FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov. 27, 2013) -- Six elementary schools from Fort Benning participated in the First Lego League Competition hosted by Columbus State University. The competition is for children ages 9 to 14 and focuses on science and technology.
This year's challenge is "Nature's Fury" and teams had to come up with solutions to handle various natural disasters, according to the First Lego League website.
There are three components to the competition: the robot game, the project and the FLL core values. Students must program a robot to perform certain functions in order to receive points, develop a solution to a real-world problem for their project and be guided the FLL core values.
"We (were) a little scared because it's a lot of pressure and it's our first year," said fifth-grader Kent Grantz about his school team.
Although Dexter has participated before, he said this was the first time he and his team have competed because they are now fifth-graders.
For Ashelynn Peckham, a fourth-grader from Wilson Elementary School and fifth-grader Charlet Wacholtz from Loyd Elementary School -- this was also their first year but also their school's first year entering into the competition.
"It's pretty fun to see what others can do and (how we) can improve next year," Charlet said.
For Ashelynn's team, the triboard for their project was the most difficult part of the competition, she said.
"Our problem was the problems hurricanes were causing and the solution was to make a hurricane preparedness kit," Ashelynn said.
Stowers Elementary School came up with the Blaze Buster 2K to help prevent forest fires.
"The Blaze Buster 2K will be lined up around a neighborhood and how many there are depends on the size of the neighborhood," said fifth-grader Xavier Brothers. "The chemicals spray up to one-square mile and it will take fire and heat away from the fire triangle, which fuels the fire."
For others, the robot game provided an intense experience.
"It was stressful but a lot of fun, " said Jessica Shipp, a fourth-grader from McBride about her team's performance after the second round of the robotics competition.
Jessica said she enjoyed working with teammate fifth-grader Khara Carrasco and that the two worked well together.
Fifth-grader Sadie Salazar said the team practiced everyday so they could be prepared for the competition.
At last year's competition, White Elementary School took first place and received the Champion Award.
For more information about the First Lego League, visit www.firstlegoleague.com.
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