Shrewsbury Robotics will offer 4 weeks of summer activities this summer starting July 11th, 2011 to August 5th, 2011. The 4 weeks will be broken down into one week sections. Each student will participate in 2 of 3 activities:
Each student will participate in 2 of 3 main activities each week and other small science projects every week:
- Lego Robotics
- Trebuchet
- Rockets
Each activity will teach students different aspects of Science and Engineering and Technology. All activities will teach students about Teamwork, Compromise, Success, Failure and much much more!
Lego Robotics
FIRST LEGO League’s (FLL) annual Challenges are based on “real world” scientific topics like nanotechnology, energy resources, transportation, and accessibility. Teams tackle the same issues as today’s scientists and engineers!
FLL is about more than building and competing with robots. In the Project, teams research a real-world problem, create an innovative solution, and share their findings with their community.
Children develop technical skills as a result of participating in FLL, but they also develop important life and employment skills that will benefit them no matter what career path they choose. Brandeis University evaluations have shown that children learn critical thinking, time management, collaboration, and how to communicate effectively, all while becoming more self confident.
Each student will work with a group to complete this years challenge “Smart Move”
Trebuchet
A trebuchet works by using the mechanical advantage principle of leverage to propel a stone or other projectile much farther and more accurately than other catapults, which swing off the ground. The sling and the arm swing up to the vertical position, where, usually assisted by a hook, one end of the sling releases, propelling the projectile towards the target with great force.
Many variations have been made upon the trebuchet by modern day enthusiasts, especially to control the path of the counterweight. There is still debate whether wheels improve the efficiency of transfer of energy from the counterweight to the projectile. It is known that troughs, often rotated in either direction for aiming, were used for the projectile to slide along, thus increasing accuracy.
Each Student will build their own trebuchet and then as a group we will attack mock castles.
Rockets
A rocket or rocket vehicle is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use.[1] Rocket engines work by action and reaction. Rocket engines push rockets forwards simply by throwing their exhaust backwards extremely fast.
Each student will build there own Rocket.