Young Robotics Teams From Chesapeake Public Charter School Showcase Creativity At Judging Event In Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, Md. — Inside the workshop space at The Hive on March 5, a group of young robotics students from Chesapeake Public Charter School took turns presenting robots they designed, built and programmed themselves.

Second- through fourth-grade participants in the Chesapeake Public Charter School’s Lego League Expo presented their robots at The Hive, which was hosted by growingSTEMS, gathered for a judging event that highlighted their engineering skills, creativity and teamwork. Three student teams — The Robohunters, The Amazing Archeologists and The Explorers in Thailand — each presented their projects to judges and an audience of family members and mentors.

The event served as a chance for students to demonstrate what they had learned throughout the robotics program, from mechanical design to block-based coding.

The FIRST Chesapeake FIRST LEGO League (FLL) program is a mentor-based robotics and STEM initiative that introduces students to science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on learning with LEGO technology. Designed primarily for students in grades K–8, the program encourages teamwork, problem-solving, creativity and innovation while students design, build and program LEGO robots to complete themed challenges.

Through guided activities and friendly competitions, teams research real-world problems, develop creative solutions and present their work while demonstrating collaboration and engineering skills. The program aims to build confidence, leadership and critical thinking as students explore STEM concepts in an engaging, supportive environment.

The Robohunters

The Robohunters were among the first teams to present their project during the judging session.

Standing beside their robot, the students explained how their design worked and what challenges they encountered while building it. Using a tablet and block-based coding, the team demonstrated how they programmed the robot to move and complete its intended tasks.

The students described the steps they took to troubleshoot problems and improve their robot’s performance during testing. After their demonstration, judges and audience members asked questions about their design choices, programming and what they learned during the project.

The Amazing Archeologists

The Amazing Archeologists presented a robot inspired by exploration and discovery.

During their presentation, the team described how their robot could simulate tasks related to archaeological work. Students demonstrated the robot’s movement and explained how they used coding commands to control its actions.

The team also shared how they collaborated to divide responsibilities such as building, programming and testing the robot. Judges asked questions about the team’s design process and how they solved problems along the way.

The Explorers in Thailand

The final team, The Explorers in Thailand, showcased their robot and explained how they programmed it to complete a specific challenge.

Students walked the audience through their building process and demonstrated how the robot responded to commands written in code. As the robot moved across the demonstration area, the team explained how they adjusted their program to improve accuracy and reliability.

The presentation concluded with questions from the audience, allowing students to reflect on what they enjoyed most about the project and what they would change if they had more time to continue improving their robot.

Learning Through Robotics

Programs like VEX GO introduce elementary students to engineering concepts through hands-on exploration and experimentation. Designed for students in grades three and four, the system allows young learners to build robots using a simple construction kit and program them through beginner-friendly coding tools.

Throughout the season, students meet regularly to design, build and test their creations while working together as a team. The judging event provided an opportunity for students to showcase not only their robots, but also the problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills they developed along the way.

For many of the young participants, the event marked their first experience presenting a technical project and their first step into the world of robotics. While the judging session did not crown a single winner, every student left with something more valuable: new skills, new confidence and the shared excitement of discovering what they could build and program together.

About growingSTEMS (The Host) 

growingSTEMS is a Southern Maryland-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for students of all ages. The organization began as an outreach initiative of the RoboBees, FIRST Robotics Team 836, with a mission to promote STEM awareness and hands-on learning opportunities throughout the region.

Through community robotics programs, workshops and outreach efforts, growingSTEMS introduces students to engineering and technology while encouraging creativity, innovation and teamwork. The organization offers multiple levels of robotics programs, allowing students to progress from elementary-level robotics like VEX GO to more advanced competitive robotics as they grow.

In addition to its educational programs, growingSTEMS focuses on outreach, support and scholarship opportunities designed to help students explore STEM fields and pursue future careers in science and technology. The organization’s mission centers on inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers by giving students the tools, confidence and curiosity needed to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.

As the organization often says, the reason behind its work is simple: today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators, and growingSTEMS is helping them discover their potential.

Visit their website for upcoming summer programs and events!

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