Hundreds of students from 4th through 8th grade gathered at Fruita Monument High School in Grand Junction, Colorado, on November 15, 2025, for the FIRST LEGO League qualifier tournament. Teams from School District 51 and nearby areas presented research projects and battled with their custom robots, focusing on coding and teamwork to solve real world problems.
Event Highlights and Participation
The tournament drew about 45 teams, giving nearly 450 children a chance to shine in STEM activities. This yearly event, now in its tenth year, receives strong backing from the D51 Foundation and Chevron, making it a key tradition in the region. Students spent months preparing, building robots from LEGO pieces and coding them to handle specific tasks.
Families and volunteers filled the school gym, creating an exciting atmosphere full of cheers and high fives. Organizers noted the growth in participation, with teams coming from outside the district to join the fun. This qualifier is part of a larger series across Colorado, where similar events happened in places like Poudre and Loveland earlier in November.
The day started early at 8 a.m. and wrapped up by 5 p.m., allowing time for practice, judging, and final matches. Parents watched as kids explained their innovations to judges, showing how they applied science and engineering to everyday challenges.
The UNEARTHED Theme: Digging into Archaeology
This seasons challenge, called UNEARTHED, takes teams on an adventure through archaeology and history. Kids explore hidden treasures and ancient artifacts, learning how to uncover the past while thinking about future innovations. The theme encourages research into real sites and tools used by archaeologists today.
Teams must identify a problem related to preserving history or digging up lost knowledge. They then design solutions, like better ways to map ruins or protect relics from damage. Judges evaluate these projects based on creativity, research depth, and practical impact.
In Grand Junction, one team focused on using drones to scan old Colorado mining sites without disturbing the ground. Such ideas tie into broader trends, like recent discoveries in the Southwest that reveal Native American history. This hands on approach helps students connect classroom lessons to global issues.
Robot Missions and Competition Format
After project judging, teams moved to robot games, where they coded their machines to complete missions on a special mat. Robots had to pick up objects, navigate obstacles, and score points by placing items in zones. Each match lasted two and a half minutes, testing speed and accuracy.
The format included two practice runs to iron out bugs, followed by three scored competitions. Teams earned points for successful actions, with the highest scores determining advancement. Common missions involved moving LEGO bricks to represent artifacts or knocking over barriers to simulate excavation.
Here are some key mission types from the UNEARTHED game:
- Retrieve buried samples from a dig site without breaking them.
- Transport tools to a work area using precise paths.
- Score by aligning robot attachments with target zones.
- Avoid hazards like unstable ground to prevent point loss.
This setup builds coding skills, as students program commands for sensors and motors. Errors in code could mean a robot veers off course, adding tension to every run.
| Competition Stage | Description | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Project Judging | Teams present solutions to archaeology problems | 5-10 minutes per team |
| Practice Matches | Test robots without scoring | 2 runs, 2.5 minutes each |
| Scored Matches | Official rounds for points | 3 runs, 2.5 minutes each |
| Awards Ceremony | Recognize top performers | End of day |
The table above outlines the main phases, showing how the event balances preparation and performance.
Top Teams Advance to State Level
Excitement peaked as scores tallied up, with the top nine teams earning spots at the state championship. Leading the pack was Team 53532, the Robot Rookies, who posted an impressive best score of 275 points across their matches. Other strong performers included teams that excelled in both robot handling and project innovation.
Advancing squads will head to the Colorado state event later this month, competing against winners from qualifiers statewide. Past state champs have gone on to national festivals, where they face teams from over 110 countries. This years global participation tops 679,000 students, highlighting the programs reach.
Local teams celebrated their wins with group hugs and plans for more practice. One coach shared how her groups breakthrough came from tweaking code during lunch, a reminder of the events focus on learning through trial and error.
Benefits of FIRST LEGO League for Young Learners
Participation in FIRST LEGO League goes beyond competition, fostering skills that last a lifetime. Kids gain confidence in coding and engineering, often starting from basics like simple loops to complex sensor integrations. Collaboration shines as team members divide roles, from builders to programmers.
Studies show these programs boost interest in STEM careers, with many alumni pursuing tech fields. In Colorado alone, over 6,000 students join robotics events yearly, supported by thousands of volunteers. Events like this one also teach resilience, as robots fail and teams adapt on the spot.
Parents appreciate how it encourages problem solving in a fun way. One recent survey found 90 percent of participants improved their teamwork abilities. Plus, tying into themes like UNEARTHED connects history with modern tech, sparking curiosity about the world.
The tournament wrapped with awards and inspiration for next season. If you enjoyed reading about these young innovators, share your thoughts in the comments below and spread the word to friends who love STEM stories.
