Middle Schoolers in Montclair Take Part in Lego Competition

Four teams made up of more than 30 students from Renaissance Middle School competed in the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Robotics Competition hosted by Montclair Society of Engineers at Clifton High School.

Two of the teams, T.O.R.N (Technological Organization of Renaissance Nerds) and The Clankers, captured highest honors by winning the Champion’s Award. These teams will advance to the state tournament which will be held on December 13. The sixth grade team, the Ro-bits, won a Project Award for their design of a playground to teach physics.

As part of this years the competition, each team developed a project designed to improve education. T.O.R.N worked on a project to introduce fractions in creative ways that could keep students’ attention.

Taking into account Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, they developed lesson plans to introduce fractions to students who love to learn through music, nature and kinesthetic activities.

The team tried out these ideas in a “Fraction Fair” at Edgemont Elementary School. They divided a third grade class into three groups and each small group got to try each of the three activities: drumming for musical learners, gardening for naturalistic learners, and two games for the kinesthetic learners. The fair was a success and the third graders loved it.

Mt. Hebron and Glenfield Students Compete in FLL

“The students worked well together and did an admirable job problem-solving on the spot,” said Mt. Hebron project advisor and science teacher Dan Taylor. “As this was the first year for many of our team members, it was a true learning experience about the need to (over) prepare, collaborate and communicate. Many of them have agreed to work periodically throughout the remainder of the year with the Engineering, Technology, Computing Club so that we can become more knowledgeable and highly skilled programmers and innovators.”

The Glenfield robotics team also participated in the lego competition and came in 27th overall out of 40 teams.

“Our standing rose from last year, when they came in 5th to last,” said project advisor and science teacher Krista Ruehl. “The team was comprised of ten students, 6th through 8th graders and our project was about educating others on the misconceptions about Ebola. They even created a website that the community could visit”

Click here to view the Glenfield Robotics League website.

Information and photos courtesy of Montclair Public Schools.