technology) LEGO Robotics kits. We have a few laptops and two game tables. We are fully equipped.
FIRST LEGO League is a sequence of competitive robotics programs. Last year’s FIRST LEGO League theme was Super Powered. We are Team Alphabot with Crews Gourds (#694), Melons (#60034), Cucs (#62747), Zucs (#62748)!
Some steamHouse LEGO options. Most kits obtained via Craigslist Free, and so are missing a few pieces.
The Fairmount steamHouse is equipped with a 24/365 LEGO community building table. Call now to reserve a private session!
When we are ready to engage fully, LEGO Education SPIKE Prime, a drag and drop Scratch-like programming platform will likely be our path. Two sets onsite now. Also onsite are 10 EV3 LEGO Robotics kits, and associated Technics styled LEGO pieces.
For those anxious to get their kiddo coding, check out MIT’s free programming platform, Scratch.
Want to check out a kit? Let us know: