Panorama Middle School students put their creative and engineering minds to the test last fall at the 2017-2018 Iowa First Lego League regional competition at the Waukee Middle School.
The First Lego League competition brought together teams of students ages 9 to 14 to vie in three categories: robot design, core values and solving a real world problem in this year’s theme of hydrodynamics. Teams had three months to prepare, sometimes practicing as much as three days a week.
The seventh and eighth graders on the Dream Team captured first place in the project category with their prototype design for a grease catcher.
Team LEGO, composed of sixth graders, won first place in the Core Values category. The core values of the First Lego League are:
- We are a team.
- We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.
- We know our coaches and mentors don’t have all the answers; we learn together.
- We honor the spirit of friendly competition.
- What we discover is more important than what we win.
- We share our experiences with others.
- We display Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition® in everything we do.
- We have FUN!
Panora’s First Lego League Team found local supporters. Carla Church, Panorama’s K-12 TAG teacher and coach of the First Lego League, received $250 from the Panorama Booster Club to help fund 18 t-shirts, with additional funds provided by the Women for Panora’s Future organization.
“The t-shirts were designed by the team members cooperatively and provided a sense of unity during the competition,” Church said. “One of the teams finished first place in core values, and the other team first place on their project. Thank you to the Panorama Booster Club for your support!”
The 2017-2018 team designed their own t-shirts, which included their team name and sponsors on the back. This year’s sponsors were John Deere, the Iowa State University College of Engineering and Rockwell Collins.
“Our Panorama Booster Club is proud to help provide funds to all extracurricular activities,” said Panorama Booster Arianne J. Steenblock.
