As many in our community know, the Collingwood Senior School robotics program has grown significantly over the last decade, with a long list of RoboCavs teams successfully competing in many VEX Robotics events.

This year, a group of Gr. 2, 3 and 4 students at our Junior School will also have the opportunity to engage in robotics-based learning and events through the First LEGO League Explore Club.

First Lego League Explore is an introductory, structured robotics exploration for Gr. 2–4 students that culminates in a festival where teams showcase their work in a non-competitive, fun, celebratory environment without formal scoring or advancement to higher-level tournaments. Introduced with the help of Specialist Teacher Yanina Vihovska, who has close to a decade of experience with the program, Wentworth’s initial roster includes three teams of five students, who were selected via lottery.

While the VEX program is highly focused on engineering, First LEGO League Explore takes a more transdisciplinary approach, introducing a new theme each year that enables teams to focus on engineering fundamentals as they explore real-world problems, learn to design and code, and create unique solutions using LEGO bricks. This year, students are tasked with investigating the past as a team of archaeologists.

“Lego Club is so cool because you can experience teamwork, kindness and taking part in a competition. It is challenging because you need to do programming.”

— Ava, Gr. 3

The FLL Explore teams gather every Thursday afternoon to collaborate and build machine models for the tools they will need to uncover mysterious artifacts on an archaeological dig site. Every team model must have at least one motorized component. Along the way, students record their ideas and designs and share their models and what they learned with other teams. Students then explore basic coding as they motorize parts of their team model toward the end of their experience. “I enjoy coaching the FLL Explore Club,” said Yanina Vihovska, “because students are not just building models. They are exploring, tinkering with and iterating their designs. They are asking questions, exploring ideas, and developing minds that will shape our future.”

The experience culminates in a series of festivals celebrating their machine designs. At the festivals, each team presents its model, design process, and what it has learned about the theme. Volunteer reviewers engage with the team by asking questions and offering positive feedback. Wentworth’s FLL Explore teams will travel to Mulgrave and UVic in January and to Meadowridge in March.

With all the early excitement surrounding the introduction of the First LEGO League Explore Club, there is hope that the club will grow and may include future participation in the second tier of First LEGO League, called Challenge, which is intended for Gr. 4–8 students.

“I really enjoy building with Lego and being in a team. I also like looking for pieces for my friends when they are building. I am very excited about going to the festivals and presenting to judges.”

— Jett, Gr. 2