Since the beginning of January, Walker has spent several hours on Sunday afternoons with his science teacher, a parent volunteer and a small group of seventh and eighth grade boys and girls building an underwater robot. They are using low cost materials like PVC and following a curriculum laid out by a national program called SeaPerch to build their ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle). It took almost six weeks to construct it and now they are ready to start testing it.
This year the challenges will be an underwater obstacle course and an orbs challenge (where the robot has to travel through what looks like hula hoops standing upright on the pool floor). Today was the first trial at the local YMCA pool. Walker’s science teacher asked me if I would be willing to drive the seventh grade team members (Walker, Davis, Noah and Evelyn) each week to the pool and back to school. It’s great to be of service but even greater to be able to watch the kids interact. I can’t wait to see how far they go.
(This picture shows Mrs. Weyer constructing the base for the Orbs Challenge.)
I love this idea!