Park View Elementary fifth graders are learning about robotics through the STEM Club. Caryn Schaub, the PVES STEM assistant, partnered with Bradley County Schools’ Innovation Specialist Jason Viviano to plan and launch a LEGO Sumo Bot Challenge.
What is the LEGO Sumo Bot Challenge?
The LEGO Sumo Bot Challenge is an activity where students design and build their own robots using LEGO components, then program them to battle in a sumo ring! The goal? To use programming and engineering skills to create a robot that can push the opponent out of the ring, all while learning key STEM concepts and utilizing the STEM Design Process. It’s a perfect blend of creativity and critical thinking for these fifth graders.
But this challenge isn’t just about robots—it’s about collaboration, innovation, and teamwork.
Partnering for Learning
This project wouldn’t be possible without teamwork. Ms. Schaub’s STEM expertise combined with Mr. Viviano’s specialized knowledge in coding, robotics, and digital tools combine to tailor a learning experience where students get to:
- Collaborate: Work in teams to plan and build their robots✍🏼
- Solve problems: Debug code and troubleshoot robot designs🛠🧰
- Experiment: Test different strategies in the sumo ring and see which bots reign supreme!🤖
- Reflect: Analyze what worked (and what didn’t) to improve on their designs💡
Through this challenge, students not only gain exposure to robotics and programming, but they also develop important life skills like teamwork, resilience, and critical thinking.
A Glimpse Into the Future
As students begin building their robots, we can’t wait to see how their designs take shape. Will they build bots that are fast and agile? Will they design sturdy robots that are tough to push out of the ring? One thing’s for sure: the possibilities are endless, and every student will have a chance to experiment, fail, and try again.
This LEGO Sumo Bot Challenge is more than just a fun classroom activity—it’s an opportunity for our students to experience firsthand how STEM principles come to life in real-world applications. And with the guidance of their teacher, they’ll be empowered to take on new challenges with confidence and creativity.
A big thank you to Ms. Schaub at Park View Elementary School and Innovation Specialist Jason Viviano for making this collaboration happen and for showing our students the power of teamwork, creativity, and technology.
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