By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Like most sixth-graders, Thien Cao has been making things out of Lego bricks for years.

But it wasn't until he joined Shawnee Elementary School's 3-month-old Robotics Club that Thien learned to write programs and use scientific concepts to build a moving Lego robot capable of doing specific tasks.

Thien and 11 other sixth-graders make up the first Lakota elementary school Robotics Club, entering the FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology - Lego League. The group did well enough in regional competition last month to earn a spot in state competition Monday at the U.S. Air Force Museum near Dayton.

Using a Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System kit, the students had to design and program a robot that could accomplish tasks at eight different stations, earning points during each of three, 21/2-minute rounds.

The students got the description of the tasks shortly after the club formed in September and had eight weeks to build and program their robots.

Divided into groups of four, the students built three robots, chose one for competition and split the writing of the program based on the mission tasks.

"The easiest part was the bridge. You had to drive straight and knock it down," Thien said.

The students worked with parent-volunteers Sheila King, Brian Resnick and Ron Miller, all engineers.

"At first we tried to get them familiar with the components,'' Mrs. King said. "Then we helped with the writing of the software program. This is the best way for kids to learn science.''

Bradley Meyers said he joined the group because he thought it would be fun.

"I didn't think we'd go to competitions or win it," said Bradley, 12. "I thought we'd play around with the stuff. It was hard work.

Students also had to define a problem, research it, suggest a solution and prepare a technical report based on the robot they created, said teacher Lorene Ashby, the club's sponsor.

A robotics club also is being formed at Lakota East High School. Unlike the younger students, no Legos are used at the high school level. There, students use power tools to make machines that could be as large as 130 pounds and 5 feet high, teacher Dave Campbell said.