What was once a cool toy that you shared with kindergarten classmates in show-and-tell has become a viable, engaging learning tool in the upper grades where tomorrow’s engineers are designing scientific answers to complex problems.

Robotics, already a club option in some area high schools, now is part of the middle school scene.

Popular mechanics have shifted into high gear at Rainier Middle School, where as many as 15 kids on two teams – aptly named Seattle Psychos RC and Mindstorm Gen Y – are doing competitive projects, completing missions and learning greatly from them.

“This is applied math and science at its best,” Principal Ben Talbert said with approval. “It’s been real pleasing to us.”

The parent-led, child-driven club is open to bright minds and ideas. Kids learn design skills, problem solving, public speaking and above all, teamwork. The hands-on learning process accelerates through trial and error, breakdowns and repairs.

“It’s challenging and hard,” said Valen Hill, a seventh-grader who helped design his team’s mobile, multi-tasking robot. “The real challenge is learning how to work together. Sometimes we will have two ideas, and we butt heads. But you have to be open to new ideas, agree on the best ones and learn how to work together.”

The inaugural push became so popular that club organizers had to turn away as many as 40 students.

The club has attracted kids all of walks, from honors students to those with special needs. Most of the teammates are interested in pursuing engineering careers or just have a general interest in science and technology.

“You get the opportunity to show your creativity, and robots help you animate (the project),” said seventh-grader A.J. Kukay. “I really like science, and robots are subject to it. This fits my personality.”

Rainier Middle School is part of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League, a global program created to get kids excited about science and technology. FLL uses theme-based challenges to engage kids in research, problem solving and engineering. The cornerstones of the program are its core values, which emphasize the contributions of others, friendly sportsmanship, learning and community involvement.

Rainier’s two rookie teams will compete against 25 other middle schools at regionals in Des Moines this weekend with hopes of scoring high numbers to reach the state finals next week. Teams are supplied the same kits and playing fields to design, build and carry out robotic missions. Teams are scored on how well the robots fulfill time-limited specific missions and how well students explain and present their projects to judges.

The competition includes a 2 1/2-minute robotic challenge, which involves preparing, presenting and executing a selected themed project. This fall, the Rainier crew chose ways to improve pedestrian safety in their community. One team suggested innovative traffic improvements around the school, ideas that have won acclaim from technical experts.

Robotics has opened up a new world for young minds, empowering them to suggest ways to change facets in the daily lives of others.

“Twenty-five years ago, this was so far reaching,” said Alan Coleman, a parent and Boeing manager whose 13-year-old son, Austin, led efforts to establish a robotics program at Rainier. “But now, this is our future.”

Austin fueled the start of the program at Rainier. Noticing that robotics is part of the high school climate, he wanted the same for his colleagues at Rainier. As an ASB senator, he approached school leaders about the plan and eventually won their approval.

“Like sports, we needed other things to do,” said Austin, who one day would like to become an engineer. “And I really enjoy robots. It’s a challenge.”

The club exists on parental guidance and fundraising.

The kids’ passion is reflected in their work. For instance, a group of students gathered at the Coleman house for a 16-hour work session over the weekend – immersed in and committed to perfecting their craft.

“Robots today? Well, it’s a huge world that’s opened up,” said Katrina Coleman, Austin’s mom and a Rainier robotics team coach. “It’s amazing.”