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FLL Session 1: Welcome, Workshop Safety & Building the Field

Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Attendees: 9 Kids, Parents (first 30 min), Mentors/Coaches
Season Phase: Team Orientation, Safety & Field Setup

📌 Coach's Prep & Materials Checklist

  • Print Worksheets: Print 10 copies of the Printable Season Goals Worksheet on standard Letter paper.
  • Pens & Colored Markers: Have writing utensils ready for kids to fill out their goals and favorite Pokémon.
  • Workshop Safety Prep:
  • Clear aisles and tuck away extension cords around the robot table.
  • Designate distinct zones: Build Area, Robot Testing Mat, Battery Charging Station, and Parent Waiting Area.
  • Locate first-aid kit and note nearest restrooms and emergency exits.
  • Prep the Blind Build:
  • Prepare 5 pre-built small LEGO models (10–15 pieces max) hidden inside paper bags or boxes.
  • Prepare 5 matching bags of loose matching pieces for the builders.
  • Field Assembly Ready:
  • Have the FLL season mission model boxes and field mat ready.
  • Prepare tablets or printed instruction manuals for step-by-step assembly.
  • Rewards Ready: Pokémon cards and team incentive tokens.

🕒 Schedule Breakdown (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM)

gantt
    title Session 1 Timeline (Sunday, Sep 13)
    dateFormat HH:mm
    axisFormat %H:%M

    section Safety & Orientation (With Parents)
    Welcome, Safety Walkthrough & Intros : 13:00, 30m

    section Team Culture & Goal Setting
    How We Work & Season Goals Worksheet : 13:30, 15m

    section Hands-On Challenges
    The Blind Build Challenge            : 13:45, 30m
    Building the Field Mission Models    : 14:15, 75m

    section Wrap-Up
    Clean-Up Protocol Sprint             : 15:30, 15m
    Daily Learning & Pokémon Cards       : 15:45, 15m

1:00 - 1:30 PM | Welcome, Introductions & Workshop Safety (30 min)

(Parents attend this first 30 minutes so everyone knows the workspace layout, expectations, and safety rules.)

  • 1:00 – 1:10 PM | Welcome Circle & Fun Introductions (10 min):
  • Sit together in a circle (kids, parents, mentors). Mentors introduce themselves first to set an open, relaxed tone.
  • Quick Round: Everyone shares their name and their favorite Pokémon (or favorite LEGO theme)!
  • Coach Jaime shares his goal: > "My #1 goal this season is to make sure every single person has FUN, I know everyone's name, and I know everyone's favorite Pokémon!"
  • 1:10 – 1:25 PM | Workshop Safety & Space Tour (15 min):
  • Walk parents and students through the workspace boundaries:
    • 🧱 Build Zone: Tables for assembling models and sorting pieces. Rule: Keep bins on tables; no running with trays.
    • 🤖 Robot Mat Zone: Dedicated table for autonomous driving runs. Rule: Keep perimeter completely clear of backpacks and chairs so drivers can move freely.
    • 🔌 Charging & Electronics Zone: Power strips for SPIKE Prime Hubs and tablets. Rule: Only mentors or designated students plug into wall outlets.
    • 🚸 Facilities & Movement: Emergency exit paths, restroom locations, and water station.
  • Core Safety Rules:
    1. Closed-toe shoes are mandatory at all sessions.
    2. Instant Floor Sweep: If a LEGO piece, pin, or axle drops, pick it up immediately so nobody slips or steps on it.
    3. Tucked Cords: All tablet charging cables and power cords must stay taped down or against walls.
  • 1:25 – 1:30 PM | The Golden Rule & Parent Send-Off (5 min):
  • Introduce our core team motto to parents and kids: > "We don't just build robots, we use robots to build students."
  • Explain that in FLL, learning, teamwork, and laughing when things go wrong are far more important than winning trophies.
  • Dismiss Parents: Thank parents for their partnership. Confirm pickup is at 4:00 PM sharp (parents are invited to arrive 10 minutes early at 3:50 PM to see the day's creations!). Transition into the kids-only workshop.

