Junior FIRST Lego League
Encyclopedia
Junior FIRST LEGO League (also known by the acronym Jr.FLL) is a non-competitive robotics
program designed for children ages six to nine. It is one of the programs established by FIRST
.
Jr.FLL follows the same topics given to FIRST LEGO League
(FLL). While FLL teams conduct research projects and design autonomous robots specifically to carry out missions relating to the topic, Jr.FLL teams conduct much smaller projects and makes models out of LEGO
elements to illustrate one part of the topic. They may also use LEGO WeDo, a programmable robotics kit, as part of their models.
During the first five years, the program was not referred as a robotic program. The only requirements to build models out of LEGO elements were to have some moving parts and include at least one simple machine
based on a given topic of that year. FIRST has provided an option to purchase a Jr.FLL Base Kit that contains many LEGO elements including gear
s, motor
, and other TECHNIC elements
. In 2009, with the new robotics kit by LEGO Group
, the program included LEGO WeDo as an optional kit which allows children to connect a motor and/or a sensor
to other LEGO bricks, gears and other TECHNIC elements. It also has drag-and-drop
programming interface for children to write robotics programs. The Jr.FLL has been stated in FIRST's website as a robotic program since then.
The number of participants has been increasing each year. However, the program was limited to the United States and Canada until 2009. The first global partner that offers Jr.FLL in their region is Benelux
.
The program is designed to be flexible; there are no specific dates for the program. Each team may decide when to start the activities and for how long as long as the registration is done within the season calendar which is from August to June each year. A team consists of 2-6 team members. There is an age limit that team members must not be older than 9 as of January 1 of the year the Challenge is released. Although there is no lower bound on age, FIRST suggests that the program is intended for children 6 or older.
After registering a team, the coach guides students to do research by following the Challenge guideline. The team may have a field trip
or visit experts to help children to learn more about the topic. Children will then work on their "Show Me" poster
and LEGO models to demonstrate their findings according to the instructions in the Challenge. The team may choose to use any LEGO parts that they have at home to construct their models. Optionally, the team may purchase Jr.FLL Base Kit or LEGO WeDo Kit to use.
At the Jr.FLL event, there will be "Reviewers" (the judges) to ask children some questions about what they have learned. They may be asked details about the project and the models that they built. The Jr.FLL concept is that everyone is a winner, therefore, the event organizers are recommended to give an award to each team that participates in the event.
in Delaware
. It coincides with a state-level FLL tournament with more than 30 Jr.FLL teams in the exhibition area.
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
program designed for children ages six to nine. It is one of the programs established by FIRST
First
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one.First or 1st may also refer to:* First , minor summit below the Schwarzhorn in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland* First , mountain in Bernese Alps in Switzerland...
.
Jr.FLL follows the same topics given to FIRST LEGO League
FIRST Lego League
The FIRST® LEGO® League is an international competition organized by FIRST for elementary and middle school students ....
(FLL). While FLL teams conduct research projects and design autonomous robots specifically to carry out missions relating to the topic, Jr.FLL teams conduct much smaller projects and makes models out of LEGO
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
elements to illustrate one part of the topic. They may also use LEGO WeDo, a programmable robotics kit, as part of their models.
History
Junior FIRST LEGO League started out as a pilot program in 2004 to encourage young children to have interest in science and engineering. In the first pilot year, the teams were provided with some specific LEGO parts by FIRST, but that idea was dropped in later years. Teams now use any LEGO elements that they have to build the models. The pilot years were done in three phases from 2004 to 2006. The program was officially launched in 2007 during the Power Puzzle season. Originally, the program was called JFLL. It was then rebranded to Jr.FLL in 2008.During the first five years, the program was not referred as a robotic program. The only requirements to build models out of LEGO elements were to have some moving parts and include at least one simple machine
Simple machine
A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force.In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use mechanical advantage to multiply force. A simple machine uses a single applied force to do work against a single load force...
based on a given topic of that year. FIRST has provided an option to purchase a Jr.FLL Base Kit that contains many LEGO elements including gear
Gear
A gear is a rotating machine part having cut teeth, or cogs, which mesh with another toothed part in order to transmit torque. Two or more gears working in tandem are called a transmission and can produce a mechanical advantage through a gear ratio and thus may be considered a simple machine....
s, motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
, and other TECHNIC elements
Lego Technic
Technic is a line of Lego interconnecting plastic rods and parts. The purpose of this series is to create more advanced models with more complex movable arms, such as machines with wheels, in addition to the simpler brick-building properties of normal Lego....
