Coach Planning Tips
The 2023-2024 Challenge is called
"MASTERPIECE." |
FIRST provides teams with booklets for each student, and also a guide for the coach, with meeting plans you can use as is or adapt for your goals. As coach, you are expected to have read through both the coach and the student booklets before meeting with your team, so that you have a clear idea on where you are leading the students.
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The number of meetings we have doesn't match the number of meetings in the guide. What do I do?
Don't worry about it. You don't even have to use the booklets if they don't work for you. Scroll down this page for a general description of your team's goals and objectives. Look over the FIRST website if that helps. The main goals are to:
1) teach the core values;
2) have the team learn something about this year's topic; and
3) have a project and poster for the Expo.
Don't stress! This is not a competition. It is a learning experience and a chance to make new friends. Choose and modify the lessons you like. Skip some. Combine some. Be flexible and involve the kids in the planning if you can!
1) teach the core values;
2) have the team learn something about this year's topic; and
3) have a project and poster for the Expo.
Don't stress! This is not a competition. It is a learning experience and a chance to make new friends. Choose and modify the lessons you like. Skip some. Combine some. Be flexible and involve the kids in the planning if you can!
Simple Machines For the first few meetings, you could choose to guide your team through experimenting with simple machines. Levers, gears, wheels and axles - there are many FUN ways to use LEGO to help the team start to understand the world around them! All final models include at least one simple machine, usually programmed with the WeDo.
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Support for Coaches
FLL Mentors
We are working with FLL teams to get FLL participants to come and mentor younger students. Please email [email protected] if you would like a mentor or have an older child that would like to be a mentor. |
Invited Guests
You are welcome to invite outside relevant speakers to come and talk to your team during your regularly scheduled meeting or at a time and location of your choice. Be creative and have fun with your team! |
Parents
If parents want to stay and help out at meetings, that's great! We only ask that both coaches are present as well. |
Click to explore the equipment you will have to use with the team:
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Meeting Structure Tips
The first meeting is a great time to introduce the FIRST Core Values and use these as a guide for the children for their behavior during all meetings. You could post them in the room during meetings, have the kids brainstorm rules for themselves, and don't forget to include HAVE FUN. Plan to play a get-to-know-you game at least the first week, if not the second week as well.
If you establish a routine, things should be running smoothly by the third meeting. Be creative! One coach made her team meet certain goals she wanted them to accomplish (for example, listen to her read a book about the challenge topic, or write their names and two sentences about themselves) before she let them dive into the LEGO bin at each meeting.
Establish a routine for the parents, too. If you like, have them sign their children out at pick up time, and communicate regularly with them over email about the team's goals and accomplishments. If you're concerned about a child's behavior, don't wait to address it. The kids have had a long day at school by the time they get to you. You're not saying someone is a "bad kid" just because they are too tired to control themselves at that time of day.
Early Goals (first 3 - 4 meetings)
1. Introduce the program to the kids
2. Go over the core values
3. Share the season's challenge - watch the launch video and discuss
4. Get them learning about the challenge topic
5. Get them playing with the WeDo 2.0
6. Kids need to choose a team name and submit their team's logo (T-shirt design) by a specific date
1. How to introduce the program to the kids
Definitely watch the launch video together (link at the top of this page, under the Playmakers logo.) You can show them photos of other projects, tell them that kids all over the world are working on the same thing right now, or show some videos (check out the links below as a team) as well as just talking together.
Kids used WeDo 1.0 and made a model with a tornado:
https://youtu.be/yGdhu_AKDko
This kiddo built a whole model with WeDo 2.0 about floods:
https://youtu.be/z9GdCCjNSp0
The first meeting is a great time to introduce the FIRST Core Values and use these as a guide for the children for their behavior during all meetings. You could post them in the room during meetings, have the kids brainstorm rules for themselves, and don't forget to include HAVE FUN. Plan to play a get-to-know-you game at least the first week, if not the second week as well.
