Kidventures: Diving Into Beijing's LEGO League Challenge
Microplastics are invading our oceans! To fight back, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have developed jellyfish-like robots that scoop up pollution to protect marine life. Here in Beijing, another team of engineers huddles over their latest prototype of marine technology. They test ideas, troubleshoot, and refine their designs, just like the experts. Their secret strength? They’re first graders, and their robots are made of LEGO!
My 6-year-old, Leili, and her teammates aren’t just stacking bricks. They’re part of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), a global robotics competition that challenges kids to solve real-world problems. I first heard of “LEGO robotics” from friends back in Washington DC, who wanted to spark their kids’ interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Their middle schoolers seemed happy to build cool robots. It’s part play, part engineering, and 100 percent fun.
What is FIRST LEGO League?
FLL is an international robotics program where kids aged 4-16 learn coding and problem-solving by designing LEGO-based solutions to scientific challenges. Teams compete in three age categories:
- Discover (4-6 years old) – STEM basics with LEGO DUPLO
- Explore (6-9 years old) – Intro to robotics and programming
- Challenge (9-16 years old) – Advanced coding of robots to complete missions
Each season features a new theme, with past topics covering energy solutions, transportation logistics, and creativity in technology. This year’s theme, SUBMERGED, plunges kids into underwater exploration, sustainability, and marine innovation.
There's more to this story! This article was originally posted on our sister account, jingkids International.
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Images: The Cube, Tara Fegelein
