FIRST LEGO League Employing Teamwork And Ingenuity

Beginning in fourth grade, students may participate in the FIRST LEGO League robotics challenge.

Working in teams, students design and program a LEGO robot to complete the challenge tasks. At local and state competitions, the robot’s success is secondary to the students’ demonstration of teamwork and their research into the challenge issue. Awards emphasize gracious competition, the team’s creativity in approaching the challenge and the development of their robot.

The theme of the competition changes each year. Challenge issues have included the exploration of Mars and the Arctic, problems facing urban areas around the world, climate change, nanotechnology and transportation. Students investigate the problem and propose solutions.

St. Michael’s teams have enjoyed much success in FLL competitions, including invitations to the Virginia state tournaments each of the past 7 years. In 2008, the Middle School team placed first at the 2008 Virginia State Tournament and earned an invitation to the 2008 FIRST World Festival in Atlanta, GA.