FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international, K-12 nonprofit organization founded to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, has announced the 2015-2016 FIRST® Lego® League (FLL) and Junior FIRST Lego League (Jr.FLL) seasons task students to discover the world of recycling and trash.
“Children who learn to think critically and creatively about environmental issues like trash and recycling will be more equipped to take on the complexity of an environmental issue in the future,” says Jennifer DuBuisson, senior manager of environmental sustainability, Lego. “By educating children at an early age on the behavior changes they can make within their homes, schools and communities, as well as increasing their understanding of the consequences of their own actions, we can make a significant positive impact.”
For the FLL Trash Treks and Jr.FLL Waste Wises Challenges, FIRST says it collaborated with experts in the fields of waste management and sustainability, including representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Houston-based Waste Management, Lego and Clean Harbors, Norwell, Massachusetts, among other specialists to create a theme and challenge missions that reflect today’s waste problems and solutions.
“The real-world challenges presented each year by FIRST Lego League and Junior FIRST Lego League allow children to engage in issues facing the world around them and identify a solution—all while honing their STEM skills, working as a team and having fun,” says FIRST President Donald E. Bossi. “This year, the topic of waste has global ramifications but also allows for examination and exploration at the local level—in children’s communities and even their own homes.”
In the 2015-2016 Trash Treks Challenge, more than 233,000 children, ages 9 to 16, from more than 80 countries will explore the world of trash. From collection and sorting, to smart production and reuse, students will learn that there is more to trash than meets the eye, according to FIRST.
“Environmental education based on life experiences, beginning at an early age, plays a critical role in shaping lifelong attitudes, values and patterns of behavior toward natural environments,” says Christine Beling of the EPA.
FLL challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers, FIRST says. During the Trash Treks season, teams of up to 10 students will choose and solve a real-world trash problem as their project. Teams will also build, test and program an autonomous robot using Lego Mindstorms technology to solve a series of sustainability-themed missions as part of the Robot Game, which includes: demolishing a building and salvaging valuable materials from the debris; converting organic material into fertilizer; reusing methane produced in a landfill to power a vehicle; and other waste and recycling-related activities. Throughout the season, FIRST says teams will operate under a signature set of “core values,” celebrating discovery, teamwork and Gracious Professionalism®.
The 2015-2016 Waste Wises Challenge will reach more than 34,500 children, ages 6 to 9, from 18 countries, and help them learn what really happens to all that waste in their own communities, FIRST explains.
“Our landfills continue to fill up with materials that could be easily recycled and reused. By having children focus on recycling, it will hopefully also lead to them becoming more focused on things like wildlife conservation, forest conservation and water conservation,” says Shawn State of Pratt Industries’ Recycling Division. “Our natural resources are precious and we must start an environmental focus by getting children committed to recycling at a young age.”
Each year since 2004, Jr.FLL presents a new challenge to ignite creativity in young children, FIRST says. This year, while exploring the real-world theme of sustainability, teams will learn about simple machines as they build a model made of Lego elements with a motorized part.
FLL and Jr.FLL are two of four K-12 robotics programs within the Progression of Programs at FIRST. The organization offers a progression of four international, after-school STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs for students in K-12.
In its 18th year, FLL says it anticipates its largest season ever, with approximately 29,000 teams competing in hundreds of qualifying tournaments and championship tournaments. Teams also will have the opportunity to participate at the FLL World Festival, to be held in conjunction with the FIRST Championship, April 27-30, 2016, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
A nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST inspires young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.
“Children who learn to think critically and creatively about environmental issues like trash and recycling will be more equipped to take on the complexity of an environmental issue in the future,” says Jennifer DuBuisson, senior manager of environmental sustainability, Lego. “By educating children at an early age on the behavior changes they can make within their homes, schools and communities, as well as increasing their understanding of the consequences of their own actions, we can make a significant positive impact.”
For the FLL Trash Treks and Jr.FLL Waste Wises Challenges, FIRST says it collaborated with experts in the fields of waste management and sustainability, including representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Houston-based Waste Management, Lego and Clean Harbors, Norwell, Massachusetts, among other specialists to create a theme and challenge missions that reflect today’s waste problems and solutions.
“The real-world challenges presented each year by FIRST Lego League and Junior FIRST Lego League allow children to engage in issues facing the world around them and identify a solution—all while honing their STEM skills, working as a team and having fun,” says FIRST President Donald E. Bossi. “This year, the topic of waste has global ramifications but also allows for examination and exploration at the local level—in children’s communities and even their own homes.”
In the 2015-2016 Trash Treks Challenge, more than 233,000 children, ages 9 to 16, from more than 80 countries will explore the world of trash. From collection and sorting, to smart production and reuse, students will learn that there is more to trash than meets the eye, according to FIRST.
“Environmental education based on life experiences, beginning at an early age, plays a critical role in shaping lifelong attitudes, values and patterns of behavior toward natural environments,” says Christine Beling of the EPA.
FLL challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers, FIRST says. During the Trash Treks season, teams of up to 10 students will choose and solve a real-world trash problem as their project. Teams will also build, test and program an autonomous robot using Lego Mindstorms technology to solve a series of sustainability-themed missions as part of the Robot Game, which includes: demolishing a building and salvaging valuable materials from the debris; converting organic material into fertilizer; reusing methane produced in a landfill to power a vehicle; and other waste and recycling-related activities. Throughout the season, FIRST says teams will operate under a signature set of “core values,” celebrating discovery, teamwork and Gracious Professionalism®.
The 2015-2016 Waste Wises Challenge will reach more than 34,500 children, ages 6 to 9, from 18 countries, and help them learn what really happens to all that waste in their own communities, FIRST explains.
“Our landfills continue to fill up with materials that could be easily recycled and reused. By having children focus on recycling, it will hopefully also lead to them becoming more focused on things like wildlife conservation, forest conservation and water conservation,” says Shawn State of Pratt Industries’ Recycling Division. “Our natural resources are precious and we must start an environmental focus by getting children committed to recycling at a young age.”
Each year since 2004, Jr.FLL presents a new challenge to ignite creativity in young children, FIRST says. This year, while exploring the real-world theme of sustainability, teams will learn about simple machines as they build a model made of Lego elements with a motorized part.
FLL and Jr.FLL are two of four K-12 robotics programs within the Progression of Programs at FIRST. The organization offers a progression of four international, after-school STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs for students in K-12.
In its 18th year, FLL says it anticipates its largest season ever, with approximately 29,000 teams competing in hundreds of qualifying tournaments and championship tournaments. Teams also will have the opportunity to participate at the FLL World Festival, to be held in conjunction with the FIRST Championship, April 27-30, 2016, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
A nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST inspires young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.