FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international STEM education program created by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in collaboration with the LEGO Group. It introduces students ages 4-16 to engineering, programming, teamwork, and research through exciting LEGO robotics competitions and innovation challenges.

Age-Divided Programs:

FLL Discover (ages 4–6): Youngest students explore STEM concepts through playful building activities using LEGO DUPLO bricks.

FLL Explore (ages 6–10): Students learn STEM fundamentals by building models and creating simple robotics systems using LEGO Education WeDo kits. Teams present their solutions to community-focused challenges in a friendly showcase environment.

FLL Challenge (ages 9–16): Teams design, build, and program autonomous LEGO robots using LEGO Mindstorms or LEGO Spike Prime robotics kits to complete complex missions. They also research and solve real-world problems based on an annual theme, presenting their findings in judged events.

Robotics Kits and Tools:
LEGO SPIKE Prime:

Designed specifically for educational environments with intuitive software and advanced robotics capabilities, ideal for ages 9-14.

LEGO Mindstorms EV3 (previously widely used, still common):A programmable robotics system popular in competitions and classrooms, equipped with motors, sensors, and intuitive coding environments.

LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 (for younger teams in Explore): Simple robotics and coding platform designed for younger students to introduce foundational concepts in programming and engineering.

Programming Software:

LEGO Education Software:Supports visual, drag-and-drop coding for beginners, and text-based programming in more advanced kits.Scratch-based Programming:Particularly SPIKE Prime, utilizes a graphical, Scratch-inspired coding language making robotics accessible to beginners.

Annual Competitions and Challenges:

Each season, FIRST announces a global theme (such as sustainability, space exploration, or transportation), presenting real-world challenges students must research and solve.The robotics portion involves missions set on a game board with various tasks to complete within a limited time. The competition emphasizes strategy, innovation, and efficiency.Teams also participate in judged events for their project innovation, robot design, and demonstration of FIRST’s core values: teamwork, innovation, inclusion, and gracious professionalism.

Skills Developed:

Engineering and robotics designCoding and programmingResearch, problem-solving, and innovationCommunication, collaboration, and presentation skillsCore values emphasizing teamwork, inclusivity, and professionalism

Educational Impact:

FIRST LEGO League aligns strongly with national educational standards such as NGSS, Common Core, and international curricula. The competition-based approach motivates students to engage deeply with STEM, fostering a lifelong passion for technology, science, and innovation.

FLL is globally recognized, with teams participating from over 100 countries. It provides students an excellent foundation for future studies and careers in STEM fields.

For more information, visit the official website: First Lego League