The Granite School District FIRST LEGO League qualifying tournament was held on January 16, 2016 at Granger High School. Granite School District’s Educational Technology Department sponsors 30 teams in the First Lego League. We had a tremendous amount of fun, and learned a lot this year!

• Over 280 student participants attended
• supported by over 35 coaches and assistant coaches…
• and 50 volunteers!

The students were excited to see approximately 500 parents attend to watch their LEGO Robots compete. In addition to competing in the robot games, the teams also explained their robot designs, presented an innovative product to address the issue of Trash, and solved a problem as a team during judging sessions.

Teams that went on to attend the State Qualifier on January 30th at UVU include:

• Cottonwood Elementary Garbage Gurus
• Stansbury Elementary Trashformers
• Valley Junior High School Ligerbots
• Moss Elementary Lego Hackers

Also winning awards were:

• The Farnsworth Elementary “Eye of the Tiger” team, for Best Project
• The Whittier Elementary Fantasy Reckoners, for Robot Design
• The Lake Ridge Elementary Cougar Clean-Up Crew, for Core Values
• The Moss Elementary Lego Hackers won the Gracious Professionalism award for their team’s fantastic cooperation
• The Cottonwood Elementary Garbage Gurus also won trophies for Robot Performance and the Champion’s Award

A big thank you goes to Cherie Anderson, Technology Specialist in the Ed Tech Department, for all her efforts in organizing the FLL teams and these events!

Check out the tweets below for photos and other highlights of the competition and FIRST LEGO League teams in Granite School District.

https://twitter.com/Rlbaggett/status/688387543365124096

@GraniteSchools First Lego League competition is underway. #GSDEdTech pic.twitter.com/ZHuGK9Lrw5

— Lucky Brother (@PFlanagan2) January 16, 2016

Thank You so much to our AWESOME Parents for bringing the kids so early for GSD FLL League Competition!! #GSDEdTech pic.twitter.com/XZBXo5e6Z1

— Prettyman's 5th (@moosetracks1) January 16, 2016

Grand entrance of @GraniteSchools FIRST LEGO League competition in effect. #GSDEdTech #FLL pic.twitter.com/1GW0T5D1LF

— Granite Educational Technology (@GraniteEdTech) January 16, 2016

It's Lego time. #fll #gsdedtech @FarnsworthElem pic.twitter.com/nGkQnF2tmG

— Joell Wilkins (@JoellWilkins) January 16, 2016

So proud of these AMAZING students!! "ROCKIN" the 3 Judging Stations!! 🌠#GSDEdTech #STEM #ilovemyjob #amazingstuden pic.twitter.com/rc0HyM6r9z

— Prettyman's 5th (@moosetracks1) January 16, 2016

@OHCubs. #FirstLegoLeague Robots Rock @4jelee #GSDEdTech pic.twitter.com/Z0k6emElBv

— Misty Butterfield (@mbutterfield) January 16, 2016

https://twitter.com/Rlbaggett/status/688410716928212992

Our judging sessions! #gsdedtech #fll @FarnsworthElem pic.twitter.com/Yg5QGkk93M

— Joell Wilkins (@JoellWilkins) January 16, 2016

Judging finished, students making final adjustments before go time. #GSDEdTech pic.twitter.com/a7JF59YeEU

— Lucky Brother (@PFlanagan2) January 16, 2016

Making final adjustments before go time. #GSDEdTech pic.twitter.com/zwc0X2NuSP

— Lucky Brother (@PFlanagan2) January 16, 2016

Good luck Power Programmers #gsdedtech pic.twitter.com/hWT1aAhpMS

— Kristine Hewitt (@kmemm1) January 16, 2016

Volunteering at the Granite FIRST LEGO League event today. Fun to see these kids working so hard. #gsdedtech #FLL pic.twitter.com/Aq0zsNFZ1x

— Joshua Whiting (@jdwhiting) January 16, 2016

Congratulations to Our FLL Team!! 265 Highest score! Not bad for our 1st competition! #GSDEdTech #STEM #FLL pic.twitter.com/j06ZCoZuxO

— Prettyman's 5th (@moosetracks1) January 16, 2016

We won the project award! #FLL #gsdedtech @FarnsworthElem pic.twitter.com/lEwH1zZCJe

— Joell Wilkins (@JoellWilkins) January 16, 2016

Legoleage fun! Referee with a great beard! #gsdedtech pic.twitter.com/1G7w299n09

— James Ballif (@jamesballif) January 17, 2016

Cottonwood Garbage Gurus strut their mad programming skills at FLL-UT #gsdedtech pic.twitter.com/vvv2Gvt9h6

— Cherie Anderson (@mecque73) January 30, 2016

This article originated in our February 2016 Educational Technology Monthly Newsletter, edited by Teresa Bruin.