If you establish a routine, things should be running smoothly by the third meeting. Be creative! One coach made her team meet certain goals she wanted them to accomplish (for example, listen to her read a book about the challenge topic, or write their names and two sentences about themselves) before she let them dive into the LEGO bin at each meeting.
Establish a routine for the parents, too. If you like, have them sign their children out at pick up time, and communicate regularly with them over email about the team's goals and accomplishments. If you're concerned about a child's behavior, don't wait to address it. The kids have had a long day at school by the time they get to you. You're not saying someone is a "bad kid" just because they are too tired to control themselves at that time of day.
Early Goals (first 3 - 4 meetings)
1. Introduce the program to the kids
2. Go over the core values
3. Share the season's challenge - watch the launch video and discuss
4. Get them learning about the challenge topic
5. Get them playing with the WeDo 2.0
6. Kids need to choose a team name and submit their team's logo (T-shirt design) by a specific date
1. How to introduce the program to the kids
Definitely watch the launch video together (link at the top of this page, under the Playmakers logo.) You can show them photos of other projects, tell them that kids all over the world are working on the same thing right now, or show some videos (check out the links below as a team) as well as just talking together.
Kids used WeDo 1.0 and made a model with a tornado:
https://youtu.be/yGdhu_AKDko
This kiddo built a whole model with WeDo 2.0 about floods:
https://youtu.be/z9GdCCjNSp0
3. Share the season's challenge
Within the first couple meetings, you will need to introduce the children to the challenge specific to the season, and they also need to understand the end goals, which are to create a unique model and a "Show Me Poster."
4. Get them learning about the topic
The ways you can help your team learn about the season's educational topics are truly endless. Choose subtopics and methods that are fun for you - your excitement will be infectious. You can ask them to learn at home during the week and report back, maybe by reading a book or visiting a website with a parent.There are probably millions of resources online - the FIRST website offers some on their website and YouTube channel.
5. Get them playing with the WeDo 2.0 (or Spike Essentials)
There are many online resources you can use to learn how to program and build with the We Do 2.0. Most kids seem to figure it out just by spending time playing with it, but here are some links to information that may help:
Within the first couple meetings, you will need to introduce the children to the challenge specific to the season, and they also need to understand the end goals, which are to create a unique model and a "Show Me Poster."
4. Get them learning about the topic
The ways you can help your team learn about the season's educational topics are truly endless. Choose subtopics and methods that are fun for you - your excitement will be infectious. You can ask them to learn at home during the week and report back, maybe by reading a book or visiting a website with a parent.There are probably millions of resources online - the FIRST website offers some on their website and YouTube channel.
5. Get them playing with the WeDo 2.0 (or Spike Essentials)
There are many online resources you can use to learn how to program and build with the We Do 2.0. Most kids seem to figure it out just by spending time playing with it, but here are some links to information that may help:
Scroll down after clicking on Spike Prime Essentials for links and information:
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6. Kids need to choose a name and design a logo.
The kids also need to choose a team name and design their own logo. This will be printed on the front of their T-shirts (in white ink) for the Expo.
Final Objectives
By the last meeting before the Expo, you want your team to have:
1) Built a model that meets the guidelines in the challenge;
2) Learned how to program the We Do 2.0 (or Spike Essentials);
3) Prepared a trifold display board a.k.a. "Show Me Poster;" and
4) Had a great time!
The Model
Guidelines for the model can be found in the Team Meeting Guide and student notebooks provided by FIRST (with a paid registration). The team's LEGO model:
- May only contain LEGO parts;
- Must fit on one (or two) 14" x 14" base plate;
- May not be painted or decorated with other materials;
- Must contain at least one moving part; and
- Must use the LEGO WeDo 2.0 or the LEGO Spike Essentials set.
You may add your own LEGO, but all those lent to you should be returned in the plastic storage bin at the end of the season to enable future teams to participate.
The "Show Me Poster"
Instructions for presenting information on the trifold display board are available in the printed materials provided by FIRST (with a paid registration). It is more important for the kids to do the work themselves than it is to end up with a beautiful display.