Robotics in Afterschool Programs?

[Freddy Schurr]

Need some help from the FIRST community on this one. I have been working in an after school program for 2 years and was always thinking of a way to bring some form of robotics to the students that I work with. Like many education programs, it is challenging and difficult to raise money to fund opportunities for students to learn about science and technology. However, through our state after school program coalition, I have an opportunity through a $2,000 grant to start a robotics initiative at my after school programs The problem is I don’t know where to start. I don’t know what robotic projects are out there that are aim at ages 5-13. Yes, I know about FIRST Lego League but I don’t it really know how it works through construction, programming, and developing robot.

My ideal goal is to…..

• start some kind of robotics program
• open to students ages 5-13
• something that will appeal to almost all of the students
• simple for students to understand and have fun while my fellow co-workers will also be able to learn and help with teaching the students and also have fun as well

So this is when I ask the CD community for help. I need help in choosing a robotics program that within a $2,000 budget. Like with all grants, I need to submit a application with a two page essay with how the money will be spent and how it will improve the quality of the after school program, provide a time line for completion of this project and anticipated results, and a budget sheet with the breakdown of items purchased and their cost.

If anyone could provide any advice, it would be tremulously greatly appreciated.