FLL "Kit of Parts"

[Allison K]

My list...

1. Digital Camera (useful for taking pictures of kids/team/good ideas for the robot)
2. Video Camera (Useful for video taping early versions of the presentation to help the students brainstorm what they need to do to improve)
3. 2 or 3 complete NXT Kits (In the early stages keeps more hands busy with brainstorming, in the later stages allows two identical robots to be built to speed programming)
4. 2 or 3 RCX drive trains (Most of my teams use robolab and the RCX kits allow the programmers to learn while the builders use the NXT kits to brainstorm. When the builders finish the programmers already know how to program. This may work with the Mindstorms software as well but I haven't used it so I don't know. Though I suppose if money isn't an issue you could use NXT kits for the same purpose)
5. 4+ Computers, at least two with internet (2+ for programming, 2+ for research)
6. Poster Boards, Foam core presentation boards, construction paper, markers, crayons, etc. (For pit set up and Presentation visual aids)
7. Snacks (you said everything)
8. Official table with light set-up
9. A few bulk technic lots from ebay (extra pieces)
10. Whiteboards and markers (for brainstorming, making a to-do list, listing assignments for a day, 101 other uses)
11. Programming Training Kit (Something we designed for our teams. Includes a magnetic white board and magnetic programming icons to help the students learn what each icon does, as well as help them think out programs before taking them to the computer. Also includes a few training exercises that cover the basics such as finding lines, following lines, moving straight, turning, etc.)
12. Presentation Kit (Another resource we use for our teams. Includes an assortment of topics that the kids use to create short presentations at the end of most meetings. Also includes components to help them brainstorm topics)
13. Strategy Training Kit (Yet another resource. Includes activities to help guide the students during mission planning as well as document the process and results)
14. Mechanical Training Kit (Last resource. Includes mini building challenges and actvities to help the students when building their competition robot.)
15. An assortment of plastic storage bins (for those technic lots from ebay, various resource kits, art supplies, etc.)
16. Printer and lots of paper (bonus points for the printer if it can print pictures right from the card of the digital camera)

And the biggest one of all

17. SPACE. Space to leave our table set-up and ready for use (instead of packing it up every day), Space to store the computers, space for the kids to work, space to spread out and make a mess and be a kid, etc.

In a perfect world....