FIRST LEGO League

CALIFORNIA – Southern

COUNTIES SERVED
San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo

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3 FIRST LEGO League Divisions

FIRST LEGO League guides youth through STEM learning and exploration at an early age. From Discover, to Explore and then to Challenge, students will understand the basics of STEM and apply their skills in an exciting competition while gaining productive learning habits, confidence, and teamwork skills along the way.

GRADES PRE K – 1

For children ages 4-6, Discover is a playful introductory STEM program that ignites natural curiosity and builds habits of learning with hands-on activities in the classroom and at home using LEGO® DUPLO® bricks.

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 SPIKETM Essential or WeDo 2.0.

GRADES 4 – 8

Friendly competition is at the heart of Challenge, as teams of students ages 9-16* engage in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game.

2022-2023 season challenge

Innovate the future in SUPERPOWERED

In the SUPERPOWERED℠ challenge, FIRST LEGO League teams will explore where energy comes from and how it is distributed, stored, and used – and then put their superpowered creativity to work to innovate for a better energy future.

SEASON REGISTRATION

GRADES 4 – 8

OVERVIEW SHEET

FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams get to:

  • Use and apply the FIRST Core Values and engineering design process to develop a robot and Innovation Project solutions.
  • Identify and research a problem related to the season theme then design and create an Innovation Project solution.
  • Identify a mission strategy and design, create, and code a robot to complete missions.
  • Test, iterate, and improve their Robot Design and Innovation Project.
  • Communicate their Robot Design and Innovation Project and demonstrate their robot in the Robot Game.
  • Learn to listen to others ideas and have fun throughout their time together as a team.

CORE VALUES

Demonstrate FIRST Core Values in everything you do. Your team will be evaluated during the Robot Game and the judging session. Core Values are judged everywhere, Referees at the Robot Game table will also be watching how the teams embody Gracious Professionalism® – the spirit of friendly competition unique to all FIRST programs.

Your team will:

  • Apply teamwork and discovery to explore the challenge.
  • Innovate with new ideas about your robot and project.
  • Show how your team and your solutions will have an impact and be inclusive!
  • Celebrate by having fun in everything you do!

ROBOT DESIGN

Your team will prepare a short presentation on your robot design, strategy and program.

Your team will also:

  • Identify your mission strategy.

  • Design your robot and programs and create an effective plan.

  • Create your robot and coding solution.

  • Iterate, test, and improve your robot and program.

  • Communicate your robot design process and everyone’s contributions with the judges

ROBOT GAME

Your team will have three 2.5-minute matches to complete as many missions as possible.

Your team will:

  • Build the mission models and follow the field setup to put the models on the mat.

  • Review the missions and rules.

  • Design and build a robot.

  • Explore building and coding skills while practicing with your robot on the mat.

  • Compete at an event.

INNOVATION PROJECT

Your team will prepare a live, engaging presentation to explain the work you have done on your Innovation Project.

Your team will:

  • Identify and research a problem to solve.

  • Design a new solution or improve an existing one, based on your selected idea, brainstorming and plan.

  • Create a model, drawing, or prototype.

  • Iterate on your solution by sharing it with professionals, those that would be impacted and collecting feedback.

  • Communicate your solution’s impact with the judges.

GRADES 2 – 4

It’s never too early to discover STEM. FIRST LEGO League Explore introduces science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts to kids ages 6 to 10 while exciting them through a brand they know and love − LEGO®.

Guided by adult Coaches, teams of up to 6 members explore a real-world scientific problem such as energy, transportation of goods, recycling, etc. Then they create a Show-Me poster that illustrates their journey of discovery and introduces their team.

They also construct a motorized model of what they learned using LEGO elements. In the process, teams learn about teamwork, the wonders of science and technology, and the FIRST LEGO League Explore Core Values and  critical thinking. At the end of team season they come together at a Festival to show what they’ve learned, share ideas, celebrate, and have fun!

FIRST LEGO League Expolore teams get to:

  • Design and build challenge solutions using LEGO® elements and motorized parts
  • Apply real-world math and science concepts
  • Research challenges facing their community today
  • Learn team-building and presentation skills
  • Develop Show-Me posters to present their research journey
  • Learn to work together and accept others opinions
  • Share ideas and talents
  • Build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills

"I don’t use kids to build robots. I use robots to build kids." - Dean Kamen, FIRST founder

2022 – 2023 Season Structure & Timeline

CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN

For the 2022 / 2023 SUPERPOWERED season we are trying to provide more opportunity for play if your team chooses to do so. We have multiple levels to play as well as several off-season events.

New This Year: We will also be offering a PlayPack tournament fee where you can pay for three events and use that fee for any three events you choose, you may also play more than three events, we are just trying to make it easier for coaches with the PlayPack.

OFFICIAL 2022 SEASON EVENTS

QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS

(Level 1)  Nov 5, 6, 12, 13

  • Every team should compete in a QT event.  This is required to move on to a higher level event.
  • Each QT will have a max of 24 teams.
  • All QTs will be in-Person events.
  • We anticipate about 60% of QT teams will advance to a Regional Event.

REGIONAL EVENTS

(Level 2) Dec 3, 4

  • Teams will advance from their Qualifying Tournament to a somewhat local  Regional event
  • Each regional will support up to 40 teams each.
  • Regionals will be in-person events and can be done in 2 parts to accommodate 40 teams with one awards ceremony.
  • 10%-15% of each Regional will advance to the Championship event.

CA SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP

(Level 3) Dec 17

  • Teams will advance from Regional events.
  • One Championship event for the region to be held in Riverside, CA.
  • The Championship will be an in-person event and accommodate 50 teams.
  • Top teams will have the opportunity to advance to World Festival (1) or another invitational like Razorback or Western Edge (Qty TBD).
  • Event will also include FLL Explore Festival

WESTERN EDGE OPEN

(Level 4) May 12-14, 2023

  • 80 Teams are invited to the Western Edge Open Invitational – 70 by their Program Delivery Partner, 10 from California.

OFF SEASON EVENTS

FLL CUP

(Off Season Event) Jan 21, 22

  • Mostly for teams that did not qualify and compete at Regionals.
  • Planning on two events but could change based upon demand.
  • The FLL Cup will be an in-person event with no advancement and accommodate 40 teams.

SPRING SHOWDOWN

(Off Season Event) Date TBA

  • Open to all teams.
  • Planning on two events but could change based upon demand.
  • Spring Showdown will be an in-person event and accommodate 40 teams.
  • Includes a new game and an On The Spot Mission.

Calendar

FIRST LEGO LEAGUE

California – Southern

december, 2022

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VOLUNTEER

Volunteer Opportunities!

Non-Technical and Technical Roles Available

Volunteer for an Event
Event Volunteer Roles

FIRST® LEGO® League is a volunteer-run organization lead by passionate, like minded individuals who see the value in encouraging elementary through middle school students to participate in a program that exposes them to a world of imagination and innovating. 

Why Volunteer?

  • Make a difference in the lives of young people
  • Help young people apply real-world math and science concepts
  • Network with like-minded professionals
  • Help celebrate science and technology
  • Help kids discover the fun in science and technology

Volunteers are needed to enable more than 2,400 Southern California FIRST® LEGO® League students to compete at tournaments and demonstrate what they have achieved.

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