FIRST® LEGO® League

All About FIrst® LEGO® League

What is FIRST ® LEGO® League

Create your LEGO Spike PRIME builds, work in some cracking coding, and take part in one of the biggest international STEM events in the world.

This is an amazing opportunity for children aged 9-16 (Year 5 and above) to join together to complete a set series of challenges, guided by expert staff and mentors to compete in a global arena.

You can sign a team of up to 10 children to take part in a Regional Competition; we are the hosts for North Cornwall and North Devon.

Children taking part in our FLL competition will be participating in the North Cornwall and North Devon Regional Heats at The Parkhouse Centre, Bude on 6th and 7th March 2025.

Inspired by this years theme ‘Submerged’ children will work in a team of up to 10; pupils will learn how to research and innovate a new solution to a problem related to the Ocean . They will talk to industry experts and put together an Innovation Project to present to a panel of judges. They will code and programme their robots to accomplish as many missions as possible in 2.5 minutes and most importantly; they will learn to work together, celebrate together and commiserate together.

Are you ready to join us for an incredible adventure?

how to get Started with FLL:

Registration for the 2024-2025 season opens in August.
To register you must go to the IET website and register your team. FLL Challenge Registration
Once registered you will then receive your kit and team meeting guides in a couple of weeks. This outlines everything you need to know about how to set up a FIRST LEGO League team and how to support the children week by week.
The programme runs for approximately 12 weeks. Thee is a short cut route that can be taken called the ‘Quick route’.
There are coach resources to help support and guide your sessions which are available through the IET Team and Coach Resources
Funding for support is available for teams in our area through our sponsors, we can also organise a loan robot and support sessions in school. If you would like a tailored support session from one of our experts then please contact hello@cognitionlearning.co.uk. These can help to make sure you are on the right track with regards to the innovation project and can also help support you with game strategy.

Our Bude event features an opening and closing ceremony.

Each team introduces themselves, we love seeing teams dress up!

It's a great day to meet other students and STEM-thusiasts!

We welcome after-school clubs, class teams and Home Ed groups to our competition.

The Challenge Mats are a central part of any regional FLL competition.

Throughout our event, students have plenty of time to practise and ask for guidance if needs be.

Judging happens in side rooms where students present their Innovation Project, robot design and coding strategy as well as answer questions about their Core Values.

Students get a fantastic opportunity to present to industry experts, STEM Ambassadors and VIPs.

Bringing in attachments and custom made LEGO for your robots is important.

Our judges are fabulous people from a range of backgrounds who volunteer to inspire young people.

Teachers and Coaches are not allowed in the judging sessions, but can offer support for their teams on the day.

The robot games are incredibly exciting! The students have 3 games throughout the day.

We all count down and support each other throughout the day.

Team t-shirts are a great way to encourage cohesion.

And we love original elements in Robot Design.

Our top Coaching tips

Coaching a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team can be a rewarding experience, and it's a great way to inspire young minds in science and technology. Here are some coaching tips to help you lead your FLL team effectively:

Training: Attend our FLL Coach and Mentor skills day on 4th October 2024.
Understand the FLL Challenge: Familiarise yourself with the current FLL challenge theme, rules, and scoring criteria. Stay updated with the official materials and resources provided by IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology). This will help you guide your team effectively.
Foster Teamwork: Encourage collaboration and teamwork within your team. FLL is not just about building a robot but also about core values and teamwork. Teach your team members to respect each other's ideas and contributions, organise team building activities and foster a sense of community amongst your team.
Set Clear Goals and Timeframes: Work with your team to establish clear goals and objectives for the season. Create a timeline and plan to ensure that your team stays on track and meets deadlines.
Learn how LEGO SPIKE PRIME works: As the coach, you should have a good understanding of the LEGO SPIKE robotics system. Be prepared to teach your team members how to build and program their robot.
Research and Experiment: Encourage your team to research the challenge topic and experiment with various robot designs and programming strategies. This exploration can help them find innovative solutions.
Time Management: FLL is a time-consuming activity, so teach your team effective time management skills. Make sure they allocate sufficient time for research, robot building, programming, and practicing their presentation.
Gracious Professionalism: Emphasize the core values of FLL, including "Gracious Professionalism" and "Coopertition" (cooperative competition). These values encourage teams to be respectful and supportive of one another.
Keep It Fun: Make sure your team enjoys the FLL experience. Learning and having fun should go hand in hand. Engage in team-building activities and celebrate small achievements along the way.
Practice Presentation Skills: The presentation portion of the competition is crucial. Help your team practice their research presentation, ensuring they can communicate their ideas clearly and confidently to judges. Experiment with presentations to other teachers and their peers.
Test, Test, Test: Test your robot and programs rigorously. Practice on the competition table with field setups and obstacles that simulate the real competition environment.
Provide Guidance, Not Solutions: As a coach, your role is to guide and support, not to provide solutions. Encourage your team to think critically and problem-solve independently.
Stay Organised: Keep track of team progress, resources, and important dates.
Encourage Growth: Celebrate the learning and growth experiences that come with FLL, even if your team doesn't win the competition. The skills they develop are valuable for their future.

Remember that FLL is not just about winning but about learning, teamwork, and having fun while exploring science and technology. Your role as a coach is to inspire and guide young minds, helping them develop their problem-solving skills and passion for STEM fields.