FIRST LEGO League Explore - Information and resources for volunteers
Thank you!
Thank you so much for agreeing to support our FIRST LEGO League Explore events this year. Whether it is your first time or if you’ve been working with us for a while, we really appreciate you giving up your time to get involved.
We’d also like to give a huge special thank you to Sage and The Sage Foundation, who are once again, our extremely generous and fantastic sponsors.
Their sponsorship pays for the entry fees for all our schools participating in the ‘extra-curricular’ method of delivery and has fully funded the unique Class pack project that has allowed lots of schools across the North East to participate in FIRST LEGO League in whole classes.
Each child takes part and has an amazing hands-on STEM experience. Sage also funds our venue for this event and many volunteers to help run things on the day. They are outstanding partners and we’re extremely grateful for their support with all aspects of FIRST LEGO League.
The Explore challenge for teams
Teams explore a real-world theme each year, starting with a LEGO Education Inspire Model. This year’s theme is called Unearthed where teams have learned about archaeology and the challenges that archaeologists face as they look to uncover the secrets of the past.
There are 3 parts to the Explore challenge, teams must:
- Research the theme
- Build a moving LEGO model to represent what they find out
- Create a Show Me poster board to chronicle their work throughout the season, tell us about their team and their FIRST LEGO League Core Values.
This video explains more about FIRST LEGO League Explore in general.
This video introduces the Unearthed theme to the teams for this season.
What are the Festivals?
The FIRST LEGO League Explore festivals are where all the teams that have participated this year come together to share their fabulous work and show off their amazing projects from the Unearthed season.
The events are non-competitive but the teams will meet and speak to our teams of ‘reviewers’. Teams will also get a chance to take a look at work from the other attending teams and ask questions about the incredible models and Show Me posters that have been created.
There will also be a number of other STEM activities, including a chance to find out more about the other FIRST LEGO League age divisions.
This year we are hosting two festivals and are expecting 53 teams from schools in North Tyneside and Northumberland.
What will the teams present?
The LEGO® model
Each year teams receive an Explore set that is linked to the annual theme. This year it contains a radar model and an excavation site model as well as mini figures and lots of extra LEGO for students to use in their creative builds.
The Explore models always have a moving mechanism of some sort which can be operated by hand or connected to a motor. This should be the starting point of the teams’ project and should be included in their final model somehow. They can also add to it or build other models to help demonstrate the things they have been finding out about in their project. They can add extra motors, lights sounds and sensors to control the model to make it even more impressive.
Take a look at this video which gives a little taste of the Unearthed Explore Set.
Their Show Me poster
While it's called a Show Me poster, teams can actually present their work in any way they like. Most will use a display board of some kind, others get more creative, but however they choose to present it, it should clearly convey their learning about the Unearthed theme and what they have been working on as a team over the weeks. It might also show a bit about them as a team and their FIRST LEGO League Core Values.
The Core Values
The Core Values are all about teamwork and how the group works together over the season. There are six FIRST® LEGO® League Core Values:
Reviewers should look to see how the children present themselves and the work they have done. They should check to see if the teams have learned about and demonstrated these Core Values.
Here are some examples of team displays and models from previous festivals:
Making it move
As mentioned, an essential part of the team’s project model is making it move. This must be done by using LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0 or LEGO® SPIKE Essential kits. Both kits are very similar and contain a range of LEGO bricks, motors and sensors, all of which can be programmed to move and react using visual code. Take time to ask the teams about their coding and how it all works.
LEGO SPIKE Essential
LEGO WeDo 2.0
Volunteer role descriptions
Reviewers
The job of the reviewers is to meet the teams and talk to them about their projects, giving them the chance to share the learning they’ve been doing over the weeks of build-up to the festival. Each review team will be made up of three volunteers.
The festivals are entirely non-competitive and there will be no ‘winners’ declared on the day, although there are criteria for reviewers to informally grade each team. Reviewer teams will spend around 10 minutes meeting with each team and will have a few minutes to take notes and transition between teams. A detailed schedule for reviewers will be provided on the day.
Key things to remember are:
- A reviewer’s role is to show interest in each team’s ideas and experiences and to make them feel proud of their work.
- Reviewers should be considerate, kind and as positive as possible when reviewing the teams’ work.
- All participants will receive a participation certificate and medal.
