West Tennessee
FIRST LEGO League Explore

Starting a Team

Thinking about starting an Explore team? Great! Explore is a friendly first step into FIRST® LEGO® League, and you don't need any technical experience to coach. Here's what you need to know.

Already registered? See Getting Started →

Who can be on a team

2 to 6 studentsGrades 2-4 (ages 6-10). A student can be on only one team.
2 adult coachesBoth register with FIRST and complete the Youth Protection screening. A coach can coach more than one team.
Classrooms welcomeFIRST also offers a Class Pack for up to 24 students with one educator.

What teams do this season

ExploreLearn about the BIOGLOW™ theme, biodiversity and ecosystems, using the weekly Team Meeting Guide.
Build and codeDesign a LEGO® model with a moving part, coded with the SPIKE™ Essential set.
ShareMake a team poster and show what you learned to friendly reviewers at the West TN Explore Festival.

Most teams meet once or twice a week for about an hour over 8 to 12 weeks. The Team Meeting Guide plans every session for you. All of this season's guides, notebooks and videos are on the 2026-27 Explore page.

What it costs

  • FIRST team registration, $150 per season. Includes the BIOGLOW Explore Set (the season's LEGO pieces and model base). A Class Pack is $715 and includes four Explore Sets.
  • LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential set. Not included, and reused every season. FIRST recommends one set for every four students. If your team needs help finding one, email us.
  • West TN Regional Activity Fee, $45 per team. Covers our local events, including the Festival. We email the invoice to coaches after the team registers.
  • A laptop or tablet that can run the free LEGO Education SPIKE App.

Prices are FIRST's 2026-27 prices; see FIRST pricing and payment for the latest.

How to start

  1. Find your second coach and your students.
  2. Create a FIRST account at firstinspires.org, then in the Dashboard choose Create a New Team and pick FIRST LEGO League Explore.
  3. Check out in the FIRST Storefront to pay registration and order your Explore Set.
  4. Read Getting Started for your first few meetings, then follow our Steps for a Successful Season to pay the Regional Activity Fee and sign up for the Festival.

More from FIRST: Start a FIRST LEGO League team and Explore team management resources.

Questions?

Questions about West TN events, fees or getting started: email us at fll@nobox.org. We're happy to help, especially if this is your first season.

Questions about your FIRST account, team registration or Youth Protection screening: contact FIRST through the help link in your FIRST Dashboard.