Photo Provided Ritchie Elementary School students Megan Wheeler, left, and Ja’liyah Dunn-Allen work on a robotics project given them by teacher Gina Pollard.

WHEELING — Some students at Ritchie Elementary School made a grab for robotics last week.

Fifth grade students were tasked with constructing robo hands from the materials in a kit they were provided, then working with classmate partners to build an arm that would reach out and grab a bolt 10 inches away and bring it back to them.

Earlier this year, Ritchie School and teacher Gina Pollard received a $5,000 grant to buy the robotics kits. The grant money came from Intermediate Unit 1 in Pennsylvania, the Benedum Foundation, Chevron and the EQT Foundation.

Pollard said this was the second week the students have worked with the kits.

Last week they designed the robo hands and came up with strategy to see how they moved, she explained. Now they are testing their arms.

There is no electric involved in the robo hands. The students can only choose to use items found in their robotics kits, and among these are nuts, bolts and rubber bands.

“They love it,” she said. “They love doing anything hands-on. They are excited about it.”

Prior to the experiments, the students read a book about robots that explained how they are taking over many common human tasks — and how this is both good and bad.

They also learned what jobs require a knowledge of robotics, according to Pollard.

The next project includes the use of Legos, and building a structure with the use of a computer, she said.

“The goal is that when they get to middle school and high school, they have seen the basics of how robots do things, and how the computers can work as a robot.”

Not only are the students learning robotics, they also are learning teamwork, Pollard said. They work with partners to accomplish their tasks.

“I tell them this might not be your favorite person, but you have to find a way to get the job done,” she said. “It’s going to be a part of your life.”

They also learn it likely will take them a few attempts before they succeed, Pollard said.

“I tell them they are going to fail, but that’s not the end. They will try again,” she said. “I want them to build confidence and know it is OK to not be perfect the first time.”