SOLVING A PUZZLE — The Weir High School Robotics Club demonstrated a LEGO MindStorm Robot designed to solve a Rubik’s Cube for Weirton Elementary School fourth graders May 24. -- Summer Wallace-Minger

WEIRTON — The Weir High School Robotics Club, along with sponsor and science teacher Cathy Barnabei, took their robots on the road May 24.

The club demonstrated several LEGO MindStorm robots designed to do a variety of activities, from puzzle-solving to “bot battles,” for the Weir Elementary School fourth-graders in an effort to encourage the children to become involved in science, math and programming and as a peek at some of the activities that will be available to them in high school.

The club received grant funding from ArcelorMittal Weirton to purchase several LEGO robotic kits and laptops on which to program them. Barnabei, who noted that former Weir High graduate and ArcelorMittal operations manager Jesse Lamone was a proponent of the club. ArcelorMittal awarded a second grant recently, so the club could buy additional robot kits, expansion kits and lap tops for programming.

Barnabei added the program allows the young people to learn “without realizing they’re learning” and while having fun. In addition, she added that programming was a valuable skill for today’s graduates.