Catalina Foothills Community Schools - Tucson, Arizona

CATALINA FOOTHILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

2101 E. River Road | Tucson, AZ 85718
Phone: 520-209-7551 | Fax: 520-209-7575
Office Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm
CARE: 520-209-7548

Travis Kolter
Director

Lego Robotics

2022-2023 FLL Challenge

It’s full speed ahead for the 2022-2023 Robotics Challenge: SUPERPOWERED!

This year, teams are exploring where energy comes from and how it is distributed, stored, and used and then putting their superpowered creativity to work to innovate for a better energy future. Teams are investigating the essential role energy plays in keeping our world running in the three elements of the 2022-23 SUPERPOWERED Challenge by:

1. Designing, building and programming an autonomous robot to score points in the Robot Game

2. Creating an innovative solution to the challenge of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

3. Demonstrating FLL core values by helping each other, sharing ideas with others and embracing the spirit of friendly competition.

Students in Grades 4-8 can extend their learning in robotics by participating in the annual international FLL competition. Each year, FLL presents students with real-world situations and challenges in which they develop their abilities to think critically, apply knowledge at high levels and use technology to access, evaluate and communicate information. Students on robotics teams are afforded unique experiences involving collaborative engineering, programming, problem-solving, and research.

The FLL season starts in August with a two-week Preview Class to give students the opportunity to experience the teamwork it takes to address the robotics missions and innovation project and prepare for competition in December. Teams for the full competition season are organized from the FLL PREVIEW CLASS participants. Team membership requires enthusiasm, focus and persistence in problem-solving, willingness to learn and work with others on team goals, and commitment. Teams will meet weekly throughout the season. Optional extra sessions may be offered.

The 2022-23 FLL Robotics teams will be led by CFSD STEM Integration Specialists Charlotte Ackerman (SD), and Noah Mickey-Coleman (VV), in partnership with teachers, high school mentors, parents and community members.

What is FIRST Lego League

FIRST Lego League (FLL) introduces young people (grades 4-8), to the fun and excitement of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). It is designed for students do the research and problem solving, which are integral parts of each element of STEM, to meet the yearly Challenge. Students identify a problem and develop an innovative solution.

There are three elements that make up the Challenge: 1. programming an autonomous robot (the Robot Game), 2. creating innovative solutions to a problem (the Project) 3. following the FLL Core Values where the children learn that helping one another and the spirit of friendly competition is the foundation of teamwork.

Each year’s Challenge is similar to real challenges faced by scientists and engineers, which leads to an understanding of the work of these professionals and an exposure to career options. The Project gives the teams the opportunity to more deeply explore the theme of the Challenge and propose a solution to a problem they select.

The teams present their projects for feedback from the judges, who often are experts in the Challenge field. FIRST Lego League imparts valuable life skills and excitement about how our students can make a difference in the world.

FIRST Lego League in CFSD

In Catalina Foothills School District, students who participate in FIRST Lego League (FLL) are afforded unique experiences involving a team approach to engineering, programming, problem solving, and research. FLL equips students with tools to be successful in a rapidly-evolving world. FLL presents students with real-world situations and challenges in which they develop their abilities to think critically, apply knowledge at high levels and use technology to access, evaluate and communicate information.
Led by Charlotte Ackerman, CFSD’s Teacher Leader for Science and Engineering, FLL team members work together over a 14-week session to address the current FLL mission and prepare for competition in December.

FIRST Lego League Lite
In the winter and spring months, students who have an interest in participating as an FLL team member in the following school year are encouraged to join FLL Lite. This enrichment experience gives students the opportunity to get a taste of FLL without making the commitment to the full 14-week program. They get to try the current school year’s FLL mission and build their skills for future competitions without actually stepping into the arena of competing.