ELKHART — Fourth-grader Alex Germain has learned about teamwork while building a robot with seven of his classmates on their team, Bristol Builders.
He was jumping with excitement when the robot performed as programed and groaning with exasperation when the robot had a malfunction during Saturday’s Lego Robotic competition at Elkhart Memorial High School, sponsored by ETHOS and part of First Lego League.
The students attend Bristol Elementary School.
“We worked together to get it done,” Savannah Tully, a fourth-grader, said. “Sometimes there are difficult missions and some are easier (the missions).”
The missions are actions programmed into the robot to perform during a competition and some of them include throwing a soccer ball, pulling out keys and pushing and opening doors, their coach Rita Walt added.
Alex said the team had to prepare a research project and core values as part of the event.
“We use science and math and computer programs,” Alex said. “Things I’m really good at.”
Another team from Hawthorne Elementary School stood waiting in line for their turn at competition.
“Today has been fun but you feel a little nervous,” said sixth-grader Vincent Bautista.
Sixth-grader Kelvin Rivas agreed with his classmate.
“It’s been exciting even though you feel nervous,” Kelvin said, smiling.
There was music to help add to the excitement as teams put their robots through the obstacle courses.
“We practiced a lot and sometimes the whole thing falls apart,” said fifth-grader Willy Zaldivar. “We’re persistent and we keep going. We keep trying and never give up.”
The other teammates of the Hawthorne Master Builders nodded their heads in agreement, sixth-graders Erick Romero and Jonathan Diaz, and fifth-grader Cody Fergison.
