Area students hold mock robotics tournament

Groups of students gathered around two tables inside the Southland Elementary School cafeteria Saturday morning. A large, colorful landscape covered each table, with LEGOs representing various machines and buildings all affected by some sort of natural disaster.

The students gathered together to watch their machines move debris, glide over a disaster area, and travel along a certain path in several specific missions, all within 2 1/2 minutes.

It was good practice for Austin and Southland elementary and middle school students. Saturday was the fourth time Austin and Southland Public Schools got together in a mock FIRST LEGO League robotics tournament in as many years. Eight teams participated despite the cold Saturday morning to practice their solutions to natural disasters, this year’s FIRST tournament theme.

“We started small, with just Southgate, Neveln and two teams from Southland,” said David Wolff, gifted and talented coordinator for Austin Public Schools and Banfield Elementary School LEGO robotics coach.

The robotics program isn’t all engineering and mathematics, however. Students must answer oral questions about their project, as well as create a presentation on their solutions to such disasters as earthquakes, floods, blizzards and tornadoes. Part of Banfield’s on surviving tornadoes — presented in “Wizard of Oz” costuming during tournaments — is a flier for residents new to the community who may not understand what tornado sirens signify.

“The fliers give instructions on what to do during a tornado warning,” Wolff said. Those fliers were given to the Welcome Center of Austin for use in the community, according to Wolff.

That’s part of what FIRST, an organization that has sponsored LEGO and robotics tournaments around the country over the past few decades, wants to see from students. By participating in tournaments, students learn how to creatively identify solutions to problems around them and give back to the community at the same time.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Wolff said.

Austin and Southgate students will compete at the Regional FIRST LEGO League Tournament at Willow Creek Middle School in Rochester Saturday, Jan. 11.