Junior FIRST LEGO League
The Junior FIRST LEGO League Program is an engineering challenge program geared toward children ages 6 to 9, who are too young to participate in the FIRST LEGO League Robotics Competition. This is an excellent way to introduce children to the concepts of design building and teamwork, as well as build excitement about science and engineering. Teams of up to 6 children and an adult mentor receive a mini challenge, which is based upon the same theme as the FLL challenge for that year. The 2008 challenge will be Climate Connections - Building a Global Game Plan.
Jr.FLL Teams
Teams can begin registering on the national Jr.FLL website in early August 2008. A link will be provided when made available. Last year registration was $15 for a team of up to 6 kids. The Jr.FLL challenge is always based on the FLL theme for the year. JFLL team members are expected to spend approximately one month exploring, investigating, designing and building a model made with LEGO bricks and elements. In conjunction, teams create a "Show Me" poster that depicts the teams’ experience during this process, through drawings and words. To provide new coaches an idea what teams did last year, please click here to see the last year's 2007 "Power Puzzle" JFLL Challenge.
Jr. FLL Team LEGO Kits
Jr.FLL teams can use LEGO elements from anywhere to build their model. Jr.FLL also makes available an optional base kit for purchase. For 2008 this base kit will be Mechanisms Set - #979632 & Mechanisms Power Add-on - #979628. Both sets for $95 when ordered with your Jr.FLL registration when it opens in late July 2008. Teams can also use their personal LEGO elements and bricks to supplement their models. All models must be contained in a 15"' x15"' footprint. We recommend purchasing a 15" x 15" LEGO base plate for this purpose.
These are the same two kits that were used during the 2007 Jr.FLL season. LEGO Education has renamed them. 2007 Jr.FLL Teams can reuse their kits from last year to do the 2008 Climate Connections Challenge. Same LEGO Elements - Different Challenge!
LINK TO THE NATIONAL Jr.FLL Website will be available in late July. It will offer Jr.FLL coaches an opportunity to share and communicate with each other.
ORTOP Jr.FLL Expo @ OMSI on January 10, 2009
The culmination of the JFLL program is participation in a JFLL Expo. The Expo is not a competition but instead gives the children a place to celebrate their achievements. The Expo includes time to enhance the teams’ current models and show their poster, meet with friendly "Reviewers" to share their experiences, and receive team recognition for their efforts.
ORTOP Jr.FLL History
Fall 2006: ORTOP organized the first JFLL Expo in Oregon. The teams exhibited their projects at the Oregon FLL Championship Tournament in January 2007.
Fall 2007: 38 JFLL teams participated in a Jr.FLL Expo on January 19 and 20, 2008 at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.
Spring 2008: JFLL changes its name to Jr.FLL. The program will be supported by a brand new national website to launch durnig summer of 2008.
Fall 2008: We expect even more Jr.FLL teams to participate in Oregon. For that reason the Jr. FLL Expos will be held at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on January 10, 2009. OMSI is very excited to host our Jr.FLL teams. They are planning a fun Jr.FLL Expo with added OMSI inspired activities. Jr.FLL teams will also be invited for "backstage" tour of the Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Championship on January 17 or 18, 2009 at Liberty High School, Hillsboro. Expo Registration will open in Fall 2008.
More Information and Jr.FLL Coach Newsletters.
If you have questions about Jr.FLL please send an email to jfll-questions@ortop.org
If you would like to be added to the ORTOP Jr.FLL info list: send an email to jfll-questions@ortop.org
Newsletter Archive from 2007:
JFLL Coach Letter: Welcome to the 2007 Season - Aug 15, 2007
If you have questions about JFLL please send an email to jfll-questions@ortop.org