A group of determined second- and third-graders from Johnson Elementary School started their spring break off with a bang by winning first-place titles at the Rocket City FIRST Lego League competition March 17.

This year, Johnson sent two teams to the regional competition at Calhoun Community College, where they took first in “programming” and “strong foundations” for their hydro-themed designs.

Every year the FIRST Lego League challenges young designers with a new theme. This year students ages 9 to 16 explored hydro dynamics, the science of finding, transporting, using and disposing of water.

Thirteen Johnson students were selected by their teachers to participate on this year’s FIRST team, so the school’s media specialist and designated FIRST Lego League coach broke them into two teams. She said the smaller-size teams give students more hands-on time with the project.

The first group called themselves the AquaBlocks and used their Lego kit to demonstrate how a water treatment plant supplies water to homes and businesses. The student engineers programmed the mini turbine in their water treatment plant to spin, showing how falling water can be converted into kinetic energy. The team’s display even included a Lego church.

Lego farm

The self appointed “Enginerdz” from Johnson explored irrigation systems by constructing a Lego farm complete with animals, crops and a fruit stand filled with minuscule fruits and vegetables. In this model, the components of the irrigation system moved, supplying water to the surrounding fields and cattle.

In just three short months, the Johnson team had to research the ins and outs of hydro dynamics, collaborate on a theme, put the theme to work and, at the event, explain their models to adult interview teams.

“They (FIRST Lego League) are very big on the students learning the process,” Guffey said. “They (the interviewers) bring the inquiries to make sure kids have an understanding of what they built.”

As a first year coach who didn’t play with Legos as a child, Guffey said that the First League has taught her students far more than how to program a Lego robot.

Teamwork and persistence came up a lot when Guffey was describing her student designers.

“When something didn’t work they had to try it another way, they had to communicate, listen to each other and build their team,” she said. “Those are such valuable lessons.

Much of the funding for the FIRST Lego League at Johnson came from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

For over 15 years, TVA has partnered with schools to promote robotics programs and competitions focused on energy-related subjects in both primary and secondary schools. Their goal is to help ensure that today’s students are ready for tomorrow’s jobs.

Guffey said Johnson hopes to add a third- and fourth-grade First Lego League team next fall.