Students make creative messes at robotics academies – Tahlequah Daily Press

With crazy experiments, mystical creatures and robots on view, Bagley Hall at Northeastern State University has an unusual week ahead of it.

Students from the Cherokee County area are currently participating in NSU's Robotics Academy of Critical Engagement. The RACE academies offer kids of all ages an opportunity to explore and discover robotics, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics - collectively known as STEAM.

There were a few academies students could choose from this week, one being "Wacky Science" for 4- and 5-year-olds. On the second day of Wacky Science, students have already used chemical reactions to create concoctions like silly putty, slime, artificial snow and more.

"I try to do chemical reactions that they would understand," said Karissa Pierson, junior at NSU. "So when we made lava lamps, I talked about the different densities between oil and water and how the food coloring stayed in the oil."

A byproduct of the Wacky Science experiments is a messy classroom, but Pierson said that's all part of the learning.

"I think it's very important for them to get messy and to actually be doing it themselves, so they will remember it and be interested," she said. "Because if we just read about chemical reactions or something, they definitely would not want to do it or remember it."

While the tiny scientists conduct their experiments throughout the week, witches and wizards will continue with their jobs, capturing mystical creatures. The Fantastical Mechanical Beasts class, for ages 6-8, offers students a chance to explore the world of Harry Potter. Not only have they been tasked with catching magical animals, they've also been challenged to create their own.

Teacher Dave Fuller said the children will have to design their creatures, draw them, and by the end of the week will have produced them via a 3D printer.

"We're kind of combining the movie ["Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"] with the robotics program," he said. "Their beast has to be one that doesn't currently exist. They have to think how big it is, what color it is and what its weaknesses might be."

Most of the kids' ideas for their mystical beasts involve a mixture of several animals. One idea suggested Tuesday included a "Gryffindor Hodgepodge," which is cross between a tiger and a dragon. Another one was "gorilla gator," a combination of the two.

Not far from the witches and wizards, a group of young engineers will work throughout the week to build their own robots in the VEX VRC Robotics Academy.

"They're creating claw robots that will be able to complete the objective of the game, which is to lift cones onto different stands and things," said Shelby O'Neal, NSU student. "So they're working on their robots for the new In the Zone competition."

The VEX Robotics Competition is the largest one of its kind, each year creating an engineering challenge - presented in the form of a game - for students around the world to accomplish. The kids at NSU's RACE academies will look to complete the challenge on Friday.

"I think kids in general are more technologically advanced than we were when were younger, so it's a great way to kind of keep their brains moving throughout the summer," said O'Neal.

While some kids in the class admit that building a robot form the ground up can be challenging, 10-year-old John Ryan said it "really just takes a long time."

"It's pretty easy, if you ask me," he said. "After we build it, we can add on things like spikes for the wheels, extra claws, extra wheels -- pretty much anything."

Ryan said that he enjoyed the camp so much last year, his parents signed him up again for 2017.

"Getting to know other people from Tahlequah" was an another perk he liked about the class.

Check it out

For more information on NSU's Robotics Academy of Critical Engagement, call 918-444-3739.

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Students make creative messes at robotics academies - Tahlequah Daily Press