Speed, Sensors, and STEAM! Dual Language Night Brings Robotics to Life!

Racing into Learning at Dual Language Night!

How do you build a racecar that is both fast and smart? That was the challenge at the latest Dual Language Night at CFI Robotics, where students and parents teamed up to design, build, and code their own sensor-activated LEGO racecars!

This month’s session combined hands-on STEAM learning with bilingual education, giving students a chance to explore engineering and coding in both Chinese and English.

Building, Learning, and Engineering in Two Languages!

Before the racecars could hit the track, students needed to learn the key vocabulary in both languages! Parents joined in, helping reinforce new terms while discussing engineering concepts together.

Once they had mastered the vocabulary, it was time to get building! The goal was clear: create a racecar that could zoom across the track but also stop before crashing!

Coding Smarter Racecars with Sensors

Speed alone was not enough; these cars needed to think for themselves! Students learned about light sensors, a key technology used in real-world robotics.

With conditional coding, they programmed their racecars to start moving when the sensor detected light and stop when needed to avoid collisions. It was a great way to see how robots use sensors to interact with their environment.

As students tested their racecars, some found that their cars stopped too soon, while others did not stop at all! Debugging and problem-solving became the focus, as they fine-tuned their code and designs to improve performance.

Testing, Racing, and STEAM in Action!

With their racecars ready, it was time to race! Students lined up their robots for friendly competitions, testing both speed and precision. Some races were all about crossing the finish line first, while others focused on stopping at the perfect moment.

The excitement in the room was electric as students cheered each other on. Some even experimented with different sensor placements and coding adjustments to see how small changes could improve their results.

A Night of Learning, Laughter, and Teamwork!

By the end of the night, students had built and programmed fully functioning racecars, practiced bilingual communication, and gained valuable engineering and coding skills.

🎉 Join us for the next Dual Language Night on April 13, where we will explore STEAM learning in Spanish and English!

🚀 Stay tuned for more hands-on, bilingual STEAM adventures at CFI Robotics!