Above / Park Addition Lego League (PALL) and coaches are headed to Regional State Tournament on Jan. 14, 2018. (Photo submitted by Kate Moeller)
Following the success the Park Addition Lego League had in 2016-2017, PALL is at it again and ready for the Regional State Tournament in Elgin on Jan. 14, 2018.
What does the Park Addition neighborhood have to do with Legos? What League? What’s all this about?
According to the team’s three coaches, PALL is excited to tell you.
Imagine a small group of junior-high-aged kids working together to solve social issues, working together to build an obstacle course accomplishing robot, and working together to build the bonds needed in a high-functioning team.
Junior High kids working together? Bonding? High-functioning team?
Yes. Â You read that correctly.
First Lego League program brings hands-on robotic building, designing, and coding opportunities for youngsters typically reserved for the high-school age level.
Varying backgrounds all compete to build and program a Lego-based robot to successfully master obstacles in 2:30 seconds. There are hundreds of teams in just Illinois alone.
All beginning with an identical obstacle course, a multitude of approaches are on full display in pursuit of the highest point tally.
Diverse strategies, exciting designs, and how it’s managed are all up to the kids.
Not to be outshined, First Lego League’s focus on developing tomorrow’s leaders means a key portion of the overall competition points come from what socially impactful solution a team proposes.
From Animals to Hydrodynamics
Last year’s Lego League focus was on Animals, this year theme is Hydrodynamics.
The Park Addition Lego League (PALL) paired up with Mr. Franklin Woodland of Pristine One, a water filtration vendor in Pakistan, to assist in educating Pakistan residents about the benefits of purified water versus the water delivered to their faucet. Aging infrastructure and many other factors reduce the likelihood municipality- provided water in Pakistan is free from contaminments.
The PALL team learned about cultural differences, monitory standards, and what it takes to communicate with a Pakistani resident regarding the dangers unforeseen from their tap water. Literacy and trust were some challenges the PALL team learned they needed to overcome.
Public welcome to cheer PALL’s robot on Jan. 14 at Elgin Community College
The Park Additional Lego League welcomes you to cheer their robot on at the Elgin Community College on Jan 14Â and to learn more about their accomplishments aimed at enriching lives in Pakistan.
Story and photos submitted by Kate Moeller for PALL Coaches Sven Davies, Lane Moeller and Matt Aldrich.
Editor’s Note / Fond memories of innovative children who love building with Legos always come with that unexpected Lego lurking on the floor at night waiting for a bare foot.
