FIRST team plugs area students into Robot Day

The award-winning Utica Community Schools ThunderChickens robotics team recently hosted a Robot Day for students of all ages at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library.

According to the librarian Sarah Jones, more than 300 students from schools across Macomb County (including Utica Community Schools and Chippewa Valley Schools) engaged in activities designed to showcase the fun and excitement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Students tested their driving skills using Vex IQ robots, practiced drilling and riveting, observed how a motor works in a robot, experienced first-hand interaction with two of the ThunderChickens’ robots and learned more about FIRST robotics. They even had the opportunity to see a 3D printer in action and try their hand at programming.

The day was a huge success. Students and parents found the activities interesting and educational and many of the students said they would like to pursue robotics in high school.