Middle School Competitions & Programs

4th-8th Grade

• Teams of 4-5
• Real-world engineering challenges
• Build LEGO-based robots
•  NSBE’s Annual Convention

FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) is a program that introduces children to science & technology in a fun, energized atmosphere of sportsmanship.

The objective is to:

• foster enthusiasm about science and technology in young children.
• equip the participants with the idea of team spirit
• encourage children to solve complex tasks in a creative way 

Students will research a given topic within a team, as well as plan, program and test an autonomous robot to solve a mission.  FLL Teams have the opportunity to experience all steps of a real product development process: solving a problem under time pressure with insufficient resources and unknown competitors. FLL is a small micro-cosmos of real business life in all of its aspects.  

 6th – 8th Grade

• Teams of 2-5
• Explore open-ended challenges designed to enhance STEM skills
• Build simple, powerful robots while developing teamwork, leadership and communication skills

The VEX IQ Challenge provides elementary school students with exciting, open-ended robotics and research project challenges that enhance their STEM skills through hands-on, student-centered learning. 

Students build their robot & then use a graphical software to program the robot. There are three parts to the contests: Robot Skills, which is a single robot trying to score as many points as possible; the Teamwork Challenge, where two robots attempt to work together to complete the same task; and and the STEM Research Project and Presentation where teams research a given topic, create a prototype and present to a group of judges.   

6th – 8th Grade

• Teams of 4
• Year-long program to improve problem solving skills
• Thought-provoking and fun math problems
• Compete using a circuit of exams at NSBE’s Fall Regional Conference (FRC) and the Annual Convention

MathCounts is a national middle school mathematics competition that provides engaging math programs to middle school students to build confidence,  improve attitudes towards math & problem solving and fosters achievement.   

To secure America's global competitiveness, MATHCOUNTS inspires excellence, confidence and curiosity through fun and challenging math programs. 

**MathCounts holds a National Competition every May where the National Champion is determined during the Countdown Round. This individual receives a $20,000 Donald G. Weinert College Scholarship. 

There's also the MathCounts Video Challenge!  

Check out: 

The Little Figures and The Little Figures: Silver War Countdown 

 6th – 8th Grade

• Teams of 3 imagine and design a city of the future using SimCity software.
• Build a physical model of the city, exploring engineering and city planning ideas.
• Develop writing and public speaking skills, and apply math and science to real world issues.

Future City Competition is a national competition that focuses on improving student's math, engineering, and science skills.    An example of problem based learning with computer simulation, the program asks 6th, 7th & 8th grade students from around the nation to team with volunteer engineer mentors to create — first on computer and then in three-dimensional models — their visions of the city of tomorrow.

The Future City Competition provides a platform for students to increase their:

• Ability to work in teams,
• Research & technical writing skills,
• Oral presentation skills,
• Application of coursework to practical problems,
• Awareness of community and business issues on the local and global levels. 

6th-8th Grade

Individual or Group 

*Up to 3 per group

The Explorer Technical Innovations Competition is an annual national science fair program where students have the opportunity to compete in & explore science in all forms through projects and presentations

• Students conduct research for no more than 12 months before the national competition
• Participants submit their project summaries & research papers for scoring at NSBE’s Annual Convention (in San Antonio, TX)

Program Goals:

• Encourage Science Based inquiry in Pre-college students
• Improve oral presentation and scientific writing skills

DMV NSBE, Jr. scholars will be mentored & taught college level research skills by Howard University graduate students!

6th-8th Grade

Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world & is highly valuable for future engineers & other STEM professionals.  This introductory class is designed to use interactive lessons to teach students in grades 6-8  how to speak Mandarin Chinese by introduce them to the basic language needed for short  conversation. 

Students Will Learn: 

• Basic spoken Mandarin phrases & vocabulary for everyday life
• The importance of proper “tones” in Mandarin
• Greater insight into Chinese culture and its influence on "pop culture"

**There is an additional fee for this year-round enrichment class that meets weekly for 90 minutes.   

**New for 2019-20:

Intermediate & Advanced Level Mandarin Classes!

**Also new this year: Intro to Spanish!

 Grades 6-8

• Teams of 4
• Research & Teamwork 

In honor of Black History Month, students have the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of African Americans over the history of our country.  Working together, teams learn & compete about the glorious culture and history of people of the African Diaspora through a friendly quiz bowl, jeopardy-style competition.  Topics include HBCU History, The Civil Rights Movement, Sports & Entertainment, The Divine Nine and more!    

Coming Soon!

Grades 6-8

Students will be able to jump start their future in STEM by choosing from coding classes ranging from Intro to HTML, JavaScript and CSS to Python, App Development and Game Design.

Coding classes will teach computer programming skills through interactive and exciting projects especially for kids who have great imaginations, like figuring out how things work or simply love technology.

Students will have so much fun creating video games, animated stories and bringing their imaginations to life not realizing all the cool skills he or she is learning along the way: basic coding and programming, problem solving, logic, physics and more!

Grades 5-12

Students work with an artist to work through the design process of their own sneaker.

 **There is an additional fee for this    

12-week enrichment class.  Exact meeting day & times TBD.   

Course is PENDING: Additional details & course description Coming Soon.