FALL 2024 - Winter 2025 - For 4th-8th Grade Homeschoolers:
ROBOTICS + CODING + LEGO + PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Join our full-day homeschool program as we prepare as a team to compete in the First Lego League Challenge. Build teamwork, learn to code, engineer robots, research an innovation project and dive into this year’s theme: Submerged. Enjoy learning & socializing with peers. Afternoons include related science offerings & project-based learning.
When: Thursdays, 9am - 2:30pm - Sept 19, 2024 to January 30, 2025 (no class: 10/3, 11/28, 12/19, 12/26, 1/2)
Cost: $1500 (15 sessions)
Ages: NYC Homeschoolers, 4-8th grade
Registration is open — scroll to the bottom of this page.
Join a tour & see our space!
Email team@cottonwoodnyc.org with questions or to confirm your tour time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is First Lego League?
A. As described by First Robotics: “Friendly competition is at the heart of First Lego League Challenge, as teams of students in 4-8th grade engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. As part of Challenge, teams also participate in a research project to identify and solve a relevant real-world problem.”
Q. Where does the program meet?
A. The program meets at Cottonwood NYC, a self-directed & project-based learning center located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, near McGolrick Park.
Q. What activities will the day include?
Learn to code with word blocks & LEGO Spike
Build robots and develop engineering skills with LEGO technic
Research an innovation project, including presentation skills
Team building activities
Enrichment & learning around the season theme. Possible topics: deep sea exploration, marine ecosystems, ocean pollution, etc.
Lunch + Park Time
Q. What is this year’s theme?
A. First Dive - Submerged! Although full season details won’t be released until August, the season trailers tease that participants will “explore life beneath the surface of the ocean”, build strong communities and “innovate for a better world with healthy oceans.”
Q. Will the team compete? What is a competition like?
A. Yes! NYC First hosts 5+ qualifier events on weekends in January or February. Our teams will sign up for one qualifier event. The date is TBD and will be announced in the Fall. Teams are judged equally in four areas: their robot game score, robot presentation, innovation project presentation and core values including teamwork & gracious professionalism.
Q. What robotics kits will the teams use?
A. The teams learn and build with LEGO Spike kits + expansion set, the recommended setup for Challenge Level teams. We will have a ratio of 1:4 (kits to kids), plus time to rotate through different activities, so there will be hands-on building & coding time for each learner.
Q. How big are the teams?
A. We can host up to 2 teams of 10 kids in our space = 20 kids total.
Q. Are there additional time commitments?
A. There are optional activities outside the program at Cottonwood. During the Fall semester, we expect several weekend mentoring sessions and workshops with First Robotics NYC at their NYC STEM center (free). Cottonwood will plan related Friday field trips (fees may apply). If one or more teams advance past qualifiers, there may be additional opportunities to participate.
Cottonwood NYC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or ethnic origin in administration, admission, or any associated activities.