- While there are informal marking criteria on your review sheet, scores are not kept, announced or shared with the other teams.
- Reviewers leave their review sheet with teams at the end of their table visit.
The Review Sheet
The sheets below provide a guide for reviewers. It contains simple grading criteria for 5 areas:
- Challenge solution
- Core Values
- Team model
- Coding
- Team poster
Also included are example questions to ask the teams. Please use them however you see fit and feel free to ask your own questions too.
Please try to direct at least one question to each team member - some children may be quieter than others, and it is important to hear from everyone.
These sheets will be provided for Reviewers on the day.
Side activity helpers
Volunteers will also support the side activities we have running on the day. These vary year on year but usually involve lots of LEGO in various forms! Volunteers helping with this area are there to support or run the activities, so that teams know what they can do with each one. Volunteers should also help keep the activities tidy and in good order as teams come and go throughout the day. Feel free to rotate with colleagues so you are not on the same activity all day.
Allocated volunteer roles for each festival
Morning Festival
Afternoon Festival
Event Logistics
Dates, times and location
We are hosting two festivals on the same day. Both are half-day events with one taking place in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Both festivals are taking place on Tuesday 7th July 2026.
- Festival 1 - 9:00 - 12:00
- Festival 2 - 13:00 - 15:00
The venue:
The Village Hotel Newcastle,
10 The Silverlink North,
West Allotment,
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE27 0BY
Building layout
The festival will take place at the back of the building in the events and hospitality suite. In the main festival room, each team will have a table to display their project model and poster board. In the room next door, there will be other side activities for everyone, including the chance to find out more about the other FIRST LEGO League age divisions. As you arrive, please come through the hotel reception and around the corridor to the main room.
Schedule for Festival 1 - The morning event
9:00 - Volunteers arrive
9:30 - 9:55 - Teams arrive
10:00 - Welcome, introductions and housekeeping
10:10 - The Festival
During this time our panel of Reviewers will visit all teams to take a look at their LEGO models and Show Me posters. Teams will be able to present their project work and Core Values to the reviewers in any way they choose. Teams are also invited to visit each others’ tables and take a look at the other fun activities on offer during this time.
11:20 - Closing ceremony
All teams will be celebrated for their participation in this year’s FIRST LEGO League Explore season.
11:40 - Close of event
12:00 - Lunch
Provided for all volunteers
Schedule for Festival 2 - The afternoon event
13:00 - 13:20 - Teams arrive
13:20 - Welcome, introductions and housekeeping
13:30 - The Festival
During this time our panel of Reviewers will visit all teams to take a look at their LEGO models and Show Me posters. Teams will be able to present their project work and Core Values to the reviewers in any way they choose. Teams are also invited to visit each others’ tables and take a look at the other fun activities on offer during this time.
14:40 - Closing ceremony
All teams will be rewarded for their participation in this year’s FIRST LEGO League Explore season.
15:00 - Close of event
Parking
There is on-site visitor parking at the Hotel. If you are bringing a vehicle, please be sure to provide your vehicle registration number when you sign in on arrival so that it can be entered into the hotel parking system. This will prevent you from being charged for parking.
Food and Drink
A buffet lunch will be provided for volunteers. Please email neil.brown@northtyneside.gov.uk to let us know if you have any special dietary requirements
Each volunteer will also receive a Starbucks voucher and cold drink refreshments will be provided.
Dress Code
Please wear something casual and comfortable but appropriate for working with children. We’d recommend layers as it can get warm.
Toilet facilities
Toilets are situated off the main corridor as you walk round from the reception desk. Although we have all of the event space in the hotel booked for the day, the building will still be open to members of the public, which will include the toilets. The children attending will also be using these shared toilets.
Photography and video
Event photographers may be taking photographs and videos of the proceedings and all schools complete media permission forms for their students. However, not all students have consent to be photographed so please be mindful of this and always ask permission of the school staff before taking any photos that may contain students. Lanyards will be available for anyone to wear who does not give photographic consent, to make them more identifiable, but please check images very carefully before publishing online.
Contact details
If you have any questions or problems, please let us know as soon as you can. We are here to help and want to make sure you have a fantastic FIRST LEGO League experience.
You can reach us at:
Neil Brown - North Tyneside Council
neil.brown@northtyneside.gov.uk
Jordan Graham - Northumberland County Council