FIRST Lego League EXPLORE

K - 2nd Grade

To learn more about how Michigan determines the level of progression through the program, check out FIRST in Michigan.

Kids at this level build structures out of Lego and use coding in the Lego SPIKE app to make a structure move. They learn about FIRST's Core Values and about working collaboratively with others to solve the problem presented by FIRST at the beginning of each season. The season culminates with a Festival at which team's present their structures and a tri-fold board they've created to a panel of judges from Bedford's high school team, Bedford Express.

Teams at this level are limited to 6 kids per team.

Guide. Learn. Have fun!

All coaches are volunteer parents/guardians. Anyone who is interested in supporting kids and learning new things with them is qualified to be a coach! Sign up to coach or mentor a team HERE.

All parents are asked to donate a portion of time to support the team, whether it's to help keep the kids on task or to work on a specific project. The more parents are involved, the more successful the kids are!

We ask that kids bring their own refillable water bottle to practice and have a snack/meal before arriving, rather than spending valuable team working time on snacking.

NEW THIS YEAR: There is an opportunity for kids going into 3rd grade, who have participated in the Explore level for at least two years, to "play up" and participate at the Challenge level, depending on space on the Challenge teams and a recommendation from the past coach.

Common Questions

  • The Explore level will begin the week after school starts, with the 2024 season starting the week of September 9, 2024. The season ends for the Explore level on the second Saturday in December, (December 14, 2024) with a Festival held at the Robotics Center at Smith Road Elementary School.

  • Practices are held once per week in the evening and last approximately 1 hour. Bedford hosts as many as 14 teams per year, so the day of practice and exact start time is determined by the volunteer coaches. We try very hard to make sure none of the K-3 teams run past 8pm.

  • Bedford Robotics Center at Smith Road Elementary School, 1135 Smith Rd, Temperance, MI. All students should be brought into the school through the brown "gym" door and walked to their space. The Explore kids meet in a classroom. Parents are expected to come in to pick up their kids. *NEW THIS YEAR! For security purposes, the entry door may at times be locked. There is a doorbell to the right of the door that you can press and someone will come let you in. Please have patience with us as we work through this new procedure.

  • Teams are formed and parents are notified as soon as we secure volunteer coaches to form the number of teams that match our registration numbers. Ideally this will be sent out no later than early August.

  • This happens all the time as many other activities that kids participate in do not have their schedules in place until their seasons begin also. Send an email to the program coordinator (Jodi Russ jodi.russ@mybedford.us) with your child's name, grade, and what days they are available as soon as you know this and your registration form can be adjusted.

Subscribe

Subscribe