Lego Robotics

Each Wednesday, our homeschool Lego Robotics Team meets from 12-3 pm.

This is how we start the meeting. Shoes off and in the front foyer.

Our youngest is 6 years old and the oldest is 11.
They are learning pi.
Why? Because they need to know how to measure and program wheel rotations so their robot can accomplish the missions on the game table-that's why.

This year's theme is Bio-Engineering.
The team decided to tackle the heart and DNA.
They are required to do a research project and interview someone who is doing research on the heart. I taught the heart anatomy and physiology. Each of the kids became a valve or a chamber of the heart and we roll played and passed the ball (blood) through each step. In the end, the kids new all the chambers of the heart and the sequence of flow.
These kids rock.

Morgan was the Electrical system of the heart. She's wearing the Electricity hat. The kids played a team building game of murder.
Yeah-it's not what it sounds like.
It's more like Clue.

The kids also worked on their public speaking.
They were given scripts to read.
Really hard scripts with words like Deoxyribonucleic acid and prosthetics.

It's great practice for them all.

They will continue to practice this all year.

The coaches continue to work with the kids

and troubleshoot robot problems.

The kids built everything on this table.

While the kids are in their robot class all of our other children play.

Logan is too stinking cute in his Triceratops costume.

The pi girls work on wheels and gears.
That's what they call themselves.

One of the missions is to get the pacemaker wire into the heart.

The pacemaker itself cannot be in the heart, only the wire.

Pi girls.

The kids are getting used to the new mat on the table.

The syringe is another mission on the challenge.

The boys work on another robot.

This past Saturday we spent a good part of the day at Rhode Island College

at the First Lego League Kickoff Body Forward Challenge.
I think there were about 400 kids and half as many adults.

Okay maybe not that many but there was a lot of energy.

There are 61 Lego Robotics teams in Rhode Island this year.

Mary Johnson kicked off the ceremonies.

Last years Lego Robotics state champions showed the crowd

the missions for the Lego Table Game this year.

Each team has only two and a half minutes to complete the entire table.

Pi girls mom and our team coach.

Huge crowd. I was so proud of all of these kids.

They sat and listened and asked awesome questions.

The President of Rhode Island College, Nancy Carriuolo gave the opening address.
FLL gives away vast amounts of scholarship money each year.

During the course of the day the kids chose two seminars on Bioengineering that they were interested in attending. Many of the parents and coaches volunteered to help at the event.

The kids were given the choices of attending:

-Blood Cells-What They Are and How They Function in the Body.

-The Language of the Immune System.

-The Use of Biotechnology to Evaluate Heart Function.

-Germs!

-Biomedical Engineering and Prosthetics.

-Engineering and the Human Body.

Representative Jim Langevin stopped by with an inspiring message for the kids. He told them of how he came to be in a wheelchair and told them to never give up.

He showed them how his wheelchair can raise up so that he is face to face to speak with people and then demonstrated all the things that his wheelchair can do.

The kids went to their classes. There were many professors from Rhode Island College, The Community College of Rhode Island and many from different Biotechnology companies throughout Rhode Island. They all donated their time to these kids and FLL.

Morgan attended The Language of the Immune System.

Ryan Tassone, Associate Research Scientist, did a great job.

Morgan loved his power point presentation.

Then she attended the class on the heart function and learned

how assays are used to determine heart function.

And while this has nothing to with Legos...my husband ran his first half marathon in Newport and the kids took some pictures.

Congratulations honey, So proud of you.

Little man in Newport.

Again-nothing to do with legos.

Hillside playing.

If you haven't been involved with Lego Robotics,

start a team and get more information.

It's been a totally ENRICHing activity for Morgan.

Happy Lego Building!

Volunteering with Children

It is often difficult to find Volunteer opportunities for children. Our homeschool group ENRICHri has done a great job of trying to instill volunteerism in children of all ages. Once a month our group volunteers at the Johnny Center and today we volunteered at the Sharing Locker. Almost a year ago our church started the Sharing Locker as a means to reach out to the community. The Sharing Locker helps those who are currently using the SNAP program. It is a non-food pantry.

Donations of all kinds are received to help families in need. Shampoo, conditioner, dishsoap, razors, pet foods, laundry detergents, diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products and a whole host of other items are collected. Once a month the Sharing Locker opens it's doors to the public and gives away needed supplies.

In recent months, The Sharing Locker has almost doubled it's number of clients that it is serving. They have been in more need of help and supplies.

Our Homeschool group, some neighborhood kids and some church members all gathered today to mix and separate out laundry detergent. The kids mix the detergent in big batches by following the recipe, scoop it out into individual containers, label and stack them in boxes.

Folks of all ages and stages (and not just homeschoolers) came with

open hearts and helping hands.

We made 3 huge batches of Detergent and 103 separate containers for

The Sharing Locker's opening on the 16th.

We had 12 children and 5 adults helping today.

Detergent Recipe:

2 boxes of Borax
6 boxes of Ivory Snow Flakes

3 boxes of Arm and Hammar Washing Soda

Use 1-2 teaspoons-may need to be adjusted for your washing machine.

When we were done we smelled all soapy and clean.

The kids rested for a bit after cleanup.

And we joined some friends at the playground for lunch while the moms were able to talk. It was a gorgeous fall day. The kids collected acorns and mushrooms and explored the nearby woods.

A great day with friends, church family and neighbors.

What do you do to promote volunteerism in children?

Too Busy to Blog

Updating our homeschool days with a photo heavy blog post.

Patrick worked on some school work. He is using my old antique sewing desk as a workspace. Siince the sewing machine doesn't work I think this is a great use.

Patrick worked on his photography.
I love this buddha peeking out from my sage.

We did a lot of book work.

Our church Parish house was torn down to make way for newer larger building.

It was sad to see it go but exciting that soon our new building will be here.

It will provide opportunity to reach more community.

We took a field trip with the kids to watch it come down.

Morgan worked on some drawings.

We had a homeschool meeting with our Community Leaders.

Everyone brought yummy food to share.

It was a great meeting full of fellowship and fun.

Lots of sharing of ideas and great community.

Melissa talked about a new art program.

The prints were beautiful!
We'd really like to get an art class together for the homeschoolers.

The Lego Robotics team worked really hard.

Morgan built a robot.

More photography by Patrick.

Our Thursday group painted peace signs for the art project this week.

Pretty.

Great colors.

I worked with Tae on his Math Gnomes.

Green is plus.

Yellow is Times.

Blue is Minus.

Red is Divide.

He has created stories to go with the Math Gnomes

and we work on these each week.

They look better with eyeballs.

Do you like my painting behind them?
I call it eyeball.

Eyeball.

Morgan and Tae worked on some paintings.

Lovely paintings.

Ms. Precision worked on a turtle.

Harley took a nap with Patrick.

We went out on Saturday night to see my husband's brother perform in the big city.

All of the cousins came.

Great Time.

Me, Larry and all the cousins.

Harley took another nap.

We made Halloween crafts too.

Ignore my son's helmet.

Doesn't everyone wear a helmet while crafting?

The kids made bendy halloween figures.

Some of the moms did too.

Choosing fabric was a difficult choice.

Choosing the hair was harder.

Everyone kept busy.

Some made googly eyed vampires.

And Zombies.

Yes I know he has an eyeball on his arm.

Eyeballs seem to be a recurring theme in this post.

Vampire Snowmen.

And skinny, bendy green faced guys.

We played a lively game of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader."

No, apparently we are not.

I'm pretty sure the score keeper was cheating.

What did you do this week for homeschool?