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If you build it, it will run
GENEVA – Julia Kastenmeier fit Lego pieces into a small, but recognizable figure of a monkey with a yellow face, yellow hands and red arms extending straight out like planks.
But this was no ordinary monkey.
The Geneva 10-year-old was configuring the pieces in accordance with a computer program which would have the monkey’s arms beat a pair of drums.
“I’m making my own drums,” Julia said, snapping pieces together and fitting them under the monkey’s arm reach. “I’m trying to make it drum a pattern.”
![[Collyn Diamond of Geneva participates in a program called "LEGO WeDo Robotics" at Geneva Public Library on March 30.]
Julia was one of about 40 children who participated in the Lego WeDo Robotics program offered March 30 at the Geneva Public Library.
Several sessions were offered during the day for children in second through fifth grade with one session for children in sixth through 12th grade, said middle school librarian Kylie Peters.
“A lot of them have never done it at all,” Peters said of the program, which the library offers periodically during school breaks.
“They know how to build with Legos. So we start with each piece in the robotics kit, which is a motor, a tilt sensor and a motion sensor," Peters said. "Once they understand how those work, they usually go to a project [that] the computer software comes with that gives you instructions. And by the end, a lot of them are building their own things. … It’s engineering and coding.”](26f1f231-f074-4393-b1d7-d71219538ff8/image-pv_web.jpg)
[Collyn Diamond of Geneva participates in a program called "LEGO WeDo Robotics" at Geneva Public Library on March 30.]
Julia was one of about 40 children who participated in the Lego WeDo Robotics program offered March 30 at the Geneva Public Library.
Several sessions were offered during the day for children in second through fifth grade with one session for children in sixth through 12th grade, said middle school librarian Kylie Peters.
“A lot of them have never done it at all,” Peters said of the program, which the library offers periodically during school breaks.
“They know how to build with Legos. So we start with each piece in the robotics kit, which is a motor, a tilt sensor and a motion sensor," Peters said. "Once they understand how those work, they usually go to a project [that] the computer software comes with that gives you instructions. And by the end, a lot of them are building their own things. … It’s engineering and coding.”
[Gabriel Ochsenschlager, left, of Geneva participates in a program called "LEGO WeDo Robotics" at Geneva Public Library on March 30.]
The children sat at desks with laptops and boxes of the Lego robotics kits, while a larger version of the instructions was projected on a screen facing them.
Alvin Tang, 8, of Geneva, also used the Legos to make a monkey, successfully programming its arms to go up and down in a pattern.
[Children participate in a program called "LEGO WeDo Robotics" at Geneva Public Library on March 30.]
His mother, Wendy Zhao, was so thrilled with Alvin’s creation, she took video of the monkey’s antics on her phone.
“It’s a good program,” Zhao said of the library’s offering.
Branden Daniels, 10, of South Elgin, and his brother, Amaree Daniels, 9, were working together on their robot.
“We’re building an alligator,” Amaree said as they snapped the pieces together. “He’s going to open his mouth.”
Sophia Ellis, 7, of Batavia, was building a bird that would simulate flying.
She snapped brown feet into a green base, then fitted black Lego sticks into slots at the top for the legs.
Her brother, Sam Ellis, 9, fit pieces together to create a tool.
[Books available for checkout after a program for children called "LEGO WeDo Robotics" at Geneva Public Library on March 30.]
“There’s special Legos that attach to computers to make them do stuff,” Ellis said. “I’ll make it a drill. I’m going to drill the table. It’s going to fail.”
The drill Sam created was attached to the computer as a power source and when he pressed a button, it would spin and whir almost like a real drill.
Peters squirted some whipped cream on a paper plate so Sam could see if it would actually drill.
“Can I eat it after?” Sam asked, looking at the paper plate of whipped cream.
[Children participate in a program called "LEGO WeDo Robotics" at Geneva Public Library on March 30.]
Branden Daniels, 10, of South Elgin, and his brother, Amaree Daniels, 9, were working together on their robot.
“We’re building an alligator,” Amaree said as they snapped the pieces together. “He’s going to open his mouth.”
[Dylan Hall of Geneva participates in a program called "LEGO WeDo Robotics" at Geneva Public Library on March 30.]
“It wouldn’t be sanitary,” Peters replied.
“I’m not sanitary,” Sam said.
Peters just smiled and shook her head.
Sam turned the drill into the whipped cream, drawing a crowd as the other participants came to watch – but it just whirred the cream around into a sticky mess on the plate.
[Gabe Alexander of Geneva participates in a program called "LEGO WeDo Robotics" at Geneva Public Library on March 30.]
Trey McClose, 11, of Geneva, made his own original design of a small car, complete with a little driver. And using the computer as a power source, Trey set it into motion going backwards and forwards.
And apparently, that's pretty special, Peters said.
“Trey just built something he made up,” Peters said. “He made a car that moved, which I’ve never seen any kid do before – and a lot of them tried. This kit is not designed to do that, so he really innovated that.”
The library’s laptops are also used for coding lab, Minecraft, writing workshops and adult classes, Peters said.