Curious Tech Explorer turns the questions kids already have about technology into immersive, hands-on missions they can investigate, design, code, build and improve.
Curious Tech Explorer is forming a small team for the 2026–27 BIOGLOW™ Founders Edition season. Explorers investigate a real-world biodiversity theme, design and build with LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential, code their ideas, work as a team, and learn to present what they created.
September–December · Bothell / Mill Creek
Explore combines engineering, coding, research, creativity and teamwork around a real-world seasonal theme. Kids investigate, design, build, test, communicate and improve together.
Investigate the season theme.
Imagine and plan ideas.
Create a LEGO® model.
Bring the model to life.
Test, debug and refine.
Share ideas and learning.
2026–27 biodiversity-themed season
During BIOGLOW™, teams explore biodiversity and how organisms, ecosystems and natural systems work together. The season gives Explorers a real-world context for engineering, coding, research and creative problem-solving.
Explore BIOGLOW on FIRST ↗Ages: 6–10
Season: September–December 2026
Location: Bothell / Mill Creek
Team size: Up to 6 Explorers
Format: Weekly in-person team sessions
One flat season fee covers the CTE-guided team experience, official team registration, program materials, and participation in one local FLL Explore event/showcase.
Join the FLL Interest List →Parents can review the official FIRST LEGO League Explore program, BIOGLOW season information and season resources directly from FIRST.
Official FIRST information lists Explore Founders Edition for ages 6–10 with teams of up to 6 students using LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential.
FLL Explore can be a strong starting point. After the Fall season, Explorers can continue through Curious Tech Explorer's year-round hands-on missions in coding, robotics, AI, engineering, electronics, and 3D design & printing.
Explorers continue to code, build, investigate and create through hands-on missions. Projects, tools and independence are adjusted so each group can take on challenges at the right level of complexity.
Playful, guided missions introduce technological thinking through block coding, robotics, sensors, engineering, AI activities and hands-on making.
More independent missions connect Scratch/block coding, robotics, AI, sensors, electronics, engineering and design around increasingly complex problems.
Grade ranges are a guide. Placement may also consider a child's experience, interests and readiness.
CTE combines hands-on Studio learning with focused online practice, all connected through multi-week Explorer Missions.
Weekly 75-minute in-person sessions where Explorers investigate, code, build, test and solve problems with others.
Game- and activity-based online learning helps enrolled Explorers strengthen individual skills and concepts between Studio sessions.
Multi-week challenges bring coding, robotics, AI, engineering, electronics and 3D design & printing together around a problem to solve.
As Explorers progress through missions, skills and concepts are tracked across technology areas. This helps identify where they’re ready to move ahead and where additional practice can help strengthen understanding.
Year-round CTE moves beyond the seasonal FLL theme. Each multi-week mission starts with a real challenge and blends different technologies as Explorers investigate, design, code, build, test and improve.
Design a rescue route through a changing disaster zone. Explorers program movement, use sensors to detect obstacles, create or 3D-print a useful attachment, and improve the robot as new constraints appear.
Build a miniature city system that senses its environment and reacts—such as adaptive lights, safer crossings or smart traffic. Explorers connect electronics, data and code to a physical design.
Explore how machines learn from examples. Explorers collect and test data, build a simple classifier, investigate mistakes and bias, then design a playful AI-powered challenge.
Engineer a small off-world habitat with automated systems. Explorers tackle power, sensing, movement and survival constraints while designing and prototyping parts of their outpost.
Create an interactive game using code, buttons, sensors, lights or physical controllers. Explorers test with other players and improve both the technology and the experience.
Identify a real problem, imagine possible solutions and prototype a machine that helps. The mission can combine mechanisms, robotics, electronics, code and custom 3D-designed parts.
Mission themes may evolve as new tools, ideas and Explorer interests emerge. The focus stays on learning how to investigate, build, test and improve—not simply completing a kit.
Start with the first month and continue as your Explorer grows through ongoing missions and skill development.
Includes weekly CTE Studio sessions, CTE Quest learning between sessions, and materials used during Studio.
New Explorers begin with their first month and can continue into ongoing missions.
No. CTE is designed for curious kids with different levels of experience. Explorers can begin where they are and build from there.
No. Robotics and coding are important tools, but Explorers also work with AI, engineering, electronics, sensors, and 3D design & printing. Missions connect these areas around a challenge.
CTE Studio meets weekly, with each in-person session lasting 75 minutes. The calendar may occasionally adjust around holidays and planned breaks, and families will receive the schedule in advance.
Missions are multi-week experiences and may span several Studio sessions. The pace can vary depending on the challenge and how the group is progressing, giving Explorers time to learn, test and improve rather than rushing to finish.
Grade ranges are a guide. Placement may also consider a child's prior experience, interests and readiness.
No traditional homework. CTE Quest is online game- and activity-based learning for enrolled Explorers to strengthen individual skills and concepts between Studio sessions.
FIRST LEGO League Explore is a seasonal team experience for ages 6–10. Team availability and additional details depend on interest and team formation.
Programs are based in the Bothell / Mill Creek area of Washington. Exact program logistics are shared directly with registered families.
Fall scheduling is being finalized based on family availability. Year-round CTE tuition is $199/month, and final session days and times will be shared with interested families before enrollment.
Tell us a little about your child and your schedule preferences. Year-round CTE tuition is $199/month; we'll share final schedule, group placement and enrollment details with interested families.
Submitting this form is not a commitment to enroll.