Mission Model Building Instructions

[CCVH]

I got an email that our field kit is shipping, but I see on the FLL website that the building instructions won't be made available until August 25th with the rest of the challenge release! Sort of sad! I liked having the time last year for the kids to kind of speculate on the table setup and missions. They were close on some ideas, but way off the mark on others. I wish they were letting us get our build on first, even if just a few days before.

[timdavid]

Real master LEGO builders don't need instructions. Based on the detailed pictures available, you should be able to construct the models without any instructions. C'mon, give it a try

[BakingSodaVolcano]

We usually host a kickoff event (lots of teams) and the mission table is the main attraction.

We also use it for pre-season team-building, and always play "guess the missions".

I guess we will need to rethink those. Too bad!

Then again, I am slow ordering stuff this year, so it won't help us much anyway if I don't get my act together. Waiting on 2nd coach to check YPP stuff so we can register.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, I forgot I am waiting on a grant to pay registration, and that is why I've not ordered anything... So unorganized...

[Jamie]

That's really disappointing.

I've always enjoyed having the kids get together before the season starts to build all of the mission models. And like you, having them try and guess what each mission would be. And we're going to end up losing a meeting or two in an already short season putting doing the builds when we could be starting on the project and the robot. I'll have to re-think our schedule for this year.

[SamLast]

I also worry that this will mean fewer teams get to build their own mission models. With no opportunity to do it before the season, more teams may choose to have the models built quickly by mentors or only a small portion of the students. It's much easier to get a feel for a challenge when you've built the models yourself and it serves as a valuable team builder.

[dna1990]

Like the build season isn't short enough?

[JRDoty3]

I will also jump on the band wagon about the late release of the build instructions. What is the purpose of the late release?
I have always used the mission models as a way to get the team together and start on the team building aspects of the season.
I hope someone from FLL can chime in on why this decision was made. The season definitely is too short to push this delay on us. (Our Tournament is Nov 15th!)

[MCmom]

I wonder if they are making some changes. The last two seasons have had some very weak points.

[timdavid]

I wonder if they are making some changes. The last two seasons have had some very weak points.

That's possible, but my guess would be they are simply trying to keep the challenge unveiling more of a surprise.

Perhaps I'm just a grizzled old former coach, but I'm still struggling to see the delay as a big hardship to most teams. Many teams don't meet until after school starts, which here in Minnesota is not until after Labor day, which is extra late this year (September 7th).

If you really want to do some early team building, I seriously suggest you get together and try to make a best guess at some of the models before the unveiling of the instructions. If I recall correctly, the parts all come in labeled bags now, separated for each model. Have some fun, use your imagination, and then at the unveiling you can see how closely your constructions resemble the actual models.

After all, people are now suggesting that building using instructions reduces creativity.

[MCmom]

The mat looks amazing. A round base! Can't wait to see the rest!