Robotics classes

[Anonymous]

I’m looking for recommendations for robotics classes for elementary school kids (around ages 8–12). I’d love to hear what programs your kids have really enjoyed — either in-person or online. We are in McLean.
I’m hoping for something that’s hands-on and keeps kids excited about learning STEM skills.
Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Look for First Robotics Lego League teams associated with schools. The non-profit First Robotics does not publicize where the teams are for privacy reasons. But you can find evidence of where they are by Googling.

https://www.firstlegoleague.org/

AI summary follows:

"How to get involved

Form a team: You can create your own team through your school, a club, or as a private group.

Find a local partner: Search online for "FIRST LEGO League [Your City/State]" to find a local Program Delivery Partner who organizes events and can help you get started.

Register: Registration for teams and classes typically opens at the end of April.

Participate: The season officially begins in August when the challenge is released. Teams build, code, and program their robots to complete challenges and present their real-world innovation projects at events."

[Anonymous]

Potomac School sometimes will offer a robotics day camp in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look for First Robotics Lego League teams associated with schools. The non-profit First Robotics does not publicize where the teams are for privacy reasons. But you can find evidence of where they are by Googling.

https://www.firstlegoleague.org/

AI summary follows:

"How to get involved

Form a team: You can create your own team through your school, a club, or as a private group.

Find a local partner: Search online for "FIRST LEGO League [Your City/State]" to find a local Program Delivery Partner who organizes events and can help you get started.

Register: Registration for teams and classes typically opens at the end of April.

Participate: The season officially begins in August when the challenge is released. Teams build, code, and program their robots to complete challenges and present their real-world innovation projects at events."

+1. This. Look for a league or start your own. I started a team in elementary, did discover a few years and last year did explore which was more challenging since my background is not in CS. Got some help with the coding in explore.

Now my kid is in middle school, and they have robotics teams and lab (2 teams in middle school). They are doing challenge and no way I could handle this with coding or build. Way out of my league and definitely needs to be run by teachers and mentors in the field.

[Anonymous]

Electrical engineer here. Mom or dad can order one of those circuits kits online and help their child build simple circuits. You will be shocked in a year or so how much they will be able to accomplish on their own. The creativity of children is wild. I remember the first time when my 7 years old daughter toggled the switch on her small circuit board and the light came on. She has been hooked since.

[Anonymous]

SnapCircuits has several different kits like this. All the parts are compatible within that brand. We got ours from Barnes & Noble. Other alternatives also exist.

In McLean, go to the “Child’s Play” toy store off Old Dominion in the Balducci’s shopping center. Ask there for options. Same store also has a location in Arlington near Glebe & Old Dominion and also has a third store somewhere on the other side of the river.

For a middle/high school age student, there are a few good kits from (Chinese vendor) “Elecrow” available on Amazon. One can download the PDF User Manual from Elecrow’s website before buying to see exactly what the kit includes and which experiments are documented.

[Anonymous]

Up Robotics - in Bethesda tho so a hike for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look for First Robotics Lego League teams associated with schools. The non-profit First Robotics does not publicize where the teams are for privacy reasons. But you can find evidence of where they are by Googling.

https://www.firstlegoleague.org/

AI summary follows:

"How to get involved

Form a team: You can create your own team through your school, a club, or as a private group.

Find a local partner: Search online for "FIRST LEGO League [Your City/State]" to find a local Program Delivery Partner who organizes events and can help you get started.

Register: Registration for teams and classes typically opens at the end of April.

Participate: The season officially begins in August when the challenge is released. Teams build, code, and program their robots to complete challenges and present their real-world innovation projects at events."

Just be careful if you do this. The I in FIRST is for Inspire. Which means that anyone can build and code the robot as long as it inspires kids to pursue STEM. There are coaches who do all the work. Some are madly competitive with each other and will lie and cheat to win. You need a good coach if you kid does FIRST. Ask around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Electrical engineer here. Mom or dad can order one of those circuits kits online and help their child build simple circuits. You will be shocked in a year or so how much they will be able to accomplish on their own. The creativity of children is wild. I remember the first time when my 7 years old daughter toggled the switch on her small circuit board and the light came on. She has been hooked since.

+1. This is so easy to do. I just donated my kid’s Hummingbird robot. We also had something called Adafruit — much simpler and great for 6-8 yo kids. Ozobot is another.