[Gdeaver]

Team 104 is a veteran team but, we are more like a rookie team. There are only a couple of veterans and mostly first year 9 and 10 th graders. We used the Scholastic magazine coupons to buy 2 Vex kits and a programing module. Total cost 500$. This was a big decision and hurt financial. Fund raising is now critical. However, after working with the Vex the last 2 meeting, I now fell the expenditure was well worth it. We split the students into 2 teams and each was given the task of building a basic robot out of the kits. At the last meeting the bots where finished and they were driven around. While the students were building the kit, I had an opportunity to compare what they were doing with vex and how things were done on last years robot. So far I believe the most beneficial aspect of VEX activities and First is the team building it provides. Before the vex meetings I saw a sea of individuals in the class room. After the Vex meetings there are the beginnings of that TEAM cohesion. In conclusion I believe VEX and First fit well and the money is well spent even at full price however the discount and coupons make it more enticing. Next meeting we are going to try the EASY C.