LEGO challenge for schools

Today sees the launch of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) in which 9-16 year olds solve a real-world issue using their love of LEGO.

This year’s challenge theme is Food Factor; teams must focus on food safety and how science and technology can help to combat contamination. Using the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education kit, teams also develop a robot to tackle a variety of missions. The teams attend a tournament, present their research, describe their solution and compete with their robots against the clock to carry out the tasks in the sports like FLL arena. Last year’s UK and Ireland winners presented an iPhone app that helped people with diabetes manage their insulin check times and injections.

The challenge is designed to boost young people’s interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), and to develop real world skills such as problem solving, team working and communication.

Students have just ten weeks to sign up here and complete the first stage of their mission.

You can watch a video about last year’s challenge here.