STEM Mini Contests & Small Challenges
Low-barrier, high-impact contests that “Bridge the Gap” in STEM
Our small contests are short, fun, and highly accessible STEM challenges using LEGO, FIRST robots, and coding. They are designed to welcome new students, test new ideas, and create shareable stories for our STEM Bridge Ecosystem — locally, nationally, and globally.
What Are STEM Mini Contests?
STEM Mini Contests (small contests) are short-format competitions that run throughout the season. They use LEGO, FLL/FTC/FRC robots, or simple coding tools to give students a chance to:
- Try STEM for the first time without the pressure of a full-season league
- Showcase ideas, prototypes, and outreach work from our Bridge the Gap projects
- Practice teamwork, presentation, and iteration in a safe environment
- Create videos and stories that are easy to share on YouTube, Bilibili, and our STEM Bridge Hub
Every contest is linked to our Bridge the Gap mission: lowering barriers to participate in STEM, celebrating diverse learners, and building a sustainable STEM culture in our communities.
Sample Contest Formats
We run a mix of in-person and online mini contests. Here are a few typical formats we use.
1️⃣ LEGO & FLL Build Sprint
Teams receive a short prompt (e.g. “Bridge for All”, “Disaster Response Robot”, “Inclusive Playground”) and 60–90 minutes to build a LEGO or FLL model. Judging focuses on storytelling, creativity, and teamwork rather than only technical complexity.
- Target: Elementary & middle school students
- Duration: 1.5–2 hours
- Output: Photos + 1-minute presentation or video
2️⃣ FTC/FRC Skills Mini-Challenge
Short driving or autonomous challenges built around the current FIRST game or a custom micro-field (skills runs, obstacle courses, precision tasks). These events help teams test new designs and drivers while engaging new students as field reset and media volunteers.
- Target: FTC/FRC teams and pre-rookies
- Duration: Half-day session
- Output: Match videos, driver feedback, engineering notes
3️⃣ Online STEM Story & Outreach Contest
Students submit short videos, posters, or slides that document their outreach projects (LEGO donation, Senior Cyber Bridge, Disability STEM Day, etc.). Entries are shared via YouTube/Bilibili playlists and judged on clarity, impact, and replicability.
- Target: All ages; open to other teams
- Duration: Submissions over 2–3 weeks
- Output: Online gallery + feedback for teams
Season Rhythm & Typical Schedule
Small contests are scheduled around major FIRST events so that students can test ideas before competitions and celebrate progress afterwards. A typical season rhythm looks like this:
| Period | Activity Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-season (Sep–Oct) | Onboarding & Intro Contests | LEGO build sprint; simple driving challenge; online poster contest about “Bridge the Gap” |
| Main season (Nov–Feb) | Skills & Outreach Mini Contests | FTC/FRC skills challenge, mini-judging sessions, outreach story contests linked to LEGO Donation / Cyber Bridge / STEM Day |
| Post-season (Mar–Jun) | Showcase & Replication Contests | “Best Replication Toolkit” contest, cross-team online sharing, small remote challenges with partner teams |
Exact dates and formats change each year and are announced through our Events page and communication channels.
Learning Goals & Impact
Small contests are not just about winning. They are designed as learning experiments that connect to our Bridge the Gap mission.
- Low-Barrier Entry: Students can participate even without a full robot or long-term team commitment.
- Rapid Iteration: Short feedback loops encourage students to try, fail safely, and improve quickly.
- Outreach Integration: Contests highlight our LEGO donation program, Senior Cyber Bridge, Disability STEM Day, and community events.
- Media & Storytelling: Each contest generates photos, videos, and student reflections that feed into our Media Hub and Impact Dashboard.
- Replicability: Every format is documented so other schools and teams can run the same mini contests.
All participation numbers, volunteer hours, and media outputs from small contests are recorded as part of our STEM Bridge Ecosystem impact data.
Media, Highlights & Playlists
Each small contest is documented through photos, short videos, and student quotes. Highlights are uploaded to our YouTube and Bilibili channels and organized into themed playlists.
- YouTube Playlists: STEM Mini Contests, LEGO Sprint Challenges, Outreach Story Contest
- Bilibili Playlists: 中文解说版本，面向中国学生和合作学校
- STEM Bridge Hub: Embedded playlists + downloadable contest toolkits
Visit our Media Hub to watch past entries and see how students from different age groups interpret the same challenge.
How to Join or Host a Mini Contest
Schools, community groups, and other FIRST teams are welcome to participate or host their own versions.
- For Students: Sign up through your school, RoboPlanet programs, or partner organizations when contests are announced.
- For Schools / Community Centers: Co-host a mini contest at your location using our ready-made contest kits.
- For FIRST Teams: Run a local version of one contest format and share your results back to the STEM Bridge Hub.
- For Sponsors: Support prizes, venue costs, or media production to help keep contests free or low-cost for participants.
Ready to Join the Next Mini Contest?
We are continually launching new small contests connected to our LEGO Donation Program, FTC/FRC Hardware Recycling Alliance, and community outreach projects.
- Check our Events page for upcoming contest dates
- Visit the STEM Bridge Hub for contest toolkits and past examples
- Contact us to co-host a contest at your school or community center