Any student entering grade 4th-8th in September.

The summer workshops are designed for 4th-8th graders.

The summer workshops are designed for 4th-8th graders.

Fox Valley Robotics is a co-ed organization. Both boys and girls are welcome in our programs as long as they meet the participation requirements for the program.

Doesn't matter! Our summer programs are open to students from anywhere as long as they can attend the sessions.

It's up to you whether or not to sign them up for repeat years.

Materials alternate years. FVR uses a rotation of three different summer competition fields to learn with. A student who uses a field during 4th grade will find that same field a different experience three years later.

If you have more questions, FVR staff would be more than happy to discuss the options.

FVR does not recommend attending multiple sessions during the same summer. While FVR may host 2 or 3 summer workshops for beginners, all the material will be a repeat between sessions. Adjustments to the curriculum to suit repeat students will not be done.

The robotics platform and an introduction to building and programming is covered. Currently, FVR summer programs use the Lego Robotics system. Students in groups of two choose a robot design to build from instructions.

Programming topics covered may include:

• Moving
• Turning
• Loops
• Switches
• Sensors (color, touch, ultrasonic, gyro)
• Wait blocks
• 
  

Activities involve programming the robot to complete a robot game for the first part of the workshop. Once the game is complete, the summer fields are brought out and explained. Teams then work to solve the missions on the summer field in order of difficulty.

Workshop material covered may change between summers.

FVR staff determine what to cover and in what order to cover it.

Students are expected to alternate between discussion group-like sessions and work time.

Both days involve rotations of discussion and work in approximately 15-45 minute intervals depending on the topic.

Each day has a break time for snacks and drinks. Students can stop working or continue to work during the break; it is up to the mini-team.

Additionally, students who need a break during work time (not discussion time) are welcome to go to the LEGO table and play for a short amount of time. FVR staff will typically start to encourage the person or team to return to working on their robot after a couple of minutes.

During the workshop, mini-teams use FVR equipment:

• robotics processor and accessories
• Computer
• LEGO parts

Participation in the workshop does NOT include getting to take a home the robotics kit.

If you would like to purchase a robotics kit, FVR staff can refer you to the LEGO website to buy the equipment.

The workshop registration fee does not include keeping or borrowing materials from FVR.

If you would like to purchase a robotics kit, FVR staff can refer you to the LEGO website to buy the equipment.

Students are expected to learn through a combination of discussion-like group sessions and problem based learning in a group of two.

Students are expected to ask questions so FVR staff know when to expand further or re-cover a topic.

Students are expected to work together to accomplish the goals set by FVR staff. An example lesson would be "make a square program by repeating code; now make a square program using a loop command."