For children ages 4-6, this playful introductory STEM program ignites their natural curiosity and builds their habits of learning with hands-on activities in the classroom and at home using LEGO® Duplo bricks. The Discover League is for students in grades PK-1. FIRST LEGO League Discover is a playful introductory STEM program for teams of children ages 4-6, that ignites their natural curiosity and builds their habits of learning. By the end of the program, children emerge more confident, better equipped to face future challenges, and discover the joy of learning.
A new and exciting Challenge is presented every year, and each team of four children begins their exploration of this real-world theme with an exclusive LEGO Education Discovery Set. With this set as a starting point, they build a solution to the Challenge with LEGO® DUPLO® elements. Teams share their journey, ideas, models, and STEM skills at a celebration event. The Discover league is not a "team based" solution, but is designed to be a whole classroom learning experience.
In Explore, teams of students ages 6-10 focus on the fundamentals of engineering as they explore real-world problems, learn to design and code and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by LEGO Education WeDo 2.0. Each year in early August, FIRST LEGO League Explore releases a new Challenge for teams that focuses on a scientific topic. Teams are sent on a journey of discovery to learn all they can about the topic, then present their findings in the form of a team poster and a LEGO model that moves.
You may recruit 2 to 6 interested team members ages 6 to 10. A coach is allowed to coach multiple teams. Each team must have at least 2 adult coaches. Once you have a team (you do not need all team member names yet), you may register.
Friendly competition is at the heart of Challenge, as teams of students engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. As part of Challenge, teams also participate in a research project to identify and solve a relevant real-world problem. Students in grades 4 and 5 will use the Lego Spike Prime kits to compete.
Friendly competition is at the heart of Challenge, as teams of students engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. As part of Challenge, teams also participate in a research project to identify and solve a relevant real-world problem. Students in grades 4 and 5 will use the Lego EV3 Kits to compete.
Recruit up to 10 interested team members ages 9 to 14. Team members must not exceed the maximum age on January 1 of the year the Challenge is released. A coach is allowed to coach multiple teams. Once you have a team (you do not need all team member names yet), you may register.
We express the FIRST philosophies of Gracious Professionalism and Cooperation through our Core Values:
Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!
Each year the First Inspires Lego League selects an overall theme for the competition season. The theme for the younger students is similar to the older students, but not the same. The theme for the older students is listed first.
2020-2021 - RePLAY, PLAYmakers
2019-2020 - City Shaper, Boomtown Build
2018-2019 - Into Orbit, Mission Moon
2017-2018 - Hydro Dynamics, Aqua Adventure
2016-2017 - Animal Allies, Creature Craze
2015-2016 - Trash Trek, Waste Wise
214-2015 - World Class, Think Tank
2013-2014 - Nature's Fury, Disaster Blaster
2012-2013 - Senior Solutions, Super Seniors
2011-2012 - Food Factor, Snack Attack
There are multiple components to the Lego competition.
Robot Games - the team will have to identify which missions they will solve, design a robot to complete the missions, and test and refine the program to complete as many successful missions as they can in a limited amount of time.
Research - each team will have to identify a real world problem within the confines of the theme, design a solution, and then share the solution to the judging team. They will have to be able to create a project board and give a five-minute presentation.
Robot Design - Teams will have to show and explain how the robot was built and programmed, how they found solutions for the design, and answer any questions regarding the robot.
Core Values - throughout the season teams will be guided by the First Core Values of gracious professionalism, cooperation and collaboration and teamwork.