Right now, America is celebrating the launch of a 10-day crewed mission to the moon. Times like these remind us of the inspirational and unifying achievements that are only possible through effective STEM learning.
At Impact, we are always looking for ways to make STEM exciting for kids, because we know that each one of our scholars has the potential to create revolutionary change in our world. This winter, Impact scholars had the opportunity to lean into engineering using a tool every kid loves: LEGOs. Our 3rd–5th graders had the chance to do just that through an exciting after-school partnership with Bricks4Kidz.
From LEGO Bricks to Real-World Engineering
Over the past 10 weeks scholars in the LEGO Robotics and Rovers program stepped into the role of engineers. Each Friday afternoon, classrooms transformed into innovation labs where students designed, built, and programmed their own robots.
Using motors and sensors, scholars created robots that could actually respond to their environment. The robots were detecting objects, following paths, and bringing the ideas of our scholars to life.
The program ended with a high-stakes finale: an epic Battle-Bot Tournament where scholars put their creations to the test.
This incredible opportunity was made possible through the generosity of our community. Thanks to a donation from an SSE family at Google, this 10-week program was offered completely free to participating scholars, removing barriers and ensuring more students can access high-quality STEM learning.
This is what it looks like when community and schools come together to create meaningful opportunities for kids.
Learning That Sticks
This wasn’t just about building robots. It was about building confidence.
Throughout the program, scholars practiced:
- Critical thinking and problem-solving
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Persistence through trial and error
- Creativity and innovation
We watched moments of discovery, like a robot finally moving the right way or a sensor working just as planned, sparking excitement and pride. It’s experiences like these that give our scholars the confidence to be the leaders of tomorrow.