Overview
What is a FIRST LEGO League(FLL) team and what do they do?
If you visited a FLL team meeting you would see 6 - 10 kids, ages 9 to 14, working with a NXT LEGO Mindstorm Robot kit. A few kids would be using the 1000+ parts in the kit to construct a LEGO Robot with motors, sensors (light, touch, ultrasonic-distance and/or sound) and the NXT brick that acts as the robot's computer. The robot would also have 3 or 4 wheels to help it move around.
See the following links for what is in a NXT kit:
Other kids would be at a 4-foot by 8-foot mat on a plywood table with Power Puzzle LEGO mission Models. They would be figuring out strategies for the robot’s path or working with LEGO parts to construct attachments for the robot push, pull or lift items on the mission models to achieve the task. Click here for a video explanation of a previous season ’s missions.*
Other team members are on the Internet or looking in books for information on the team’s project. The annual project involes open-ended exploration by the team members culuminating in a 5-minute presentation of the team’s solution to the annual assignment. This season the assignment will involve energy issues -- the Power Puzzle theme.*
* FIRST will announce the details of this seaon's challenge and project soon. Visit the ORTOP home page on September 5, 2007 to learn more.
What every FLL team needs:
- Provided by the Team!
- A place to practice at least once a week.
- A computer with a XP operating system or Mac OS X.
- One or more adults to keep things organized.
- Provided by the Team and/or by an ORTOP Scholarship
- FLL Competition NXT Robot Set *
- Power Puzzle Field Set-up Kit *
- A FLL Competition Table ** or another surface for the 4-foot by 8-foot mat that comes with the Field Kit.
- A FLL 2007 Team Registration, which includes a Coach handbook and informational DVD(s) *
- ORTOP Qualifying Tournament Registration *
* Items that may be underwritten partially or completely by a team scholarship if your team qualifies.
** A Scholarship may provide funds to buy materials to build a table. The coach arranges for someone to build it. Some teams may decide to start with something simpler than a full table to serve as the surface for the mat that comes with the Field Set-Up Kit.
What does a Coach do?
At team meetings, the coach facilitates the team’s progress, helping them with teamwork skills, helping them find resources, teaching the robot building and programming skills she/he learned at the ORTOP free coach workshops, serving snacks, and keeping the team on task. It is up to the team members to solve the challenge. Usually they will know more than the coach about how to build and program a robot and science behind the annual research project. Much of their learning comes from web research and by trial and error. Coaches also take care of registering the team, ordering kits, and scheduling meetings. The coach may be assisted by a co-coach, assistant coach or a mentor.
Please contact us if you have questions.
Team Members
Quotes from Team Members
“This is what I kind of wanted to be when I grew up. So this gave me the chance to do it. And you can’t really watch engineers do what they do. You have to do it yourself.”
“What I liked best about the tournament today was working with my team. We had been a team before and we had really bonded, but this was like the climax to everything we had been working on for months, and it was just really exciting.”
“At first I wanted to be a haircut girl and now I want to be kind of like a scientist or a science teacher.”
Team Member Summer Volunteer Opportunities
FLL Kit Clean-up/ Tournament Prep Tasks - To arrange to spend a day at the ORTOP office this summer contact Cathy Swider . Willingness to work and listen a must! Lunch included for those spending at least 4 hours. We always appreciate spending time with FLL Team Members!
Age Policy
The FIRST LEGO League policy on the age of team members is nine to fourteen years old.
- To participate in the 2007 season, a team member must be younger than fifteen at the beginning of the year. This means that students who turn fifteen after January 1, 2007 can participate in the 2007 season. In other words, students must be 14 years old on January 1, 2007.
- Parents of children who were younger than nine on January 1, 2007 should ask the team's coach if the child can participate on the team. Coaches are encouraged to consider younger team members but the final decision is theirs.
Registration
NATIONAL FIRST LEGO LEAGUE REGISTRATION
The national registration opens May 1th and closes September 30, 2007 OR when all Power Puzzle Field Set-up kits have been assigned. Last year FLL ran out of kits 5 days before announced dealine. Early registration is encouraged. Cost is $200 and includes the FLL Coaches Handbook, access to national discussion forums, national registration to participate in FLL.
ORTOP REGISTRATION
In addition, to participate in an ORTOP Qualifying Tournament in Oregon and SW Washington, teams will need to register with ORTOP in early October. Please visit the ORTOP registration page by October 14, 2007 to register your team and indicate your top three choices for the qualifying tournament you'd like to be bring your team to. Registration page link will open in early October 2007. ORTOP does not recieve any funds from the national FLL to produce our tournaments. Our fee is $50 to help defray the costs of the qualifying l and championship tournaments.
Ordering Kits
Each team will need access to an FLL Robot Set and a Field Set Up kit. The former kit can be used for several seasons but the latter kit changes each year. These kits can be ordered at the same time you register your team with FIRST LEGO League. If you already have a LEGO Robotics kit, you may be able to upgrade it rather than purchase a new FLL Robot Set. In 2007 teams can use the new NXT robot kit or the older RCX robot kit. At the time of FLL registration, teams can only to purchase a NXT kit kit. If returning teams wish to use their existing RCX kit, they do not have to purchase one. FLL will allow teams to purchase one NXT kit per FLL registration.
