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FLL Session 9 (Sprint Session 5): Dress Rehearsal Day, Code Freeze & Family Showcase — Lego Legends

Date: Sunday, November 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (180 Minutes • Family Showcase arrives at 3:15 PM)
Attendees: Team Members (9 Kids), Mentors/Coaches & Families (Parents & Siblings)
Season Phase: Final Tournament Readiness Phase — Dress Rehearsal, Code Freeze & Live Crowd Simulation

[!IMPORTANT]

🧭 Coaching Architecture: The Final Dress Rehearsal Ahead of the November 29 Tournament

Today is our culminating workshop before the official November 29 tournament event! While past sessions focused on building and testing, Session 9 is all about psychological readiness, time enforcement, and performance under pressure:

  1. Timed Innovation Rehearsal & Mock Q&A (1:10 – 1:55 PM • 45 min): Strictly enforce the 5:00 buzzer. Practice active listening and answering judge questions organically off-script without panic.
  2. Code Freeze & Robot Lock (2:15 – 2:55 PM • 40 min): Zero new code features! We only perform microscopic mechanical adjustments and starting-box alignment verification. The code is officially frozen.
  3. The Family & Friends Showcase (3:20 – 4:00 PM • 40 min): Parents and siblings arrive to act as tournament judges and an enthusiastic crowd! The team delivers their complete 5-minute Innovation pitch, answers tough mock Q&A, and runs two official 2:30 robot matches with crowd cheering to simulate authentic tournament volume.

📌 Coach's Prep & Materials Checklist

  • Showcase Staging & Audience Setup:
  • Welcome sign and seating chairs arranged in an arc facing the presentation board.
  • Official FLL match countdown sound effects downloaded / cued up on speakers ("3, 2, 1, LEGO!").
  • Official score sheets and clipboards for parents acting as mock judges.
  • Big screen timer visible to both speakers and drivers.
  • Tournament Gear & Code Freeze:
  • Master tournament packing bin labeled "Team 76265 Lego Legends".
  • Verified USB backup thumb drive containing current frozen code versions.
  • Laminated run checklist card and robot starting alignment jigs.
  • First-aid repair kit: spare color sensor, spare motor, charging cables, extra Technic pins.
  • Celebration & Swag:
  • Team buttons, stickers, and certificates ready for distribution.
  • Refreshments and light celebratory treats for families.

🕒 Master Timeline Overview (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • 180 Min)

gantt
    title Session 9 Timeline (Sunday, Nov 22 • 180 Minutes)
    dateFormat HH:mm
    axisFormat %H:%M

    section Kickoff
    Arrival & Game-Day Mindset     :13:00, 10m

    section Innovation
    Timed Rehearsal & Mock Q&A     :13:10, 45m
    Core Values Circle & Warm-Up   :13:55, 10m

    section Recharge
    Bio Break & Table Reset        :14:05, 10m

    section Robot Game
    Final Tweaks & Official Code Freeze:14:15, 40m

    section Showcase Prep
    Room Staging & Welcome Setup   :14:55, 15m

    section Family Showcase
    Parents Arrive • Live Rehearsal :15:10, 40m

    section Wrap-Up
    Tournament Pack & Dismissal    :15:50, 10m

📋 Minute-by-Minute Session Plan

1:00 – 1:10 PM | Arrival, Stand-Up & Game-Day Mindset (10 min)

  • Welcome & High-Energy Greeting (3 min): Greet every student as a tournament competitor.
  • Stand-Up Briefing (7 min):
  • Emphasize the milestone: Today is our dress rehearsal! In 2 hours, your families will walk through that door. We treat today exactly like tournament morning on November 29!
  • Set the ground rule: Encourage, celebrate, and stay calm. If the robot slips or someone forgets a line, we support each other and keep moving!

1:10 – 1:55 PM | Block 1: Innovation Project — Timed Rehearsal & Mock Q&A (45 min)

flowchart TD
    Run1["⏱️ Run 1: Timed Pitch (5:00)<br/>Mentor Shadow Judging<br/>(1:10 - 1:25 • 15 min)"] --> QA["❓ Mock Q&A Gauntlet<br/>Practice Answering Off-Script<br/>(1:25 - 1:40 • 15 min)"]
    QA --> Run2["⭐ Run 2: Polish & Energy<br/>Eye Contact & Body Language<br/>(1:40 - 1:55 • 15 min)"]

    style Run1 fill:#e0f2fe,stroke:#0284c7,stroke-width:1.5px;
    style QA fill:#fef08a,stroke:#eab308,stroke-width:1.5px;
    style Run2 fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px;

1. Full Timed Rehearsal (1:10 – 1:25 PM • 15 min)

  • Start the official 5:00 countdown timer with audio chime.
  • Students deliver the full pitch with physical props and trifold board.
  • Mentors take notes without interrupting.
  • Feedback focus:
  • Was the total time under 5 minutes? (Target: 4:30 – 4:45).
  • Did all 9 kids speak clearly and hold their props high?

2. Mock Q&A Gauntlet — Answering Off-Script (1:25 – 1:40 PM • 15 min)

  • Mentors fire realistic judge questions at random team members:
  • "How did you come up with the idea for the seed pod casing?"
  • "What was your biggest disagreement as a team, and how did you resolve it?" (Core Values spotlight!)
  • "If you had another $500, what would you add to this project?"
  • "Who is an expert you spoke with outside of school?"
  • Coaching Protocol: Teach kids the "Pass the Baton" technique—if asked a question outside their sub-topic, smoothly invite a teammate to respond ("Our research lead, Alakazam, tracked that data closely—Alakazam, can you share what we learned?").

