FIRST lego league
Decatur is home to a few parent coached FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams. FLL Challenge teams are limited to a max of 10 students and are for kids in grades 4-8. There is also an FLL version for ages 6-10 that is less competitive and more about exploring. A new season starts each August. Our high school team does not coach FLL teams but we'll do our best to help you find an existing one or get one started. We loan out materials when possible, provide mentoring, and invite teams to our annual FLL Scrimmage which helps members better prepare for their first tournament in December.
We're actively working on district awareness within City Schools of Decatur and encouraging our elementary schools to start robotics programs. If you'd like to help with this effort then please let us know. You can start by asking your school how you can help them get teams started. Our goal is to get kids of all ages involved in STEM and we need help from our community.
JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST LEGO LEAGUE KICKOFF AND INFORMATION NIGHT
August 2024 - date TBD but will be a weeknight
6 pm - 7:30 pm
Decatur High School
This is open to 2nd through 8th grade families. We’ll watch the FLL Challenge video, discuss solutions, play with LEGOS, and have demonstrations. Our adult mentors will escort parents to another room for an overview of what it takes to start and coach an FLL team.
UPDATE: We are in the process of setting a day of the week in August 2024. Please use the above form to get on our contact list.
What is FLL?
Guided by adult volunteer coaches, FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams research a real-world problem and are challenged to develop a unique solution. They also must design, build and program a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game.
Students learn to apply science, technology, engineering, and math concepts (STEM), plus a big dose of imagination, to solve a problem. Along their journey, they develop critical thinking and team-building and presentation skills, as they must present their solutions with a dash of creativity. They also practice FIRST Core Values, which emphasize discovery, teamwork and good sportsmanship.
FIRST is More Than Robots®
FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12).
Because these programs are More Than Robots®, FIRST participants are guided by a signature set of Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements. The thrilling, sports-like challenges build self-confidence and collaborative problem-solving skills and have a proven and lasting impact on STEM learning and interest.
Welcome to the MASTERPIECE Season!
Lights, camera, STEAM! Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) inspire big ideas, bold action – and creativity. Our skills make it possible to create art and experiences that bring us together, entertain us, and move us. During our 2023-2024 arts-inspired robotics season, FIRST® IN SHOWSM presented by Qualcomm, we will celebrate the roles our STEM skills play in the arts and design and build a world of endless possibilities. The future is yours to create.
Start a FIRST Lego League Team
FIRST LEGO League’s three divisions inspire youth to experiment and grow their critical thinking, coding and design skills through hands-on STEM learning and robotics.
Ages 4 - 6
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. Discover is not available as an individual team option. It's designed for classrooms or programs that serve 8 or more students.
Grades 2-4
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. Up to 6 team members allowed.
Grades 4-8
Friendly competition is at the heart of Challenge, as teams of students ages 9-14 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. Up to 10 team members allowed.
Running a team takes time and planning, but it is also a lot of fun! No experience is needed and anyone can coach. You can run a team out of your own home if you get at least 2 adults and a handful of interested students.
Here are some other resources to help you get started:
Visit the FIRST Inspires website. This is an excellent place to start. Start a FIRST Lego League Team
The red "Start a Team" links above are great!Reach out to Georgia FIRST. This is a phenomenal organization and we work with them regularly. (go to the bottom of the linked page for contacts) - Georgia has a strong robotics community and they want you to be successful.
Contact Decatur Robotics for more information about finding or forming your own team. Be sure to let us know if you form a team so we can get you on our list for kick-off and scrimmage events. We might be able to loan you materials, do a little training, or just cheer you on.
Our high school team does not coach FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams. We're actively working on district awareness within City Schools of Decatur and encouraging our community of parents to help. Let your school know how much you'd love to have these programs offered. You can also work together with other families to start your own team. Click on the links below for more information about how to get started.