First Lego League Sample Schedules

FLL SEASON

  May: Team registration and materials ordering begins
June: Robot Kits and Coaches' Handbooks begin to ship
Mid-August: Field Setup Kits begin to ship
September: Tournament details posted on FLL website
Mid-September: Challenge announced
End of September: Team registration closes and team profile and contact information must be updated foot the season
October: Championship tournament applications accepted (Approx. 2 weeks)
November - January: Local events and Championship tournaments

Week-by-Week Milestones

Prior to Kickoff (if possible)

Challenge: Open your FLL Robot Kit and experiment with FIRST website (usfirst.org) tutorials. Build a robot. Try to program it to go a certain distance, turn, and maybe climb a book.

Project: Do some background research on how robots are sued by scientists who work in this year's field. For example, if the theme is the ocean, you might do some background research on how researchers and others use underwater robots.

Kickoff Week 1 (9/16/06):

Practice team-building exercises, choose team name, establish team member roles, and establish seasonal goals.
Challenge:
  • Begin constructing your missing models from the instructions contained on the CD in the Field Setup Kit.
  • Print all Challenge web documents, and give to team members to read carefully.
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    Project: Brainstorm project ideas with your team.

    Week 2 (9/23/06):

    Challenge:
  • Continue to build your mission models.
  • Make sure practice field is set up.
  • Check the Challenge Q&A on the FLL website (firstlegoleague.org) for game-related updates.
  • Everyone, including a few designated experts on those documents, reads the Missions and Rules.
  • Finish your selected tutorials and then experiment with chassis designs and simple programming tasks. Brainstorm possible mission strategies and associated robot designs.
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    Project: Select a project topic to focus on and begin doing your research. Keep in mind that research might be done at the library, on the Internet, or by conducting interviews with people in your community or, most likely, all three.

    Week 3 (9/30/06):

    Check Q&A.

    Challenge: Design and program the robot to perform the two missions that the team considers the easiest. Consider designs and strategies for expansion to other missions.

    Project: Continue research and decide on a presentation format.

    Week 4 (10/7/06):

    Check Q&A, Agree on reasonable goals for the season (examples: "Just have fun," "Not be last," "Get our mission in the local paper," "Do half the missions perfectly every time," "Do two missions like no one else," "Incorporate at least one idea from every team member," "Make people laugh").

    Challenge: Design and program the robot to achieve at least half of your team's goals related to it.

    Project: Begin writing a script and creating any presentation materials needed.

    Week 5 (10/14/06):

    Check Q&A again. Reassess goals. Team experts on the Missions and Rules documents should ensure that all intended scoring strategies are legal and worth points.

    Challenge: Try to meet 75% of robot-related goals, even if they are not complete.

    Project: Finish writing script and do the necessary research to fill in any gaps. Continue working on the visual aids and any props you will need for your presentation.

    Week 6 (10/21/06):

    Check Q&A again. Reassess goals. Save copies and back up your programs.

    Challenge: Try to meet 75% of robot-related goals and increase reliability.

    Project: Put the finishing touches on visual aids and begin rehearsing the presentation.

    Week 7 (10/28/06):

    Check Q&A again. Finalize goals -- By this time the team probably knows what it wants and what it's capable of, and the final goals are meaningful and realistic. Save copies and back-up programs.

    Challenge: Try to meet all robot-related goals, most of the time. Test in different lighting conditions. Understand effects of a battery change.

    Project: Rehearse! Use a stopwatch to make sure you're staying under the five-minute limit. Practice setting up and cleaning up. Practice responding to questions from the judges.

    Week 8 (11/4/06):

    Check Q&A for the last time.

    Challenge: Complete fine tuning. Make sure that all robot-related goals can be met consistently.

    Project: Fine tune and make sure that you can consistently meet all goals such as timing and presentation skills.

    Long Island Tournament (1/21/07):

    Time: Sunday, January 21, 2007 from 10 am to 4 pm

    Location: Longwood High School in Middle Island