Submitted by Rene Carroll
Washougal Elementary School robotics club members recently saw where their experience learning programming and coding could lead them. The Steel Hearts Robotics 4-H Club visited Gause and Columbia River Gorge Elementary schools March 26 to demonstrate their robots and talk about their club and competitions.
“Exposure to what these older students are doing is opening a window into the possibilities for elementary students,” said Marina Clarke, Gause second grade teacher and 3rd-5th grade robotics club advisor. “They get to see where their robotics and programming experience here can take them. The Steel Hearts Robotics 4-H Club is one of the next steps for our students. It was especially exciting for our fifth graders
who will have the chance to join this group.”
“We are spreading knowledge about the club and about competitions,” said Zach Ager, Steel Hearts member and Jemtegaard Middle School 8th grader. “We want to show these younger students who are interested in robotics that we have this club and that there are awesome careers available to them with what they learn about robotics.”
“An important part of the competition the club participates in each fall is a presentation portion and the more they practice the more comfortable they will feel during that presentation,” said Melany Nelsen, Head Coach, Steel Hearts Robotics 4-H Club. “Presentations like this one are a great way for the students to gain communications skills and be part of the community.”
“The presentation helped to show the elementary students something new and different in the way of programming,” said Sydney Termini, CRGE 1st grade teacher and co-advisor of the robotics club there. Termini, along with co-advisor Allison McGranahan, CRGE 1st grade teacher, lead the group of 25-30 students from 1st through 5th grades.
Members of Steel Hearts are comprised of students from Jemtegaard Middle School in Washougal School District and Camas High School, Odyssey Middle School and Liberty Middle School in Camas School District.
“As a leader I want the students in the club to learn skills that will help them throughout their lives as teens and adults, such as working as part of a team, problem solving, good time management, respect and kindness for all individuals despite differences, and the value of hard work,” said Nelsen. “I also want them to have fun and enjoy working with their peers and form new friendships.”
Nelsen is proud when the students can see the payoff after they put a lot of effort into a task. “When they can solve a problem or make something work that has been giving them trouble it is fantastic to see how they light up,” she said. “At the competitions they might not get an award, but they know they have worked hard and they can be pleased with their effort regardless of the outcome.”
Contact Nelsen if you have interest in the club at steelhearts4hclub@gmail.com and find them on Facebook.
