Porthleven School pupils competing in the Lego League Regional Final. The event was hosted at the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) Culdrose base in Helston. About 450 other primary school children joined the fun at the festival-styled finale event. They faced the daunting task of programming Lego robots to accomplish real world missions on a custom game table.
This year’s competition had an archaeological twist– immersing pupils in creative problem solving and giving them the opportunity to use their STEM knowledge in a real-world scenario. The enthusiasm among the participants was palpable, as they combined elements of coding with teamwork to navigate the challenges presented by the competition.
Elowyn, another student participant in the challenge, summed up what made the fierce yet supportive competition an ideal place to learn. She noted, “It’s a great experience for kids our age because you’re learning and still having fun.” This sentiment reflects the overarching goal of the Lego League—to engage young minds in engineering and technology through enjoyable activities.
Felicity Blight, the school secretary of Porthleven School, emphasized on the educational value of these events. She remarked, “It really builds on their STEM learning, they get to do a lot of coding and a lot of teamwork.” Collective impact and the real-world application of skills is hugely important for students. These components are extremely important as they prepare themselves for their future careers in science and technology.
George Slater, one of the advocates on the ground at the event, recognized the uphill battle participants have. He stated, “The robots are not perfect, they will go wrong and they do go wrong, but the children get through that and persevere.” His comments underscore the resilience and determination exhibited by the students as they navigated the complexities of their robot designs.
Students had the opportunity to demonstrate their engineering prowess at the Lego League Regional Final, celebrating the innovative potential in our children. It continues to inspire generations of engineers. “It’s really great to see the potential naval engineers of the future having loads of fun, getting engaged in this sort of activity and doing some really impressive coding,” Slater added.
For both those who participated, and those that helped make it happen, the event was a huge accomplishment and success. It celebrated the creative process, collaboration, and scrappy entrepreneurial spirit. Students who engage with real-world, complex projects develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. That advanced preparation sets them on a course for greater achievement and success in STEM-related sectors.
