For one week, middle school scholars worked alongside high school students to explore robotics and tackle engineering challenges together.
By programming robots to move, scholars quickly discovered that success came through trial and error, by testing, refining, and testing again. Each attempt brought shcholars closer to guiding their robot smoothly around the course.
“I liked figuring out what worked and what didn’t,” shared eighth grader Harrison Billups. “If something went wrong, we just changed it and tried again.”
That persistence paid off during one of the week’s most exciting moments. With balloons attached, the robots went head-to-head as scholars attempted to pop their opponents’, applying everything they had learned to the test.
Along the way, scholars strengthened their coding skills while practicing patience, creativity, and collaboration. The high school helpers also gave our middle school scholars a glimpse of where STEM learning can lead.
By the end of the week, scholars had learned another important lesson: that progress often comes one adjustment – and one more try – at a time.
Programs like this are made possible through the support of donors and partners who help scholars explore new interests and discover what they’re capable of achieving.
See the robots – and the persistence – in action.
