About FIRST (video)
FIRST ENERGIZE (video)
FIRST Vision and Mission
Not a Robot (video)
I Am FIRST: Inspiring Dreamers (video)
FIRST Impact Infographic

Michigan Progression of Programs and Grants
Michigan FIRST LEGO League Explore (grades K-3)
Michigan FIRST LEGO League Discover (Pre-K)

Instructions to access Thinkscape as a registered coach, where you will find:

• helpful Getting Started with Challenge tutorial
• digital Team Meeting Guide

FIRST Steps
FIRST: Be a Leader (video)
Coach Quick Tips videos
FIRST Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources
Coach Roles (uses old program names, but still helpful!)
Code of Conduct (YPP) video for coaches
Engineering Design Process poster

The mats are smaller now to allow storage space on the table, but tables remain the same size (longer than the mat.) Make sure to check the official building instructions first!

Official Table Building Instructions (for Competition Tables and Practice Tables):

• Official table building instructions

Alternate Plans for Practice Tables (not for Competition Table use):

• STOW-or-GO Foam Practice Table
• Just Walls Table
• Lightweight Portable Table
• Portable Modular Table

Ready-made tables to purchase:

• Robot Competition Table from AndyMark (does not need to be painted version)

Teams may want to provide a Team Info Sheet at your judging session. It is very helpful to include a picture of your team in your team shirts to help the judges remember you. You can create your own or use a template such as these:

• Team Info Sheet classic 1-page
• Team Info Sheet updated 2-page

**Challenge Materials**
MASTERPIECE Season Teaser
MASTERPIECE Challenge Overview
MASTERPIECE Challenge Updates
MASTERPIECE Season Launch Video

**Team Meeting Materials**
MASTERPIECE Team Meeting Guide
MASTERPIECE Engineering Notebook

**Robot Game Materials**
MASTERPIECE Robot Game Missions Video
MASTERPIECE Robot Game Rule Book
MASTERPIECE Robot Game Scoresheet
MASTERPIECE Score Calculator

**Event Materials**
MASTERPIECE Awards (Michigan-specific)
MASTERPIECE Judging Session Flowsheet
MASTERPIECE Rubrics
MASTERPIECE Participation Certificate – download and customize for your team members

*Additional Resources**
MASTERPIECE Multimedia Resources Guide
MASTERPIECE Code for Guided Mission:

Code for Guided Mission (.PNG)

MASTERPIECE Wireframe and Grid
MASTERPIECE Mission Model building instructions:

Element Overview
Prepack Overview
Bag 1, Bag 2, Bag 3, Bag 4, Bag 5, Bag 6,
Bag 7, Bag 8, Bag 9, Bag 10, Bag 11, Bag 12,
Bag 13 Bag 14 Table Building Instructions

MASTERPIECE Logos & Season Graphics

**Challenge Materials**
SUPERPOWERED Challenge Overview
SUPERPOWERED Challenge Updates
SUPERPOWERED Season Launch Video

**Team Meeting Materials**
SUPERPOWERED Team Meeting Guide and Engineering Notebook access instructions
SUPERPOWERED Real-World Connections to Energy Journeys

**Robot Game Materials**
SUPERPOWERED Robot Game Missions Video
SUPERPOWERED Robot Game Rule Book

Live Digital Version of SUPERPOWERED Robot Game Rule Book (English)

Live Digital Version of SUPERPOWERED Robot Game Rule Book (Spanish)

SUPERPOWERED Score Calculator

**Event Materials**
SUPERPOWERED Awards (Michigan)
SUPERPOWERED Judging Session Flowsheet
SUPERPOWERED Rubrics
SUPERPOWERED Score Sheet
SUPERPOWERED Participation Certificate (Michigan) (download and customize for your team members)

*Additional Resources**
SUPERPOWERED Multimedia Resources Guide
SUPERPOWERED Code for Guided Mission:

Code for Guided Mission (.PNG)

SUPERPOWERED Wireframe and Grid
EV3 Lab Alternative Sequence
SUPERPOWERED Mission Model building instructions:

Element Overview
Prepack Overview
Bag 1, Bag 2, Bag 3, Bag 4, Bag 5, Bag 6,
Bag 7, Bag 8, Bag 9, Bag 10, Bag 11, Bag 12,
Bag 13 Table Building Instructions

SUPERPOWERED Logos & Season Graphics

CARGO CONNECT Challenge Overview
CARGO CONNECT Season Launch Video
CARGO CONNECT Robot Game Missions Video
CARGO CONNECT Team Meeting Guide and Engineering Notebook access instructions

