Robotics for grades 4–8.
Eight Tuesday nights. Your kid builds a robot with three teammates, writes the code that drives it, and shows it off to family in week eight. No experience needed and nothing to buy.
Fourth through eighth grade. Beginners welcome.
We start from zero every session. Kids who have done it before pick up where they left off and go deeper. Groups mix grades on purpose: older kids explain, younger kids ask, and everyone builds.
Each group is about four students, and two adults are in the room for every class. We use LEGO® Education Computer Science & AI kits, one per group, with laptops we provide.
Ninety minutes, mostly hands on.
The split changes week to week. Some nights cover two lessons; others cover one and spend the rest of the time on the week-eight show.
- 01
Build
The group follows a build for the week's robot, then changes it to suit the challenge. Hands on the bricks, not on a screen.
- 02
Code
They write the program that makes the robot move, sense, and react, and test it on the floor until it works.
- 03
Test and show
Every group runs its robot for the room. What worked, what didn't, what to try next week.
Six lessons, a rehearsal, and a show.
Session timeline- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- Week 1 · Jan 5
- Basics: making a robot do one thing on command
- Week 2 · Jan 12
- Loops: doing it again, and again, until a condition is met
- Week 3 · Jan 19
- Conditionals: reacting to what the color sensor sees
- Week 4 · Jan 26
- Variables: keeping score, counting laps, remembering state
- Week 5 · Feb 2
- Functions: naming a behavior so the robot can reuse it
- Week 6 · Feb 9
- AI and data: how a robot can learn from examples
- Week 7 · Feb 16
- Rehearsal. Groups finish their robots and run the show order.
- Week 8 · Feb 23
- The show. Family and friends come to Spotlight and the robots are the stars.
Real programming, one idea at a time.
The class is built on LEGO Education's Computer Science & AI curriculum. Over the session the groups work through:
- Basics: making a robot do one thing on command
- Loops: doing it again, and again, until a condition is met
- Conditionals: reacting to what the color sensor sees
- Variables: keeping score, counting laps, remembering state
- Functions: naming a behavior so the robot can reuse it
- AI and data: how a robot can learn from examples
Nothing.
We provide the robots, the kits, and the laptops. Your kid brings curiosity and, if they like, a water bottle.
Try it before you sign up.
Two free demo days and two one-day workshops this fall. Neither is required for the class.
| When | What | Cost and signup |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 10 | Demo day Tuesday, 5:30–7:30 pm. Drop in any time, drive a robot, ask us anything. Just show up. | Free |
| Nov 11 | Build & code workshop Wednesday, 9:30 am–2:00 pm. Drop off from 9:00, lunch at noon. One day, one robot, one challenge. | Register on Spotlight |
| December | Demo day Same as November. Bring a friend. Date coming soon. | Free |
| December | Build & code workshop A new challenge from November's. Date coming soon. | Register on Spotlight |
| Jan 5 | 8-week class begins Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 through Feb 23. Enroll through Spotlight. | Enroll on Spotlight |
Next session starts January 5.
Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 at Spotlight, Mint Hill. Grades 4–8. Enrollment and payment are on Spotlight's site.
Enroll on Spotlight