. In 2009, with the new robotics kit by LEGO Group
Lego Group
The LEGO Group is a family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, and best known for the manufacture of Lego-brand toys.The company was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen...
, the program included LEGO WeDo as an optional kit which allows children to connect a motor and/or a sensor
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
to other LEGO bricks, gears and other TECHNIC elements. It also has drag-and-drop
Drag-and-drop
In computer graphical user interfaces, drag-and-drop is the action of selecting a virtual object by "grabbing" it and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object...
programming interface for children to write robotics programs. The Jr.FLL has been stated in FIRST's website as a robotic program since then.
The number of participants has been increasing each year. However, the program was limited to the United States and Canada until 2009. The first global partner that offers Jr.FLL in their region is Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
.
Program details
Jr.FLL is designed to be a non-competitive and community-based program. The teams are formed within local community and participate in local events. FIRST provides guidelines to help coaches to run their teams and local organizers to run Jr.FLL events. However, FIRST does not organize any Jr.FLL event, unlike other FIRST programs.The program is designed to be flexible; there are no specific dates for the program. Each team may decide when to start the activities and for how long as long as the registration is done within the season calendar which is from August to June each year. A team consists of 2-6 team members. There is an age limit that team members must not be older than 9 as of January 1 of the year the Challenge is released. Although there is no lower bound on age, FIRST suggests that the program is intended for children 6 or older.
After registering a team, the coach guides students to do research by following the Challenge guideline. The team may have a field trip
Field trip
A field trip or excursion, known as school trip in the UK and school tour in Ireland, is a journey by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment...
or visit experts to help children to learn more about the topic. Children will then work on their "Show Me" poster
Poster
A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be...
and LEGO models to demonstrate their findings according to the instructions in the Challenge. The team may choose to use any LEGO parts that they have at home to construct their models. Optionally, the team may purchase Jr.FLL Base Kit or LEGO WeDo Kit to use.
Challenges
The Jr.FLL challenges align with the research project portion of FLL.| Year | Theme | Number of Participants | Number of Teams | Number of Events | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | No Limits (Disabilities) | 375+ | 125 | 9 | The first pilot year. The challenge was to find ways to improve access for people with different physical abilities. |
| 2005 | Ocean Odyssey | 981+ | 327 | 27 | The second pilot year. The topic was related to learning about habitat Habitat * Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement... of marine life |
| 2006 | Nano Quest | 2,400+ | 700+ | 30 | The third pilot year. The challenge provided an opportunity for children to learn about the scale of nanometer. |
| 2007 | Power Puzzle | 6,000+ | 1,004 | 40+ | Official launch. The challenge was on energy Energy In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems... . Children needed to perform an energy audit and seek answers about the source of energy for everyday appliances. |
| 2008 | Climate Connections | 7,000+ | 1,180 | 44 | Learn about tools used to study climate. |
| 2009 | Smart Move | 1,500 | Relaunched as a robotics program. The first year to expand globally. The topic is about Transportation. | ||
| 2010 | Body Forward | Biomedical Engineering Biomedical engineering Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine: It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to improve... |
|||
| 2011 | Snack Attack | 12,000 (est.) | Food safety |
Concept
The program encourages teams to go out and tell their story to others after they have completed the poster and the models. They may participate in one of the well-established Jr.FLL events, which are typically part of FLL tournaments run by independent FLL partners. Most of these events are called Jr.FLL Expos. Alternately, they may host their own event in the neighborhood or at school to showcase their accomplishment.At the Jr.FLL event, there will be "Reviewers" (the judges) to ask children some questions about what they have learned. They may be asked details about the project and the models that they built. The Jr.FLL concept is that everyone is a winner, therefore, the event organizers are recommended to give an award to each team that participates in the event.
Awards
The organizers can create any list of awards. Below is the list of awards suggested by FIRST:- Amazing Movement Award
- Gracious Professionalism Award
- Against All Odds Award
- Effort and Learning Award
- Complexity and Decoration Award
- Most Explosive Award
- Robust Design Award
- Construction Innovation Award
- Team Spirit Award
- Teamwork Award
- Inquiring Minds
Notable events
The most notable event is First State Junior FIRST LEGO League Expo at Bob Carpenter CenterBob Carpenter Center
Bob Carpenter Center is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena, in Newark, Delaware, named in honor of the late benefactor and trustee, R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.. Students at the University of Delaware have nicknamed it "The Bob."...
in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. It coincides with a state-level FLL tournament with more than 30 Jr.FLL teams in the exhibition area.