Gallery
GEORGE NEWS - Teams from the region's primary and high schools had to dig deep and unearth new ideas for their innovations displayed at the First LEGO League George North Regional Competition last weekend.
Coding and robotics were key to this project tackled by teams from George, Oudtshoorn and Riversdale. The event was hosted by Suff Academy, in partnership with Unisa Western Cape and the Awake Innovation Hub.
The learners displayed their creations at Carpe Diem School on Saturday 8 November, amid an exciting atmosphere. This year's theme, 'Unearthed', challenged the participants to discover how lessons from the past can inspire future innovation.
Three teams from the Challenge Division (grades four to nine), the Lego-eologists (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Tech Tridents (Van Reede School) and Block Busters (iMBEWU Science Foundation, George), will represent the region at the First LEGO League South Africa National Championship in Cape Town on 5 and 6 December.
The competition
Teams competed in two divisions: the Explore Division (grades one to three) introduced the younger learners to science and engineering through imaginative LEGO creations, while the Challenge Division mentioned above tested the older participants' skills in robot design, coding and problem-solving.
Every Explore team received a special LEGO-built medal, while the Challenge teams battled it out for top honours.
Panorama Primary, Riversdale: Teahandré-Lee Herdien (7), Cassidy Solomon (9), Isaiah Solomon (9), Lwazi Kortje (8) and Anzia Fielies (8). Photo: Michelle Pienaar
The winning teams and awards were as follows:
The core values award: The Downshifters (York High School, George); the Innovation Project award: Block Busters (iMBEWU Science Foundation, George); the robot design award: Cyber Crafters (Gerrit du Plessis Sekondêr, Riversdale); the robot performance award: Tech Tridents (Van Reede School, Oudtshoorn); the championship award: Lego-eologists (Hoërskool Outeniqua, George) and the coach/mentor award: Ray Carstens (Suff Academy).
York High School: Mohammed Alam (Grade Eight), Lethabo Khuduma (Grade Nine), Tae-lin October (Grade Nine) and Amber-Lee Monk (Grade Eight).
"For us, growing from three to 20 teams in just one year is a huge accomplishment," said Carstens, the coding and robotics programme manager at Suff Academy.
"Seeing the learners' excitement and problem-solving skills come alive through robotics keeps us motivated to keep building futures - one robot at a time." - Compiled by Michelle Pienaar
Mzoxolo Primary, George (Grade Six): Matthew Jansen, Ayabonga Lasonzo, Buliswa Lewis, Avery Swartzs, Amillah Mchithwa, Nqobile Bambeni and Bontie Kamen. Photos: Michelle Pienaar
Four teams from Riversdale: Panorama Primary (2) and Gerrit du Plessis Secondary (2). Photo: Michelle Pienaar
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