3. Energy & Polish Re-Run (1:40 – 1:55 PM • 15 min)

  • Second full run incorporating vocal projection, smiling at the judges, and strong closing posture.

1:55 – 2:05 PM | Team Challenge: Core Values Activity (10 min)

  • The "Team Anchor" High-Five Huddle:
  • Students form a tight circle with hands in the middle.
  • Practice our official team chant: "1, 2, 3... LEGO LEGENDS!"
  • Review what to do if a judge room feels intimidating: take a deep collective breath together, smile, and remember that judges are volunteers who want you to succeed!

2:05 – 2:15 PM | Bio Break, Snack & Table Setup (10 min)

  • Quick snack and restroom break.
  • Clear the table for the final robot practice window.

2:15 – 2:55 PM | Block 2: Robot Game — Code Freeze & 9-out-of-10 Consistency (40 min)

🛑 OFFICIAL CODE FREEZE DECLARED AT 2:40 PM!
No more code alterations, speed boosts, or motor re-calibrations. Consistency is locked in.

flowchart LR
    A["Tuning & Tire Prep<br/>(2:15 - 2:35 PM)"] --> B["Official 5-Run Verification<br/>(2:35 - 2:45 PM)"]
    B --> C["🔒 Code Freeze & USB Backup<br/>(2:45 - 2:55 PM)"]

    style A fill:#e0f2fe,stroke:#0284c7,stroke-width:1.5px;
    style B fill:#fef08a,stroke:#eab308,stroke-width:1.5px;
    style C fill:#fecaca,stroke:#dc2626,stroke-width:2px;
  • Execution Checklist:
  • Clean drive wheels with isopropyl alcohol wipes to remove dust.
  • Run Run 1 (M01 Drone + M03 Flip Rock): confirm 100% repeatability.
  • Run Run 2 (M02 Exploding Seeds - 3 seeds for 30 pts + M04 Lucky Leaves): confirm mechanism trip.
  • Verify driver rotation protocol (Driver pair 1 runs Run 1 $\rightarrow$ Tags Driver pair 2 for Run 2).
  • Backup Protocol: Export final project files to USB drive labeled 2026-11-22_TOURNAMENT_FINAL_LOCKED.

2:55 – 3:10 PM | Setup for Family Showcase (15 min)

  • Stage the Room:
  • Arrange seating in front of the Innovation Project board.
  • Place tournament scoreboards, brochures, and team handouts on a greeting table.
  • Position SPIKE Prime robots and mission models in tournament-ready states.
  • Assign student greeters at the doorway (Dragonite and Jigglypuff).

3:10 – 3:50 PM | Family & Friends Dress Rehearsal Showcase (40 min)

(Parents, siblings, and family guests arrive promptly at 3:10 / 3:15 PM)

flowchart TD
    P1["1. Full 5-Min Innovation Pitch<br/>+ 5-Min Parent Q&A<br/>(15 min • 3:15 - 3:30)"] --> P2["2. Two Official 2:30 Robot Matches<br/>Crowd Cheering Simulation<br/>(15 min • 3:30 - 3:45)"]
    P2 --> P3["3. Family Celebration & Toast<br/>Swag Distribution & High Fives<br/>(10 min • 3:45 - 3:55)"]

    style P1 fill:#e0f2fe,stroke:#0284c7,stroke-width:1.5px;
    style P2 fill:#fef08a,stroke:#eab308,stroke-width:1.5px;
    style P3 fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px;

1. Innovation Presentation & Family Q&A (3:15 – 3:30 PM • 15 min)

  • The Pitch (5 min): Team delivers their presentation to the room full of parents. Timer counts down on the big screen.
  • The Mock Q&A (5–7 min): Parents raise their hands and ask unpredictable questions. Students practice eye contact, composure, and passing questions to teammates.
  • Audience gives a huge standing ovation!

2. Two Official 2:30 Robot Matches (3:30 – 3:45 PM • 15 min)

  • Gather all guests around the official competition table.
  • Mentors announce: "Spectators, we need full tournament noise! Clap, cheer, and make noise when the clock starts!"
  • Match Round 1 (2:30): Full match run with official buzzer and referee scoring.
  • Match Round 2 (2:30): Reset table models and run second match with driver rotation.
  • Score both rounds live on the big screen using the Scoring Calculator!

3. Celebration & Hard Work Recognition (3:45 – 3:55 PM • 10 min)

  • Coaches address the students and families, recognizing the monumental growth from Session 1 to Session 9.
  • Hand out team buttons, official competition shirts, and personalized certificates of accomplishment.

3:55 – 4:00 PM | Wrap-Up, Packing & Tournament Logistics (10 min)

  • Tournament Box Packing:
  • Pack SPIKE Prime hubs, chargers, spare parts bins, and cables into the master tournament crate.
  • Pack trifold board, props, and script clipboards into protective travel cases.
  • Final Parent Logistics Briefing for November 29:
  • Arrival time, venue location, spectator schedule, lunch plan, and team shirts!
  • Dismiss with the official Lego Legends cheer!

🎯 Coach's Success & Evaluation Criteria

  • Complete 5-minute Innovation pitch delivered to parent audience under the 5:00 limit.
  • Team fielded multiple spontaneous parent questions using the "Pass the Baton" technique.
  • Robot Game code officially frozen with master USB backup secured.
  • Two complete 2:30 robot matches executed with live crowd cheering and accurate scoring.
  • All tournament bins, display boards, and emergency spares packed and inventoried.
  • Families briefed on tournament arrival logistics for Sunday, November 29.