Explore FIRST LEGO League Explore!
Early elementary school FIRST LEGO League Explore teams are part of a rich culture comprised of young innovators, guided by coaches and mentors, who tackle real-world challenges with ingenuity, integrity, and a sense of fun. Resources are available to get your team rolling towards an amazing FIRST LEGO League Explore experience. We’re excited to have your team on board!
LEARN ABOUT FIRST LEGO League Explore
- Forges the connection between classroom lessons and real-world application.
- Experience STEM fields as future areas of study and career choices.
- Work side-by-side with mentors from a variety of backgrounds: education, industry, government.
- Get hands-on programming and rapid prototyping experience
- Apply the engineering process and learn to find the opportunity in failure.
- Gain access to over $80 million in FIRST dedicated college scholarships.
- Rise to the top in consideration for college admissions, internships, apprenticeships.
- Join over 525 Michigan upper elementary school FIRST LEGO League teams in the premier STEM robotics program in the state!
- FIRST LEGO League is now FIRST LEGO League Challenge for 4th grade to the end of elementary school
- FIRST LEGO League Jr is now FIRST LEGO League Explore for Kindergarten to 3rd grade
- The new Pre-K program is now called FIRST LEGO League Discover for Preschool only
While the names may have changed, the age ranges for Michigan’s FIRST programs have not. All Michigan teams must follow the Michigan age ranges which vary from the overall FIRST age ranges you see on firstinspires.org in order to allow our grant-supported PreK-12 Progression of Programs which makes FIRST accessible to all Michigan students.
Early elementary students work together to build models using LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0 and create Show Me posters to present what they learned. The team’s season culminates in an expo where they celebrate and share the work they have done together with other teams.
What sets FIRST LEGO League Explore apart from other programs
- The FIRST Core Values. Students learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals, and they gain valuable teamwork skills.
- The FIRST Progression and $81 million in scholarships. Students can participate in FIRST in K-12 and graduates can apply for college scholarships just for FIRST students.
FIRST HQ provides:
- Team registration
- FLL Storefront to purchase robot kit and Challenge Set
- Yearly Challenge design and materials
FIRST in Michigan provides:
- Access to FIRST programs in MI
- Michigan specific information and grants
- Local Events/Competitions
- Local resources
GET STARTED
FIRST in Michigan does not place students on teams, and FIRST privacy policies forbid us from sharing coach contact information. Our role is to assist new teams in forming by connecting them to local resources to help them be successful and sustainable. Almost all teams in Michigan are organized through elementary schools, so contact your child’s school to find out if a team exists and how to join. Some 4-H groups, Girl Scout groups, and youth organizations also have teams. If the team is full, or if there is no team existing, we would be happy to assist you in starting a new team!
Is there a list of Michigan teams?
Visit the Michigan Team List to locate area teams.
Start a team
Use the information below to start a new team at your school or organization if one does not already exist or you need additional teams.
REGISTER WITH FIRST
Teams must be affiliated with a school or an established youth enrichment 501c3 organization (i.e. 4H, Scouts) to maximize the use of available grants. Through this affiliation, the team number and the Kit of Parts is the property of the school/organization for reuse year to year. Grant funds cannot be paid out to individuals.
For the MI Dept. of Education (MDE) FIRST Robotics grant, teams must be affiliated with an MDE recognized public or non-public school, charter, academy.
When registering your team, make sure to select the affiliated school or organization, as this is necessary for grant payment.
Team registration and administration is done through the FIRST account of the individual(s) holding a key role for the team beginning in early May each year. It is accessed via the FIRST website http://www.firstinspires.org/ through the links in the top menu bar.
- Create a FIRST Account – This is a “one time” activity for a new user: https://my.firstinspires.org/AccountManager/Account/Register.
- Log in to an existing FIRST Account – If the user already has a FIRST account, team registration and administration is done by clicking on “Log In”.
Register your team at the FIRST site
Teams register for the season at FIRSTinspires.org, the FIRST website, under the Teams tab. You do not need to know your team members yet to register a team!
- Rookie Teams – Choose Create New Team(s). You will receive a permanent team number to identify your team at events and on grant applications.
- Veteran Teams – Choose your team name from the previous year. Remember that a team’s team number and Kit of Parts is reusable and retained from year to year. Veteran teams register for the season using their team’s previously assigned team number. Refer to the Michigan Team List for veteran team numbers.
Pay for registration and materials
New teams should purchase a registration and LEGO WeDo 2.0 set. Returning teams should purchase a registration.
ORGANIZE YOUR TEAM
What is the allowable team size?
The maximum number of students on a FIRST LEGO League Explore team is 6. The small-team concept works well with the platform and encourages a closely knit team where all are engaged. Multiple teams per school/organization are welcomed!
Is there a list of Michigan teams?
Visit the Michigan Team List, to locate area teams.
Where do teams meet?
