Euclid Elementary, the first OMSD school to offer LEGO robotics and one of only a handful of Inland Empire Schools, is now in its second year with the Cal Poly LEGO Robotics program.  This program is the “brain child” of Dr. Jawa, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly University.  Dr. Jawa established this program to connect elementary schools directly to the university level, and to encourage young women to pursue interests in the fields of mathematics, science, and engineering.  Dr. Jawa and his team visit participating school sites, and assist students with “hands on instruction” in preparing their robots for a comprehensive competition rally.  This year, the rally will be held on May 11^th, at the Cal Poly School of Engineering.  Students will be judged in the following areas:

·         Sumo-bot wrestling:   Student robots “battle it out” in circular arenas where the last robot standing in the ring is the winner.

·         Impromptu Obstacle Course Challenge:   Students are given a non-familiar course where they must assess, calculate, program, and test their robot to successfully navigate the course within the allotted time.

·         Fast Line Follow Challenge:   Robots must be programmed to assess lighting variances, direction, distance, and time in order to successfully complete the course.

·         Teamwork Assessment:   Teams are judged on how well they communicate, plan, test, adjust, and execute their robotic programs. 

The framework of the robotics program is designed to support a strong curriculum base in order to:

·         Allow students to discover robotics in an exciting learning environment through the use of mathematics, science, language arts, and technology.

·         Develop critical thinking skills

·         Extend problem solving capacity

·         Build confidence and self-esteem

·         Prepare the student for a fast-paced, competitive “techno-savvy” world

For mathematics, students are given a challenge that will require them to diagram, calculate, add, subtract, multiply, divide, estimate, observe randomness, and use variables to resolve their problem.  In science, students work with simple machines such as gears, levers, and pulleys.  They learn the process of transmission of motion.  Language arts requires that all students maintain a journal where they record lessons, vocabulary, pre-program flow maps, calculations, pre/post observations, and other pertinent notes.  In the field of technology, students must program their robots using software media, and design and create a working robotic model.  Problem solving and critical thinking skills are always in high demand, and this program enables students to test their hypotheses, and make the necessary adjustments to their robot’s program.  Confidence and self-esteem are natural bi-products.  Students learn a “can do” attitude, and develop a sense of pride through their failures and successes.  Team spirit and sense of community are also a large component.   It is here that they learn that there is no “I” in teamwork. 

                As wonderful as all of this is for the students of OMSD, none of it would be possible without the commitment, dedication, and sacrifice of countless hours by the teachers that are involved with this program.  Due to lack of funding, teachers freely give up lunch periods and volunteer after-school hours  and weekends to ensure the program’s success.  It is their passion that ensures the success and growth of the program each year.  This year, more than 60 students, in grades 4^th-6^th will compete for medals at Cal Poly.

Euclid School is also fortunate to have a community partner in the Ontario Kiwanis Club who have generously granted an monetary award to the group, sponsoring their trip to the LEGO Robotics Rally by paying for transportation and team shirts.  Their generosity has helped to make these students’ dreams a reality.       

It is the inexhaustible excitement of the students that fuels the program:

Abner Rios – 5^th – “What I like about LEGO Robotics is programming.  I will use this to develop new software someday.”

Gema Torres – 5^th – “One thing I like about LEGO Robotics is working in a team.  Working on a team will help me later on, because I want to be a Veterinarian, and it will help me to collaborate with other Vets to cure sick animals.”  

Selene Espinoza: - 4^th - "Lego Robotics is very interesting because we get to program and work as a team."

David Vong – 6^th – “I like LEGO Robotics because you learn to cooperate with your teammates.  I would like to become a programmer someday.”

Erika Wenceslao – 5^th – “I like LEGO Robotics because I am learning how to build and program our robot,  it is fun.  Being in LEGO will help me to learn how to build and program things in the future.”

Heidy Gutierrez – 6^th – “LEGO Robotics is a great educational opportunity.  I hope that I will have a better future because of it.  I enjoy working with my robotics team.”

Jesus Regino: - 4^th -"I Love the programming and learning with the technology, then testing our robots to see if it is accurate."

Shalmai Toriz and Jesus Lopez – 5^th – “One thing that I like about LEGO Robotics is how we build and program the robot.  This is going to help in getting a degree in architecture and engineering.”

Dolores Lopez – 6^th – “I like LEGO Robotics because I get to take measurements and program the robot.  I would like to someday create robots that will be used to teach primary children in school.”

Alejandro Rubio and Jeanette Acosta – 4^th – “LEGO Robotics is very helpful and fun because we can work together to gain knowledge and can obtain a scholarship for engineering to further our education.”

Jose Naveja: - 4^th -" Through Lego Robotics, we will go to a college campus, work with college students, and maybe even attend that college in the future."

 Angel Bacerra – 6^th – “I like LEGO Robotics because we get to learn and have fun at the same time.  I would someday like to become a robotics engineer.”