What is FIRST ® LEGO® League?
For Kids aged 4 – 14, across 3 Divisions
FIRST® LEGO® League introduces science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) to children in Grades JK to 8 through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. 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.
Starting with Discover, children ages 4-6 are introduced to the fundamentals of STEAM while working together to solve fun challenges and building models using LEGO bricks. As participants progress into Explore (ages 6-10), children will take their background knowledge of STEAM and put it into practice as they work in teams to design and build robots using LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 kits. Once they are ready to move into a competitive setting, they join Challenge (ages 9-14) and apply their STEAM skills combined with critical thinking to work with a team, build a LEGO Mindstorm EV3 robot and compete in an exciting, mission-based Robot Game.
FIRST LEGO League guides youth through STEAM learning and exploration at an early age. From Discover, to Explore, and then to Challenge, students will understand the basics of STEAM and apply their skills in an exciting competition while gaining habits of learning, confidence, and teamwork skills along the way. Students can begin their FIRST LEGO League journey with Discover and progress through Explore and Challenge. Children can also join at any division based on their age or grade level.
Discover Division
For Kids aged 4 – 6
For children in Grades JK to 1, this playful introductory STEAM 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.
A new and exciting Challenge is presented every year, and each team of four children begins their exploration of this real-world theme with an exclusive LEGO Education Discovery Set. With this set as a starting point, they build a solution to the Challenge with LEGO DUPLO elements. Teams share their journey, ideas, models, and STEAM skills at a celebration event. Throughout their experience, teams operate under the FIRST Core Values, celebrating discovery and teamwork, all the while having fun!
Learn more about the Discover program
Explore Division
For Kids aged 6 – 10
In Explore, teams of students in Grades 2 to 4 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.
Each year in early August, FIRST LEGO League Explore releases a new Challenge for teams that focuses on a scientific topic. Teams are sent on a journey of discovery to learn all they can about the topic, then present their findings in the form of a team poster and a LEGO model that moves.
What you’ll need to Start a Team:
- 2 or more adult Coaches willing and motivated to guide the team through the discovery and competition season (and beyond) – no special technical experience is required
- Up to 6 students, ages 6 to 10, willing to put in time and to do any job the team needs to succeed (lots of important jobs available for all skill levels and interests)
- A suitable meeting place, either public or private, with internet access
- A paid team registration, official team number, and reusable LEGO WeDo 2.0 set
- The desire to learn, explore, strategize, build comradery, share ideas and talents, make new friends, be accepted, and HAVE FUN!
Learn more about the Explore program
Challenge Division
For Kids aged 9 – 14
Friendly competition is at the heart of Challenge, as teams of students in Grades 4 to 8 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.
Each Challenge season has three parts: the Robot Game, the Innovation Project, and the FIRST Core Values.
What you’ll need to Start a Team:
- 2 or more adult Coaches willing and motivated to guide the team through the discovery and competition season (and beyond) – no special technical experience is required
- Up to 10 students ages 9 to 14 willing to put in time and to do any job the team needs to succeed (lots of important jobs available for all skill levels and interests)
- A suitable meeting place, either public or private, that can accommodate a 4 x 8-foot playing field table, and has internet access
- A standard Challenge Set (formerly known as Field Setup Kit) and a common set of rules issued by FIRST and LEGO
- A paid team registration, official team number, and a LEGO MINDSTORMS® robot set
- The desire to learn, explore, strategize, build comradery, share ideas and talents, make new friends, be accepted, and HAVE FUN!
Learn more about the Challenge program
Can I Join an existing Team?
Yes! There are over 20 Challenge and Explore division Teams currently operating in and around Ottawa, Ontario. A full list of teams can be found here.
To learn more about Coaching an FLL Team and how to become involved in the local FIRST Community, check out our full guide.
Can I bring FLL to my Classroom?
Yes! FIRST and the LEGO Group have developed a curriculum, called Class Packs, for all 3 Divisions FIRST LEGO League, allowing teachers and after-school clubs to run a structured program for kids in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. Additionally, the Discover division is currently only operating using Class Packs, and is not available outside of schools.
Learn more about the Class Packs for each Division:
When does FIRST ®LEGO® League happen?
The FIRST LEGO League season information is released on August 1st. Teams generally form and register from May through October. In the Ottawa area, a Kickoff Event is hosted each year at Carleton University in mid-September, allowing the teams to meet and learn potential strategies they could use when tackling each year’s set of tasks. The Project and build season begins after the game is released. The season in the National Capital Region all leads up the the Ottawa FLL Qualifying Tournament hosted by CU FIRST, which takes place in early-December. A select few will advance to the Ontario Provincial Championship East in mid-January, with successful teams moving on to represent Canada at the FIRST Championship in late-April. There are also many off-season events in which teams can participate, strategize, hone their skills, learn new technology, meet other teams, and have fun!