Teams can meet anywhere that is appropriate and safe such as a school, homes of team members, meeting hall, or a sponsor provided location. It is important to set a regular schedule and procedure for team meetings. Things to look for in a meeting site:
- Safe work space large enough for the team members and their equipment
- Flexible meeting hours
- Internet Access
- Secure place to store equipment
- Work tables and chairs
- Share host duties, if possible
Is one coach/mentor enough?
Every team is required to have two registered adult coaches who have completed the FIRST Youth Protection screening process. Any adult can be a coach – teacher, parent, industry professional, college student. Training sessions, workshops, and a supportive FIRST community are available to help get new coaches/mentors up to speed. The scope of the roles is at the discretion of the coaches.
What is the role of a mentor?
Mentors provide assistance to teams, at one or more meetings, in their particular area of expertise. They provide valuable one-on-one interaction and serve as a resource in their specialty.
Where can we find mentors?
Approach area businesses for in kind donations in the form of mentorship. Parents of team members can take on a mentorship role in support of the team. Ask teachers or other volunteers in your area to help with aspects of your team. Reach out other local FIRST teams; their experience and knowledge base can be a tremendous resource.
Do coaches/mentors need to have a technical background?
Coaching a FIRST LEGO League Explore team requires no technical background or experience. The Team Meeting Guide, provided with your Explore Set, is a great resource which provides a foundation of knowledge and ideas designed to assist mentors in all aspects of the program.
What is the time commitment?
Teams will need to arrive at their own optimum time commitment, but generally teams meet once per week for 1-2 hours per session. Additional meetings are usually planned as competition time approaches. Many mentors report that the “push” to meet more comes from the team members!
What is a typical team budget?
The registration fee is $99 and includes the team’s Explore Set and Meeting Guide and Engineering Notebooks, and the LEGO® Education WeDo is $179.95. In Michigan, the fee to participate in an expo is $35.
How do teams find funding?
Teams are encouraged to take responsibility for their budget. Many teams engage in fundraisers and reach out to area businesses for sponsorship in order to sustain the team.
Have the parents of team members check with their employers as many companies offer grant funds for youth STEM programs where employees are actively involved.
Sponsorship isn’t limited to financial contributions. It can also include mentorship and in kind donations of equipment or work space. This connection between the team and the community is a unique aspect to FIRST.
Recognize team sponsors by including their company name and logo on the robot, pit area, team shirt, social media, etc. Sponsors often visit and volunteer at events; take the opportunity to meet them and say thank you! Downloadable FIRST in Michigan Sponsor Logos are available on the RESOURCES site page.
What is the FIRST in Michigan FIRST LEGO League Explore season timeline?
| May | Registration Opens |
| August 4 | Game Reveal & Challenge Release |
| starting in August | Team Meetings |
| TBD | Sign up for an official event |
| TBD | Spring expo season |
| Starting in January | Team Meetings |
| TBD | Sign up for an official event |
| TBD | Spring expo season |
| TBD | FIRST World Festival, Detroit!* |
*FIRST World Festival attendance is determined by a lottery. Separate event fees will apply.
What is the yearly game challenge?
The challenge is the annual game that is revealed to the teams each August. Guided by adult coaches and FIRST LEGO League Explore Core Values, students build models using LEGO® Education WeDo and create Show Me posters to present what they learned.
Are there learning materials or training available?
Yes! The FIRST HQ site has many helpful resources:
- Team Management Resources – many topics
- FIRST LEGO League Jr. Forum – program information on many topics
Is there curriculum?
The Team Meeting Guide gives week by week instruction for coaches. There are twelve sessions outlined, each planned for a 1-2 hour meeting.
Where do we start?
Start by reading the Meeting Guide and planning your meetings for the season. Open your LEGO® Education WeDo kit and the Inspire set to familiarize yourself with the materials.
Where can teams find help?
The FIRST website has a Resource Library to help teams.
Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition are bedrock tenets of FIRST. Reach out to your local FIRST community; a valuable source for information and support. Need an introduction? Email angela@firstinmichigan.org with your request and we’ll be happy to make the connection.
ATTEND EVENTS
Each Michigan FIRST LEGO League Explore team which meets the Michigan progression will be able to participate in one Festival (previously called Expos). A lottery will be held to select several teams to attend the World Festival in Detroit, Michigan.
Event locations and dates
There will be events across Michigan. Events are posted on the EVENTS site page and the FIRST website. If there is not an event listed in your area, or you would like to add an additional event, please contact Angela Hite for information on hosting an event.
Event costs
For FIRST in Michigan, the event fee comprises the budget for the event host. The Festival fee is $35. Payment is usually remit at event check-in.
For FIRST LEGO League in Michigan, registration is done at the local level, and not with FIRST. The Events page provides in depth information on the process. Teams will see their confirmed event placement in the Michigan Team List, and NOT on their Team Dashboard. Information on event registration is emailed to all registered teams starting in the fall.
