You know you’ve had fun when you hear, “Put your parts and brains back in your buckets please, we need to clean up!”

That was teacher Sara Finney’s funny request to her fifth-graders as they wrapped up another gathering of the Robotics Club at Ralph Moody Elementary School in Littleton. The “parts and brains” were actually collections of wires, wheels, motors and tiny computers that the kids were using to build small robots as part of the after-school program, now in its fifth week.

The Robotics Club is a pilot program at Ralph Moody and introduces the students to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. Working in small groups, the kids are using the VEX IQ system to build snap-together robots designed specifically to introduce the club members to robot design and programming.

Using the VEX IQ system, Ralph Moody students build snap-together robots.

With each meeting the goal is to add another layer of function to the robots, progressing from simple build tasks to eventually going wireless for specific design challenges, such as simulating a robot delivery system. Club member Owen Ervin was holding his gray robot contraption and said, “The first time I plugged in the controller, I didn’t expect it to work – but it did! When the wheels started spinning I thought, ‘this is really cool!’”

As part of Project Lead the Way (PLTW), the club runs for nine weeks (Mondays from 3:45-5:00 p.m.) and helps kids discover new ways to design, think and problem-solve through the robotics program curriculum. By intentionally providing an engaging, hands-on environment, students can develop high-demand knowledge and skills. Teachers are also provided with training and support to help engage their students in real-world learning.

“I feel very lucky to be a part of PLTW and a sponsor of our Robotics Club,” said Sara Finney. “I think it's important to expose our students to STEM opportunities in order to show them the possibilities available to them in STEM-related fields. It's great to see them working through the design process, problem solving and collaborating to design and build their robots. The excitement in our room is infectious and so much fun to be a part of!”

Making the Robotics Club a reality took some outside assistance, with a bit more still needed to break even on costs. “We received a grant this year from Groove Automotive for $3,500 and a $1,500 donation from Waste Connections of Colorado and Sedalia Landfill. That support provided the STEM education through Project Lead the Way's 5th grade Robotic curriculum,” said Allyson Mallory, Principal at Ralph Moody. “The education landscape is changing – anything we can do to open access to innovative learning for our students is essential to making a difference in the lives of our kiddos. The Robotics Club is available at no cost to students, and we are offering it in two sections so all the fifth-graders will have a chance to participate.”

5th grader Cody Brookhart makes adjustments to his robot in Ralph Moody's after school Robotics Club.

With the whirring of tiny motors, robot LED’s blinking red and green, and club members running around the room checking for the best wireless reception for their controllers, the excitement level in the room buzzes with constant chatter and exclamations. Some kids are focused on iPads for directions and design tips, while others are laughing about a wheel that is going in the opposite direction of its programming.

“This is the fun club, maybe better than intramurals and other stuff,” said Ashley Schulz, who made it clear she was enjoying herself. “You get to see and do things that you would never imagine getting to do in 5th grade. I thought you only worked on robots in high school. But we get to build it, control it and understand how it functions now.”

Shelby Kramp tells her friends they really need to be in the club next semester, especially if they like computers. “I can see this helping with jobs when we grow up,” said Shelby. “You have these same kind of controllers in cars, programming the motors, stuff like that. I want to be an engineer and this is what they do.”

Marveling at the enthusiasm surrounding the club, co-sponsor and Ralph Moody teacher Corey Meurer-Lynn recognizes why the kids love the club so much. “Technology is like food, water, and vitamins to these kids; it’s so essential to their growth process. So when students get their hands on these robotics kits and have the opportunity to explore inputs, outputs, design, construction and the programming of a machine, the lights go on in their eyes as they gain understanding of how things work underneath it all. I see so much excitement and engagement as kids discover the power and creativity they have to make something new.”

Featured photo: Ralph Moody teachers Sara Finney and Corey Meurer-Lynn assist 5th grade students with building and programming their robots.

Article and photos courtesy of Bill Youmans, writer and photographer.