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Unread 17-05-2006, 09:49
JaneYoung JaneYoung is offline
Onward through the fog.
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Re: CNN: Why do Girls Lose Interest in Math and Science?

2 weeks ago I was at a Lego event here in Austin. LASA Robotics had one of the FIRST robots there for 'show and tell' - our '06 robot hadn't made it back to the shop yet -

I walked around talking to a lot of the Lego teams and met a group from one of the elementary schools. They have a 3rd grade class that meets. They have also formed an afterschool group of 3rd - 5th graders who are a little more advanced. One of the engineers asked me to go over and start talking to one of the girls, Emily, a 5th grader. 4 of the boys had built wonderful machines. One was a sort of helicopter with very fancy blades. Colorful. The other boys had built cars. The girl had built a box with a lid that opened and closed and had side walls that moved. When the box lid slid back, it revealed a small treasure chest. Inside the treasure chest was a golden ring.

She explained the mechanics to me and complained that 'it wasn't good enough.' We discussed that and determined that it was because of time constraints.

I asked her if she had any drafts/drawings of her box and lo and behold, she got under the table and pulled out a sketch on lined school paper. The sketch showed her entire concept complete with the moving lid. We talked a little bit about cadding and her face lit up.

The engineer just stood there smiling. We'll probably meet her in FIRST in a few years because of his mentoring.
Jane
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Excellence is contagious. ~ Andy Baker, President, AndyMark, Inc. and Woodie Flowers Award 2003

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
~ Helen Keller
(1880-1968)

Last edited by JaneYoung : 17-05-2006 at 11:22.
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