CARGO CONNECT Robot Game Rule Book

NEW! Interactive Version of CARGO CONNECT Robot Game Rule Book

CARGO CONNECT Challenge Updates

CARGO CONNECT Awards (Michigan)
CARGO CONNECT Judging Session Flowsheet
CARGO CONNECT Rubrics
CARGO CONNECT Score Sheet
CARGO CONNECT Participation Certificate (download and customize for your team members)

CARGO CONNECT Multimedia Resources Guide
CARGO CONNECT FIRST Guidance for COVID-19 Interruptions
CARGO CONNECT Code for Guided Mission:

SPIKE Prime
Mindstorms EV3

CARGO CONNECT Wireframe and Grid:

PDF Version
JPG Version
PNG Version

CARGO CONNECT Mission Model building instructions:

Element Overview
Prepack Overview
Bag 1, Bag 2, Bag 3, Bag 4, Bag 5, Bag 6,
Bag 7, Bag 8, Bag 9, Bag 10, Bag 11, Bag 12,
Bag 13, Bag 14, Bag 15, Bag 16, Bag 17

RePLAY Challenge Overview
RePLAY Robot Game Rule Book
RePLAY Challenge Updates
RePLAY Team Meeting Guide and Engineering Notebook access instructions
RePLAY Kickoff Video
RePLAY Robot Game Missions Video
RePLAY Mission Model building instructions:

• Element Overview
• Model Overview
• Prepack Overview
• RePLAY Bag 1
• RePLAY Bag 2
• RePLAY Bag 3
• RePLAY Bag 4
• RePLAY Bag 5
• RePLAY Bag 6
• RePLAY Bag 7
• RePLAY Bag 8
• RePLAY Bag 9
• Download All Files (.zip)

RePLAY Rubrics
RePLAY Awards (MI)
RePLAY Judging Session Flowsheet
RePLAY Score Sheet
RePLAY Season Guidance for COVID-19 Interruptions

CITY SHAPER Challenge Overview
CITY SHAPER Challenge Guide (now called Game Guide)
CITY SHAPER Challenge Updates
CITY SHAPER Coach Handbook – replaced by the Team Meeting Guide (each team receives 2)
CITY SHAPER Kickoff Video
CITY SHAPER YouTube Playlist (includes video for each mission)
CITY SHAPER Mission Model building instructions
CITY SHAPER Table Overview
CITY SHAPER Engineering Notebook – replaced by the Engineering Notebook (each team receives 10)
CITY SHAPER Rubrics
CITY SHAPER Score Sheet
CITY SHAPER Challenge Documents bundle (New! download all documents as .zip file)
NEW THIS YEAR! Directions for one mission to start your team off in the right direction:

Crane Mission: Lesson
Crane Mission: EV3 Solution
Crane Mission: EV3 Program

CITY SHAPER Student Certificate (coming soon)
CITY SHAPER Logos (downloads .zip file)
CITY SHAPER Branding and Logo Guidelines

INTO ORBIT Challenge Overview
INTO ORBIT Challenge Guide
INTO ORBIT Challenge Updates
INTO ORBIT Coach Handbook
INTO ORBIT Event Guide (Coach Handbook part 2)
INTO ORBIT Challenge Videos
INTO ORBIT Mission Model building instructions
INTO ORBIT Field Setup Guide
INTO ORBIT Table Overview
INTO ORBIT Engineering Notebook
INTO ORBIT Rubrics
INTO ORBIT Score Sheet
INTO ORBIT Logo
INTO ORBIT Student Certificate

Official Mindstorms EV3 Software
Official SPIKE Prime Software

EV3 Curriculum Resources
SPIKE Prime Education Resources

LEGO Education Technical Support
LEGO Education Missing Pieces Support

Unofficial Guide to FLL Programming Options – From the CARGO CONNECT Robot Game Rulebook: “Use any software that allows the robot to move autonomously (on its own), run only by programs that are loaded onto the controller or microSD card.” This guide is not from FIRST or LEGO, but it is a handy overview of some of the programming languages available from long-time, trusted FLL mentors. Please note that the robot MUST move autonomously (no remote control) and venues will not have Wi-Fi access for teams.

See just below for annotated lists of building and programming tutorials, guides, and resources for coaches and students.