Team Forum
FIRST LEGO League provides a team forum for registered teams. Click here to learn more.
Coaches' News
FLL Coach and Mentor Honor Code We ask that all adults acting as coaches and mentors read and subscribe to the FLL Coach and Mentor Honor Code. Coaches will be asked to affirm their agreement with this code when they register for a qualifying tournament. For guidance on effective coaching and mentoring techniques we suggest attending the Coaching & Mentoring Techniques workshop.
2/15/08 - Message from Anna Maenhout, International Director, FIRST LEGO League & Junior FIRST LEGO League
To Our Respected FLL Coaches,
As the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Power Puzzle season comes to a close, we at FLL and FIRST headquarters want to thank you for a wonderful season. As a result of your efforts, more than 100,000 children in over 37 countries were given the opportunity to get excited about science and technology. Now let's look at the big picture! You are helping to create a world that believes in creativity, scientific exploration, and positive life skills. You are helping children learn that they must respect themselves and others. Because of you, children have experienced the power they have as individuals and as a team to make a difference in the world. This couldn't have happened without you. I ask you to accept our simple word of "Thanks" as there are no words that could begin to express our appreciation for what you do, and the personal time you give. FIRST, FLL and the children are truly privileged to have you and your commitment to a better future. We're very excited to celebrate FLL's 10 year anniversary with the launch of the "Climate Connections" challenge May 1st. We'll kick off the celebration at the FLL World Festival taking place this coming April as part of the FIRST Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Through the Climate Connections challenge, FLL teams will learn about climate variability and its effects around the world. They will investigate the earth's ever changing climate and how people can work together to address questions and challenges about the causes and impacts on the planet. We expect over 120,000 children from around the world to participate. Thanks a million you for all you do for the children and the FIRST mission and we truly hope you join us again this coming season. We wish you fun, happiness and the opportunity to build lifelong memories and relationships with your team members, your community and with other teams from around the world. We are honored that you have chosen to be part of the global FLL family and hope we continue to earn your respect and valuable time.
With Great Respect,
Anna Maenhout Director, FIRST LEGO League & Junior FIRST LEGO League
FLL CONSENT FORMS
2007-2008 FIRST Consent Form: A form must be completed for each team member and adult volunteer. Bring the forms to the December Qualifying Tournament.
2007-2008 FIRST Consent Form in SPANISH: A form must be completed for each team member and adult volunteer. Bring the forms to the December Qualifying Tournament.
WORLD FESTIVAL FLL CORE VALUES NOMINATION
2/6/08 - FLL Core Values Nomination Team Selection
The ORTOP FLL Core Values Nomination Committee has selected two teams to submit for consideration by the World Festival FLL Core Values Nomination Committee. These teams were selected based on their overarching and exceptional demonstration of the FLL Core Values based on their essay, recommendations from teamwork judges and observations submitted by tournament officials.
Congratulations to: Team #32- Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies and Team #4049- Solar Dragons.
UPDATE: The FIRST LEGO League World Festival Nomination Committee has selected both Team #32- Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies and Team #4049- Solar Dragons to attend the FLL World Festival as FLL Core Values World Festival Teams. Congratulations!
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ORTOP Coaches Newsletter November 8, 2007 - As reported by FIRST LEGO League a few weeks ago, each Operational Partner will nominate teams for demonstrating exceptional FLL Core Values for an invitation to the World Festival as FLL Core Values Team. 10 – 12 teams globally will be invited. ORTOP can nominate 2 teams. Below is the pdf outlining the nomination process and a Word version of the essay developed by that ORTOP for our teams. Please understand that a team’s decision to nominate themselves is optional and not a required part of the qualifying or championship tournament. However, we expect that all of our ORTOP FLL teams will strive to live up to the FLL Core Values in and outside of their team meetings and at tournaments even if they do not submit a nomination.
FLL Core Values Nomination Instructions
FLL Core Values Essays should be postmarked no earlier than December 17, 2007 and no later than January 22, 2008.
MAIL to: ORTOP FLL Core Values Nomination/18640 NW Walker Rd. Suite 1065 / Beaverton, OR 97006
POWER PUZZLE 2007 Qualifying Season Coach Newsletters:
May 1, 2007 - ORTOP Newsletter --FLL Registration: Helpful Hints for Registering your Team
May 11, 2007 - ORTOP Newsletter --Workshop Registration Opens / PDXBot Invite
Sept 21, 2007 - FIRST LEGO League Newsletter - SEASON OPENING LETTER - CORRECTION TO Q & A LINK.
Sept 21, 2007 - ORTOP Newsletter - ORTOP Friends and Family Night at McMenamin's & FRC Workshop!
Oct 22, 2007 - ORTOP Newsletter - ORTOP Qualifying Tournament Assignments
Nov 8, 2007 - ORTOP Newsletter - FLL Core Values Nomination Process (additional info at top of Coach News section)
Questions and Answers
Click here for the 2007 FLL Power Puzzle Q&A -- Please check it regularly as it is updated during the fall season.
ORTOP Q & A -- will be available later in the season