Missouri 4-H STEM Extravaganza

May 1, 2021
This event will be held virtually - more details to come.

Purpose

The Missouri 4-H STEM Extravaganza will allow 4-H members in the Robotics and Computer Science projects an opportunity to showcase the skills they have gained in teamwork, engineering, programming, and problem solving. There will be a few contests: RoboPet Challenge, Robot Exhibition, Computer Science contest, and STEM Projects Exhibition. Robot platforms include Lego Mindstorms, VEX IQ/EDR/V5, or any other appropriate robot meeting the requirements of the challenges. Interviews are part of the challenges. Participants may also have an educational display and/or demonstration.

This event is sponsored by Missouri 4-H and MFA Incorporated.

Investigate STEM Contest

Objectives

  1. Develop effective written and verbal communication skills via project presentation.
  2. Increase youth interest in STEM careers, as documented by participant responses in pre- and post-assessments.
  3. Collaborate with University of Missouri faculty to build and maintain relationships with colleagues across the campus.

Divisions

  • Animal and Plant Sciences — Participants should engage in agricultural science topics related to animal production, biotechnology, crop/forage production, horticulture, and food and consumer science.
  • Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, and Energy — Participants should explore issues related to environment sustainability, alternative energy production, and conserving natural resources.
  • Engineering and Technology — Explore the areas of robotics, computer science, rocketry, and engineering to provide solutions to everyday problems.
  • Other — This category is for projects that do not fall clearly into one of the previous divisions.

Process

  • Enroll in program via 4-HOnline – STEM Extravaganza – Investigate STEM Contest.
  • Youth can compete either individually or form a team (minimum of 3, maximum of 4) sorted by age division:
    • Senior: 14–18
    • Intermediate: 11–13
  • Identify problem/question to be research
  • Design and conduct experiment, analyze data, and create final report and presentation with the aid of an adult mentor.

Investigate STEM Contest Resources

STEM Extravaganza Challenges

Registration

Registration will open Jan. 1 through 4HOnline and will close on April 26. The challenge is open to Missouri 4-H members. There is no requirement to qualify at a local robotics event.

This is an individual or team challenge: youth may be part of a team of 2–5 youth in the same age division. There is a participant fee of $10 per youth; with $5 entry fee per youth per challenge entered. Credit card payment preferred with cash or check payments made to the county of 4-H enrollment.

Registration is available through 4HOnline.

Youth will register individually and will compete as individuals or on a team in the same age division. They will identify the team members when they register (each youth will do this). Team members must be in the same age division. Participants must be 4-H age of 8–18 as of Jan. 1, 2020. Age divisions: junior (8–10), intermediate (11–13), and senior (14–18).

Location

Awards

Awards are provided by the MFA Incorporated. Team members will receive medals based on placing in the contests. Every participant will receive a ribbon. There are no premiums.

Overview of Challenges

Open to all age divisions

As part of the Computer Science Pathways grant to Missouri 4-H, this contest is open to any computer science/coding project that was made with platforms, such as Scratch, Java, Turtle Block, etc. This is open to each age division. Creations will be uploaded for judging and displayed during the contest day. The project entries may be created by individuals or teams (2-5 youth). Youth entering the Computer Science Contest do not have to be present at the contest. Projects will be due by April 26, 2021.

COMPUTER SCIENCE CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS (PDF)

Open to all age divisions

In this event, youth are encouraged to be creative and present a unique robot exhibit or challenge for display. The robots must include an autonomous aspect and projects which interact with humans are encouraged. Use of a remote control for part of the demonstration is allowed, as long as the youth includes some programming of the controller beyond the basic tank or arcade driver controls and as long as they are able to explain their programming to the judges. Each robot exhibit will be judged for creativity and technical content. Youth who are brand new to robotics, as well as experienced youth, are welcome to show off their robot and field designs.

ROBOT EXHIBITION COMPLETE RULES (PDF)

Open to all age divisions

Exhibitors may bring an educational display on the robotics or other STEM project or give a demonstration. Standard 4-H Score Sheets will be used for both of these events.

For this challenge, each team will design a RoboPet. Maybe a cat, a dog, a dragon, a dinosaur, an elephant, or an animal that hasn't been discovered yet!

The main objective is to design the RoboPet for movement, and create a habitat (e.g. mat) in which your RoboPet travels from its "home" site to find food while avoiding obstacles/dangers along the way. Each RoboPet habitat (mat) must include at least two dangers/obstacles, a sleeping/home location at one end, and an eating location at the other. Habitat obstacles may be placed anywhere the team chooses, and can be made from any materials (lego pieces or other). Each team will have 2 rounds of 3 minutes each for their RoboPet to successfully find food.

ROBOPET CHALLENGE RULES (PDF)

ROBOPET TEAMWORK RUBRIC (PDF)

ROBOPET TECHNICAL JUDGING RUBRIC (PDF)

ROBOPET ROBOT PERFORMANCE SCORESHEET (PDF)