First Lego League

There are many teams for IAR, such as the soccer team or the volleyball team. But there’s one team at IAR that works completely in Lego Bricks. Lego League is a fun, mentor-based program built to inspire kids aged 9-16.

The First Lego League (FLL) teams at IAR, known as BRIX 1 and BRIX 2, are teams just like every other. They have a group of people, a goal to accomplish, coaches, and time to prepare. The difference is that the FLL teams have to work with LEGO bricks to engineer and build a robot to achieve a set of goals in a set time. This is all done via the Lego Mindstorms set, a special set made with coding and engineering mechanics in mind.

The FIRST organization is the non-profit organization that created and established the program. The idea for the organization was founded on the idea of “fostering life skills and sparking interest” in technology, engineering, math, and science. The goal of each Lego League season is to create a solution to problems chosen by the FIRST group on a set board. The time given to plan for the test is a eight-week long season, once a year. Teams must select and research a solution based on the problem. The teams have to program and build a robot to solve the problem.

As of December 2017, the yearly season has ended. The highest scores gathered by IAR’s teams were 55 points by BRIX 1 and 60 by BRIX 2. For comparison, private teams can get up to 200+ points. Still, according to Mr Montagna, one of the teacher in charge of the two teams, “They didn’t advance, but I’m proud of the work they did anyways.” The next season will be next fall. Eighth graders are welcome to join even if they did not participate in seventh grade.

For more information, go to the official First Organization Website: firstinspires.org or see Mr Montagna in the APE wing (Room 911 and 912)