1:30 - 1:45 PM | How We Work Together & Season Goals Worksheet (15 min)

  • Interactive Team Culture Principles (5 min):
  • "Plus'ing": We never shoot down an idea with "No, that's dumb." We say, "I love that big thinking! What if we add tall wheels to it?" We build on each other's creativity.
  • Failure is Awesome: Ask the kids: "Have you ever lost a level in a video game or had a LEGO tower crash? Did you quit?" No—you figured out why and tried again! In this room, when code bugs out or a robot attachment pops off, that is 100% normal. We smile, find the cause, and fix it.
  • Everyone Has a Spot: An FLL team is like a real engineering firm. We need builders and coders, but also researchers, writers, artists, and speakers. Every role is valued.
  • Season Goal Activity (10 min):
  • Hand out the printed Season Goals Worksheet.
  • Kids fill in their name, their favorite Pokémon (or favorite LEGO theme), and write one fun goal for the season.
  • Direct kids to the Idea Sparkers on the sheet (e.g., "I made the robot complete a task!", "I designed an attachment to test out (doesn't have to score points)!", or "I learned everyone's name!").
  • Emphasize: This is NOT a graded test, and it does NOT need to be about scoring points or flawless robot success! It's all about trying something fun.
  • Kids sign the High-Five Team Spirit Pledge.
  • Mentors collect the sheets to place in team binders to guide individual mentoring throughout the season.

1:45 - 2:15 PM | Team Building: The Blind Build Challenge (30 min)

  • The Setup: Divide the 9 kids into 4 pairs of two, and 1 trio of three.
  • The Rules:
  • One student is the "Looker" and the other is the "Builder" (in the trio, two are builders).
  • The Looker gets a pre-built LEGO model hidden in a paper bag.
  • The Builder gets a pile of matching loose pieces.
  • The Looker must describe how to assemble the model using words only—no touching pieces, no pointing, and the Builder cannot look at the model!
  • Time limit: 12 minutes.
  • The Debrief (8–10 min):
  • Line up all built models next to the originals in the center of the table.
  • Compare results, laugh at the funny differences, and celebrate what worked.
  • Discussion:
    • "What words helped your partner understand best?" (Names of shapes, counting studs, color references).
    • "What was tricky?" (Explaining orientations and which way pieces face).
  • Coach Takeaway: In robotics, coders and builders must describe mechanisms clearly. Clear, patient communication makes the team unstoppable!

2:15 - 3:30 PM | Main Activity: Unboxing & Building the Field Kits (75 min)

  • The Task: Open the official season mission model boxes and build the models for the competition mat.
  • Execution:
  • Pair up students and assign specific mission model bag numbers.
  • Open digital instructions on tablets or printed LEGO guides.
  • The 3x Friction-Free Trigger Test Rule:
    • Before mounting any mission model to the mat, test its mechanical lever, slide, or latch 3 times to verify it moves freely without friction or binding.
  • Mentor Coaching:
  • Step back and observe. Do not assemble parts for the kids.
  • Point out Technic principles: axle lengths, bushing placements, gear tooth alignment, and why rigid bracing matters.
  • Encourage "Plus'ing" whenever partners get stuck.

3:30 - 3:45 PM | The Clean-Up Protocol Sprint (15 min)

  • Stop immediately at 3:30 PM. No exceptions!
  • Explain that a clean workspace is a safe and high-performance engineering environment.
  • Assign squad responsibilities:
  • 🧹 Floor Sweepers: Check under tables and chairs for stray pins and axles.
  • 📦 Piece Sorters & Kit Keepers: Pack loose parts into sorting bins and secure instruction manuals.
  • 🧽 Table Captains: Straighten build tables and push in chairs.
  • Make it a 10-minute sprint challenge—award bonus team points for zero pieces left on the floor!

3:45 - 4:00 PM | Closing Circle, Daily Learning & Rewards (15 min)

  • Circle Up: Everyone gathers in the center circle (parents arriving early are welcome to observe).
  • Daily Learning Round:
  • Every single person (kids and mentors) shares:
    • "One new thing I learned today (about LEGO, code, or a teammate)."
  • Light Homework Preview:
  • Watch the official season challenge reveal video on YouTube with family and come back next week with one question or ocean idea!
  • The Reward:
  • Hand out Pokémon cards / incentive tokens to celebrate outstanding teamwork, safety, and clean-up speed!

🎯 Coach's Evaluation & Success Criteria

By 4:00 PM, Session 1 is a success if: - [ ] Parents and kids participated in the workshop safety tour and know space boundaries. - [ ] Every student filled out their Season Goals Worksheet with a fun personal goal and favorite Pokémon (or LEGO theme). - [ ] Every student participated in the Blind Build challenge and experienced communication in action. - [ ] Progress made on building the FLL field mission models with verified 3x trigger tests. - [ ] Clean-up protocol sprint completed with zero loose pieces on the floor. - [ ] Every student shared a daily learning takeaway and received their reward card.