AIKEN --- Alternative energy sources. Engineering. Angle calculations.
It's easy to get caught up in Schofield Middle School pupils' jargon as they talk about Lego League. Explanations of their robots, created with Legos, fly out of their mouths faster than a brain can process the work they're doing.
The team jokes that sometimes they'll get loquacious just to confuse their parents.
"It's funny to see their eyes glaze over when they don't know what we're talking about," seventh-grader William Webb said.
The after-school program gives pupils an opportunity to put math and science skills to work and provides a social outlet for those looking to be creative and push their limits.
On Saturday, Schofield Middle will join several area schools as they compete in the FIRST Robotics Lego League Regional Competition at Aiken Technical College.
Area programs at elementary and middle schools are still in the early stages of establishment, but team parents and coaches hope other schools will attend Saturday to see how to start their own Lego Leagues.
"We're the only Aiken County middle school who has a robotics team," parent Stephanie Scott said. "Our goal is to get Legos in every middle school in the county."
Start-up costs for the program include buying a practice field and the Legos, but a team could start for $500, Ms. Scott said.
"You'd be on a really tight budget, but you could do it," she said.
Schofield Middle pupils bubble over with excitement when they talk about how parents started their team when they were in fifth grade. Only together a few years, the pupils work to build a better team by constantly adjusting strategies and communicating about what could work better.
"This is about inquiry and problem solving," said Carol Roach, a Schofield adviser. "What they might not be able to do mathematically, they can do with communication or creativity. There's something for everybody."
The team usually practices three hours a week after school, time no one really minds giving up. Even a Saturday competition is a social event.
Schools make buttons to trade with one another and create theme songs to sing during presentations.
"They're looking at it as a way to get together. Everyone gets so caught up in cheering on each other that the kids go home hoarse at the end of the day," Mrs. Roach said. "All day it's an adrenaline-rushing affair."
Mrs. Roach also gets excited when she sees pupils incorporate a classroom concept.
"I know I'm going to cover some of the standards in here, but it's great to experience them making connections," she said.
In the Saturday competition, pupils program the robots to perform tasks in a short time frame. Each team gets to compete more than once to perfect skills.
The competition begins at noon at Aiken Technical College.
Reach Julia Sellers at (803) 648-1395, ext. 106 or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Aiken Technical College FIRST Robotics Lego League Regional Competition
WHEN: Saturday; registration and set-up begin at 9 a.m.; competition from noon to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Aiken Technical College, U.S. Highway 1, Aiken
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