The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge offers one qualifying event per team in the chance to qualify for the State Championship. In our area, we annually attend Lancer-Bot-Mania - usually held in mid-to-late Novmber or early December. This takes place at Lakeshore High School gym and surrounding area.
Families should expect to be there all day - it contains an opening ceremony, the judging presentation, robot matches, a tournoment, and awards. Arrival is usually around 7am, and it ends around 5pm.
Important Note: This event can be very much a "hurry up and wait" with a lot of downtime. Please bring non-screen activities for your child like coloring, a book, small toys (nothing that can't be lost or broken please), word searches, etc. There may be an hour or two that needs to be filled due to the way events are run.
Each year, the FLL Challenge introduces a new theme related to a real-world scientific topic. Teams spend several weeks working on three equally weighted components:
This is often what people first think of when they hear "LEGO League."
What it is: Teams design, build, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO Education robotics kits to complete a series of missions on a specially designed game mat. These missions are related to the annual theme. For example, a theme about oceans might involve missions like retrieving artifacts from a shipwreck or restoring a coral reef.
The Robot: The robot must operate autonomously (following pre-programmed instructions). Teams can use any LEGO-made building parts in their original factory condition.
Competition: At events, teams get three 2.5-minute matches to score as many points as possible by completing missions. Only their best score counts towards awards and advancement. Referees monitor the game and score the missions.
What to expect: Teams bring their robot, attachments, and programming setup. They'll have a pit area to work on their robot between matches. The Robot Game is fast-paced and exciting, with a lot of cheers and energy.
Short Matches and Lots of Downtime - These matches are very short in comparison to the duration of the day. Teams will spend a lot of time waiting in the que, or waiting in between their matches.
Tournament Event - At our home event, they put on a tournament at the end of the day while Judges deliberate. This is a traditional single-elimination in competition for the Golden Brick. The purpose of this is to have fun, and success does not impact the team's State Championship qualification status.
This component encourages students to think like scientists and innovators.
What it is: Teams identify a real-world problem related to the annual theme, conduct research on it, and then design an innovative solution. This solution can be a new idea or an improvement on an existing one.
The Process: Students follow an engineering design process: explore, design, create (a model, drawing, or prototype), test, iterate, and refine their solution. They also need to share their problem and solution with others (e.g., experts, community members) to get feedback.
Presentation: Teams deliver a 5-minute presentation to a panel of judges, explaining their problem, their innovative solution, and how they shared it. This can involve creative elements like props, costumes, or colorful posters, but the focus is on the content and the team's learning journey.
What to expect: Teams will present in a private judging room. Judges are typically experts in STEM fields or the challenge theme, and they will ask questions to understand the team's research, design process, and learning.
Beyond the technical and research aspects, FLL emphasizes important life skills.
What they are: These are the cornerstones of the program: Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Fun. Teams are encouraged to embody these values throughout their season and at the events.
Demonstration: Teams demonstrate their Core Values in all aspects of the competition, including how they interact with each other, other teams, volunteers, and judges. There's usually a dedicated judging session where judges observe how the team works together, solves challenges collaboratively, and reflects on their journey.
What to expect: Teams might be asked to participate in a short teamwork challenge or discuss how they applied the Core Values during their season. It's a chance to show sportsmanship, respect, and a positive attitude.
Excitement and Energy: Events are vibrant and bustling, filled with enthusiastic teams, coaches, volunteers, and spectators.
Pit Area: Each team will have a designated "pit" area where they can set up their robot, mission models, and project materials. This is their home base for the day.
Judging Sessions: Teams will rotate through dedicated judging rooms for their Innovation Project, Robot Design, and Core Values presentations. These are typically private sessions with a panel of judges.
Robot Game Matches: Teams will have a few rounds (usually three) on the competition tables to run their robot. Referees will score their missions.
Team Spirit: Expect creative team names, costumes, cheers, and a lot of friendly interaction between teams.
Learning and Sharing: It's a major opportunity for teams to see what other teams have done, share ideas, and get inspired.
Awards Ceremony: The day culminates in an awards ceremony where teams are recognized for their achievements across all components (Robot Game, Project, Robot Design, Core Values, and the prestigious Champion's Award for overall excellence). Every team receives some form of recognition.
Feedback: Judges provide valuable feedback to teams, regardless of awards, offering suggestions for improvement and celebrating their progress.
Overall, FLL Challenge events are a celebration of hard work, creativity, and the collaborative spirit of STEM. It's an unforgettable experience for students, fostering not only technical skills but also crucial life skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and communication.