FIRST^® LEGO^® League Explore Resources

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international not-for-profit organisation founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989. FIRST prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges.

Learn more here: https://www.firstinspires.org/about/vision-and-mission

FIRST® LEGO® League is an international program created in a partnership between FIRST and the LEGO® Group in 1998. Each year, the program announces an annual theme, which engages teams of young people in authentic scientific research and hands-on robotics design using LEGO products.

FIRST LEGO League introduces science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to children aged 4 to 16 years. Three divisions inspire young people to experiment and grow their critical thinking, coding, and design skills through hands-on STEM learning and robotics. From Discover (Junior and Senior Infants), to Explore (First to Fifth Class), and then to Challenge (Sixth Class to Transition Year), students will understand the basics of STEM and apply their skills in an exciting competition while building habits of learning, confidence, and teamwork skills along the way. 

Learn more here: https://www.firstlegoleague.org/about

FIRST® LEGO® League Explore is a global STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) programme for teams of young people aged 7 to 12 years (2nd to 5th Class), to explore a real-world theme, develop teamwork, design and programming skills – and have fun.

FIRST LEGO League Explore rapidly develops teamwork, design, programming and communication skills, but the most important thing is that it is great fun and makes the children feel proud of what they have achieved!

In Ireland, Explore is open to students in 2nd Class to 5th Class. Teams of up to 4 students prepare and present their robotic model and Show Me Poster at one of our regional showcase events or at an in-school event.

Learn more here: https://fll.learnit.ie/pages/first-lego-league-explore

MASTERPIECESM is the theme for FIRST® LEGO® League in 2023-24. In MASTERPIECE, teams will explore how they can use technology to share their passions, hobbies and interests with others while learning about how experts in a variety of creative fields use technology in their roles.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a multidisciplinary professional engineering institution based in the UK and dating back to 1871, with a worldwide membership in excess of 158,000 in 153 countries. The IET is the delivery partner for FIRST LEGO League in the UK and Ireland.

Learn more here: https://www.theiet.org/about/

IET Education supports STEM teachers by providing a range of resources linked to the school curriculum and partnering with organisations worldwide to create experiences that inspire teachers and students alike.

Learn more and get access to free engineering posters and other resources:

https://education.theiet.org/

https://education.theiet.org/primary/posters/

https://education.theiet.org/secondary/posters/

Since 2010 Learnit has been on a mission to 'inspire the creators of tomorrow by making learning fun for the children of today'. We are the delivery partners for FIRST® LEGO® League in Ireland and are proud to partner with the IET on this exciting programme.

Learn more here: https://fll.learnit.ie/pages/about-us

Dean Kamen is a prolific inventor (AutoSyringe, Segway, iBOT), entrepreneur, and tireless advocate for science and technology. His passion and determination to help young people discover the excitement and rewards of science and technology are the cornerstones of FIRST, which he founded in 1989. Kamen holds over 1000 patents, but says that FIRST is the invention he is most proud of, and predicts that the 1 million students who have taken part in the contests so far will be responsible for some significant technological advances in years to come.

Learn more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Kamen

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Contact LEGO Service through one of the links below, depending on your needs:

Bricks & Pieces (link) - online service to replace small numbers of missing or broken parts in new sets, or buy additional parts

LEGO Service (link) - contact form to report missing bags in LEGO Education sets; be sure to mention FIRST LEGO League Explore

In the SPIKE App, click on Help and then Icon Blocks or Word Blocks to get a complete description of all of the blocks that are available.

LEGO Education have a comprehensive SPIKE Essential FAQ page here:

https://education.lego.com/en-us/product-resources/45345-spike-essential-resource-page/troubleshooting/spike-essential-faqs

The IET have a comprehensive FIRST LEGO League Explore FAQ page here:

https://education.theiet.org/first-lego-league-programmes/faqs/explore-faqs/

If your question isn't answered, contact us at fll@learnit.ie