A CTT Celebration - Body Forward Challenge Release Party

Well Tonight we partied... CTT style.

The team was anxiously awaiting the release of the challenge and we decided to have a party to celebrate the release of the 2010 Body Forward challenge. While we enjoyed some fun snacks and drinks we also explored:

- The field setup
- The rules
- The points

We also discussed:
- Robot and field strategy
- The details of the project

I am really impressed with the questions that this rookie team asked and the strategies that are already being discussed. The entire team is VERY excited and ready to get moving on the challenge!


The challenge release party begins.

The Crushing Techno Tigers explore the Robot Game Rules

Now this guy knows how to party eh?

Interview with Multiple Sclerosis Society - More Body Forward Research

Today the Crushing Techno Tigers and the Robo Hippies met with three wonderful people from the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The representatives from MS did a wonderful job explaining:
- What MS is
- Describing the how it is diagnosed
- Describing the many ways that it can affect people

The kids really enjoyed and learned a lot from the interview. A big hit with the kids was the "Try it on" program that was brought in by Tammy, Bris and Lennie. This consisted of four stations, that the kids rotated through, that enabled them to learn what it might be like to accomplish 'every day' tasks if they were to have MS. It is one thing to discuss what the symptoms are it is another to really try simple things like buttoning up a shirt when you can't feel the buttons with your fingers or how tiring it can be to walk 10 feet when your fighting to keep your balance and your ankles feel like they weigh 10 pounds each.

Simply a wonderful experience.

New visitors!!

The team was very excited to learn that we have had:

- Over 450 views of our blog
- 185 unique visitors (different computers)
- Visitors from U.S, India & Spain

marshmallow challenge

First, we did 2 teamwork challenges using marshmallows. For the first challenge we had to build a tower out of the marshmallows. The second challenge was to build a tower of marshmallows but only letting 8 marshmallows touch the ground.

Then, we talked about what we could have done better. After that, we split in to 2 groups of 3, 1 group practicing programming and the other group fixing a robot. Then, we talked about what we did.

After that, we did 1 more teamwork challenge using marshmallows again. We had to build anything we wanted. Then, we talked about sites where we could find more information for FLL.

We are waiting for the challenge to be released later this week.!

Study, Practice & Review

Tonight we had a great time doing some internet studying, teamwork practice & review of all things FLL. I am very impressed with this crew of amazing kids!

More Body Forward Research - Biomedical Lab Tour

Today we our team got the opportunity to go on another interview/tour. This was to a biomedical lab where we were exposed to MANY different types of experiments, physical models and technology. We are really ready for the challenge to be released!

We were in the Oakland Press News Paper - Sunday August 15th, 2010

This picture was HUGE!!! The picture and write-up filled a 1/2 page of the Sunday Oakland Press newspaper. Wow was that exciting.



Click on the image to see a better view of the Oakland Press Corkboard.

Body Forward Research Interview

This week we went on our first research interview. It was a very interesting tour/interview!! We toured a facility that builds prosthetic limbs and got to see and explore the entire process from raw materials all the way through the patients working hard with physical therapy. What a wonderful experience for the kids (and the coach)!

Project research and interview preparation

Tonight the team learned more about the Body Forward theme and did some computer research.

Afterward the team used the rest of the time talking about our first interview at a local business and brainstorming the questions the team would like to ask.


The team doing some computer research.

Readying for the release of the challenge on Sept 3rd

The last two meetings were great and team has been focusing on learning about how to build strong and sturdy robots and how to evaluate their designs. In addition we have had a lot of success exploring the programming environment and I think all the team members are comfortable with programming the robot now. We are all really excited for September 3rd to learn about the details of the Body Forward challenge!

Our team loves to build with technics!

"Programming the robot is a blast."

More building and working together.

We're in the news!

Last weekend the Crushing Techno Tigers volunteered at the MS Bike Event. The bikers ride over 150 miles in two days. Day one starts in Fenton, MI and finishes at the Michigan State University campus. The riders spend the night on campus, get up the next morning and then ride back to Fenton. We volunteered at the finish line in Fenton where the kids and parents set-up the decorations, organized and handled the riders luggage, and handed out metals to the riders as they crossed the finish line.

Check us out! - Click Here

Note from the Multiple Sclerosis Society:
Bike MS is for cyclists and all those seeking a personal challenge and a world free of MS. Bike MS is the premier fundraising cycling series in the nation. With a choice of over 100 extraordinary rides nationwide, including four right here in Michigan, the Bike MS experience is the ride of your life.

pool party meeting - by Crushing Techno Tiger Daniel

We reviewed the core values.

Talked about strategies with a lego car.

We talked about stories that we thought of.

We did a team work exercises.
we went swimming.

"The Package" has arrived!!!!

We had an impromptu meeting tonight to see what was in "The Package". It was our course for the 2010 robot challenge. Had a lot of fun watching the team work together to assemble the pieces using the instructions. This was truly a teamwork challenge! Now the course is fully set up and ready to tease us all until September 3rd when the full challenge is released. We can't wait until September 3rd!!!

Thinking about what it will all look like.

Looking at the mat and setting a 'build plan'.

Sorting and building sure seemed like a big teamwork exercise.

Volunteering at the MS Bike charity event

We had a GREAT time volunteering at the MS Bike charity event today. The team and parents volunteered at finish line. We helped set everything up, move and organize the riders luggage and hand out metals to the riders as they crossed the finish line. What a wonderful event - Thank you everyone!

notes from our third meeting - by Crushing Techno Tiger Nathan

First, we did a word search that used words that were about core values. Then, we talked talked about what a core value is. Next, we talked about different Lego pieces. For example one of the pieces was a beam. Next, we talked about robot safety. Part of robot safety is to be careful about not dropping your team's robot. Lastly, we talked about how this year we will be interviewing people. That's what we did at the meeting. We also wrote our first program making the robot move around using the move block.


The coach guides us.

The kids do the work (programming).