Magazine 2019

49 The Grade 5s used their knowledge of History to build a game where an explorer travels through parts of Ancient Egypt. For example, their characters could visit a pyramid, but if they touched a mummy then they would lose one life point. They are introduced to variables in Grade 4 already and use it with more understanding as they spend more time using coding apps. Old Trade Routes were plotted in the Grade 6 lessons and they could choose any route they had studied during History like the Silk Route or choose one they have not yet learnt about like the Amber Route. Some games had multiple levels and the game became more advanced as you moved to the next level. We also focus on building Simple Machines during the year. These include any of the basic mechanical devices for exerting a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever. The learners are encouraged to see the different potential of pieces they have always been using. We nurture purposeful collaborators and critical thinkers that instil the way of thinking similar to what Bigweld’s motto is (he is the inventor from the animation movie Robots), “See a need, fill a need”. Junior First Lego League One of the highlights of the year was our entry into the Junior First Lego League Expo. Four teams entered this Expo, which was an amazing experience for the learners who forged tight bonds with their team members while working together to solve real world problems. The Expo required that learners look at what will be needed to create a settlement on the moon. The teams explored topics such as oxygen, gravity, power, transportation, waste and many other aspects of living on the moon. They discussed and researched these topics and built the most amazing models showing their solutions to these problems. The teams very proudly displayed their projects at the Cape Expo and confidently showed the judges their builds and solutions to the various problems they may experience on the moon. World Robot Olympiad The World Robotics Olympiad is always a fun challenge and this year three teams entered the WeDo Category. These teams worked together for over six months to build model robots that would collect children from their homes and take them to school using a driverless bus. Once the learners are at school the bus then has to collect and drop off a snack for the learners. The learners took on the challenge and created well designed driverless buses and with much excitement competed against many other teams in the Western Cape Regional competition. On the Senior Preparatory side three teams entered the Elementary Category and their dedication was astounding. Practising in the later hours of the day, and also coming in on Saturdays and holidays, helped the teams to understand the EV3 Robotics coding on a much more advanced level. The competition mat, designed by Hungary, was a very tricky challenge, but by decomposing the problem into small segments, the teams managed to do their best. Their capacity to tackle a mammoth challenge always surprises us. There is always something new and exciting that is being explored and discovered in the Robotics Lab, and we all look forward to whatever lies ahead for us to conquer next! Justine de Wet and Nikki Niemand