The Enterprise FabLab at Creative Spark Dundalk are delighted to have completed its first stage in the FIRST® LEGO® League Explore programme. FIRST® LEGO® League Explore is a non-competitive, hands-on STEAM program geared toward children from 2nd to 5th class. It is an accessible, innovative 10-week program that motivates young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills. Each year, FIRST® LEGO® League Explore programme presents a new and exciting real-world Challenge to ignite creativity. This year’s theme was transport “Cargo Connect”. 

Following an invitation to all primary schools across the North East, Creative Spark are delighted to have given three 5th Class groups the opportunity to participate this year. The schools that have participated thus far are Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Kilcurry and St. Brigid and St. Patricks, Drogheda??in partnership with Learnit and IET Manufacturing. Children, in teams of up to six, began to explore the real-world theme Transportation of Cargo using the LEGO® Education sets. As a group, they investigate a challenge related to this theme and design a solution. As they worked on their solution and built a team model, they learned basic engineering, programming and coding skills, which resulted in LEGO® models that moved with interactive sensors.  

Teams showcased their models at Celebration Events held in their school in June, giving parents the opportunity to see first-hand the impact STEAM has had on their children. The newly elected Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Michelle Hall presented LEGO® medals to the children in St. Brigid and St. Patricks along with Niamh McGregory from LearnIt, Jacqui Durnin from the Enterprise FabLab @ Creative Spark and School Principal Lorraine White. Each child who participated in the programme received a medal in recognition of completing the challenge but also in acknowledgement of their effort and learning in the STEAM sector. STEAM department head, Catherine Troy was also presented with a medal, along with the classroom teachers Maire Devine and Padraig Rath.  

The Enterprise FabLab at Creative Spark would like to extend their thanks to IET manufacturing, for their donation of three classroom FIRST® LEGO® League Education kits. We would also like to extend our thanks to Ross Maguire from LearnIt, for his donation of three classroom Explore Registration kits. As a result of these donations, the Enterprise FabLab at Creative Spark was able to begin the process of bringing equality in STEAM education at primary school level.

Creative Spark invites any primary school in Louth, Meath, Monaghan or Cavan who wish to participate next year but don’t have their own FIRST® LEGO® League Education kit to contact them by email fablab@creativespark.ie to express their interest for September 2022, January 2023 and April 2023.   

Send an email also if you are interested in joining IET Manufacturing in sponsoring a STEAM education programme, or to register your interest in participating in any of their STEAM outreach programmes, 3D Printing Challenge – Taiscéalaí, or workshops in robotics, electronics, laser cutting, 2D design.