New game brings knowledge to Girls Inc.

LYNN – LEGO blocks and erector sets aren’t just for boys anymore.A new activity at Girls Inc. in Lynn is helping middle school girls learn about computer science and engineering using PicoCrickets, a new program designed to help kids build playful inventions.The system of small computers, motors and sense-activated triggers can help kids make their own musical sculptures, interactive jewelry or dancing creatures.Kerry Sullivan, a design engineer at General Electric Aviation, has been helping with the program since January. She said the use of the PicoCrickets helps the girls learn more about science and engineering, career paths many young girls don’t know much about.”I’m all for promoting science and I can tell that even if they don’t realize it, they are becoming more comfortable with engineering concepts and are starting to really like it,” Sullivan said. “We’re teaching very basic programming ideas, block programs and flow, and the basics of a computer.”PICO, which stands for Playful Invention Company, was based on research by the MIT Media Lab and was developed in collaboration with LEGO. The company has a companion software disc that comes with each PicoCrickets kit, which works on any computer and helps to build the series of sounds, motions or lights that the user wants to accompany its parts.One group of eighth graders, working to build a restaurant and nightclub out of art supplies, used the software to ring a doorbell and open the door of their miniature building. They also started music and illuminated a tin foil disco ball in the middle of a dance floor filled with LEGO miniature people.”It’s fun to work together on the project and learning new things about science,” eighth grader Haydee Lind said and she worked on the progression of actions for her group’s PicoCricket. “I think I would want to do more of this sometime.”Sullivan said the girls are catching on to the math, science and technology portions of the program, but it’s not only about those initiatives. The girls have been able to express their creativity by building their own sets to motorize and coming up with ideas for what actions they would like to make the PicoCricket complete.”They come up with all the plans for it, and get to be creative,” Sullivan said. “But they’re also fighting over who gets to push the button to start the (Pico)Cricket, and who gets to clap to make the lights go on and off.”The PicoCricket program will be available during the spring session at Girls Inc., which started April 5 and runs from the end of school until 6 p.m. Sixth-graders attend every day, seventh-graders attend Tuesdays and Thursdays and eighth-graders attend Mondays and Wednesdays.Program events include cooking, dance and basketball, and homework/academic activity time. Limited transportation is available from the public middle schools, and snacks are provided. Register by calling (781) 592-9744 ex. 230.