Robot Design Judging with No Table

A Robot Design Executive Summary (RDES) is no longer required, but is still a good way to plan your robot design presentation. RDES resources from past years:
RDES Planning Sheet
RDES Sample Team Handout

There are many LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 materials available online.
These have been evaluated to be useful for FLL coaches and teachers (and free!):

 

• Getting Started with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 (Texas Tech GEAR)
  • Build a basic robot and learn to program motor blocks and four sensors. Course starts with an excellent introduction to the pieces of the EV3. One comprehensive course to get a coach up to speed from no previous knowledge. Videos total 100 minutes.
• EV3 Programming Workshop for FLL Coaches (Tony Ayad, LA FLL)
  • Very comprehensive PDF resource for FLL that covers beginning and advanced programming. Includes everything from basic movement up through using sensors, math blocks, My Blocks, and the gyro.
• EV3 Basics for FLL (Jim Keller, GRASP Laboratory at UPenn)
  • Begins with basic parts of robot and software and ends with strategies for FLL.
• Educational Robots for Absolute Beginners – EV3 (Rowan University Laboratory for Educational Robotics)
  • Detailed course to teach educators to program the EV3. (Sign in with a Google account required, or you can watch just the videos here: YouTube Channel
• LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Programming Basics (Washington State Library)
  • Very detailed PDF covers getting started with EV3 programming software and the Move and Flow blocks. Also has 22 companion videos.
• STEM Robotics 101 EV3 (Portland State University)
  • Full curriculum for teaching robotics through the EV3, pulling together other outside resources.

There are many LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 materials available online.
These have been evaluated to be useful for FLL students (and free!):

 

• EV3 Tutorial (Dale Yocum, STEMcentric)
  • Lessons using the base education robot. Essential lessons (50 minutes of videos) cover moving, light sensor, and the loop, switch, and wait blocks. Advanced lessons (35 minutes of videos) cover using data and variables as well as multitasking.
• Introduction to the EV3 (Christy Xie, FIRST Robotics Canada)
  • Covers creating a basic program and interacting with the software and the brick in a detailed way in a 28 minute video.
• EV3 Lessons (Seshan Brothers)
  • Plans for 9 simple robots. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced programming PDF lessons covering everything.
• EV3 Programming (Blue Angel Robotics)
  • Lessons from kids for your FLL team on the basics of movement, sensors, and following lines. YouTube Channel with 11 short 2-3 minute videos.
• FLL Programming Basics &
  FLL Advanced Programming (Matt Birkel, FIRST Illinois Robotics)
  • Beginner 55 minute video starts from the basis of introducing software and programming basics including move blocks and loops and switches. Advanced 54 minute video includes advanced programming topics such as data, sensors, math blocks, and following lines.
• EV3 Programming Videos (W.A.F.F.L.E.S. FRC Team)
  • 33 videos covering topics for FLL teams from beginner to advanced topics.
• Fun with LEGO MindStorms EV3 for Absolute Beginners (Dr. Graeme)
  • Short videos cover basics of setting up software and interacting with robot, followed by simple activities. Good source of off-season robot activities. (Material also available as a free ebook.)
• EV3 Videos (Builderdude35)
  • YouTube Channel on various topics from beginner to advanced.
• Robotics Building Blocks (Nebraska 4-H)
  • Videos and worksheets introduce EV3 to students in the broader context of robotics engineering. Simple activities to introduce movement and sensors.
• LEGO Engineering (Tufts CEEO)
  • Blog posts on various topics in EV3 programming such as design patterns, errors, sensor calibration, and driving straight.

There are new LEGO SPIKE PRIME materials added online as the platform becomes more common.
These have been evaluated to be useful for FIRST LEGO League Challenge coaches and teachers (and free!):

• EV3 Tutorial (LEGO Education & Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach)
  • Short video lessons cover the basics of the core set and include motors and sensors. Covers both work blocks and Python.
• Prime Lessons (Seshan Brothers)
  • Beginner to advanced programming tutorials and robot designs.

There are just a few SPIKE Prime resources available so far, but more are sure to be created.
These have been evaluated to be useful for FLL students (and free!):

• EV3 Tutorial (LEGO Education & Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach)
  • Short video lessons cover the basics of the core set and include motors and sensors. Covers both work blocks and Python.
• Prime Lessons (Seshan Brothers)
  • Beginner to advanced programming tutorials and robot designs.

FIRST Project Videos

• Project Videos from FLL – part 1
• Project Videos from FLL – part 2
• Project Videos from FLL – part 3

Some teams like to practice their teamwork during meetings using challenge activities.
Here are some pages with activities for your meetings:

• Core Values practice challenge ideas 1
• Core Values practice challenge ideas 5
• Core Values practice challenge ideas 3
• Core Values practice challenge ideas 4
• Core Values practice challenge ideas 5

You can search the national list of teams and events at the FIRST site:

• Team Finder (enter zip code in filter at left)
• Event Finder

Also see ‘Find an existing team’ at our Run a Team page for more information.