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Why Stardance?
Students will create a project they can publish to the Stardance challenge, join a global community of young makers, and share their ideas with the world.
The big idea
Our summer project is to build a creative robotics experience that students can proudly publish, explain, and share.
Over the next six weeks, students will move from curiosity to creation. They will learn how to choose a project, test ideas, build something with purpose, code it, document it, and publish it for the Stardance challenge. We want every student to leave with a project that feels real, useful, and exciting.
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FIRST-inspired values
We will encourage teamwork, creativity, problem solving, gracious professionalism, and learning from mistakes.
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What students will practice
Design thinking, coding, testing, research, documentation, and presentation skills all live inside this journey.
Students may submit more than one project during the program, which creates more opportunities to learn, improve, and earn prizes. There will also be two teachers supporting the program: one for the first three weeks and another for the final three weeks.
The 6-week path
From curiosity to a published project.
Kickoff and exploration
Meet the challenge, learn what Stardance is, and explore inspiring projects.
Professional development: design thinking, teamwork, and project goal setting.
Choose an idea
Research project ideas, sketch concepts, and choose a direction that feels exciting.
Professional development: research skills, brainstorming, and AI-assisted idea generation.
Design and prototype
Create simple sketches, test materials, and start a first version of the build.
Professional development: prototyping, visual communication, and beginner-friendly coding basics.
Build and code
Use sensors, motors, code, and design choices to make the project work.
Professional development: programming fundamentals, debugging, and AI support for problem solving.
Test and improve
Gather feedback, fix problems, and make the project stronger and easier to understand.
Professional development: testing, reflection, documentation, and presentation practice.
Publish and share
Document the process, publish the project, and celebrate the learning journey.
Professional development: public sharing, storytelling, and project submission strategy.
Possible project directions
Choose a path that matches curiosity, challenge, and confidence.
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Robot explorer
A small robot that can move around a maze, follow a line, or avoid obstacles.
What students learn
- Movement and sensor logic
- Problem solving through testing
- Simple challenge design
Helpful tools
- Line-following sensors
- Ultrasonic distance sensors
- Basic coding blocks
Good AI support
- Brainstorm obstacle courses
- Generate simple pseudocode
- Ask for debugging tips
Starter resources
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Weather station
A station that reads temperature, light, and movement and displays the results.
What students learn
- Data collection and display
- Simple hardware and software connections
- Design for clarity
Helpful tools
- Temperature and light sensors
- Small screen or LED display
- Simple charts or dashboards
Good AI support
- Design a data dashboard
- Write beginner-friendly explanations
- Create labels and chart ideas
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Interactive game
A game or challenge that uses buttons, lights, and sound to make learning playful.
What students learn
- Inputs and outputs
- Sequence and timing
- How to make a project feel fun and clear
Helpful tools
- Buttons and LEDs
- Sound modules
- Simple game rules
Good AI support
- Generate game ideas
- Write step-by-step logic
- Help draft instructions and story
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Smart helper device
A useful machine that responds to touch, motion, or light in a clever way.
What students learn
- User-centered design
- Problem solving in the real world
- How to explain the value of a product
Helpful tools
- Motion or light sensors
- Simple enclosures or 3D-printed cases
- Friendly interface or screen
Good AI support
- Refine the purpose of the device
- Generate slogans or names
- Improve documentation and presentation
Starter resources
Project showcase
Examples of work students can create and share.
3D-printed robot parts
Design and print housings, brackets, wheels, or decorative panels to make a robot look polished and work reliably.
- Use the Bambu Labs P1S for fast, accurate prints
- Combine electronics, motors, and printed parts
- Document how each part helps the robot perform
Custom enclosures and mounts
Build enclosures for sensors, phone mounts, or button panels that make a project look complete and easy to use.
- Learn design for manufacturing with 3D printing
- Use simple CAD models and slicing workflow
- Test and improve the fit before final printing
Final challenge project
Combine coding, electronics, and physical design to make a complete project ready for Stardance submission.
- Share the story, design choices, and technical details
- Include photos, videos, and a short demo explanation
- Practice presenting the project to others
3D printing in the lab
Bambu Labs P1S resources and classroom printing guidance.
What we have in the classroom
We have four Bambu Labs P1S printers available for student use. These printers are great for producing quick prototypes, robot housings, brackets, and project enclosures.
- Four P1S printers available for team work
- Fast speed, auto bed leveling, and spool tracking
- Perfect for making custom parts to fit your design
How to learn Bambu Labs tools
Start with Bambu Studio and the online help center. Students can learn how to import a model, slice it, choose supports, and print confidently.
- Download Bambu Studio for slicing and printer control
- Use built-in profiles for the P1S and common filaments
- Learn to adjust orientation, supports, and layer settings
Useful Bambu Labs resources
Draw your idea
Sketch, play, and explore ideas directly on the page.
Design basics
Make the project stand out by making it clear, useful, and beautiful.
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Start with a purpose
Ask: what problem does this solve, or what experience does it create?
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Sketch early
Draw the idea, label important parts, and test simple versions before building.
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Use color and shape on purpose
Strong visual choices help people understand the project quickly.
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Iterate often
Change, test, and improve. Great projects are built through repeated small steps.
Exploration and experimentation
Curiosity matters as much as skill.
Try this routine
- Observe how similar projects work
- Write down questions and ideas
- Build a tiny test version
- Record what worked and what failed
- Improve the next version
Helpful prompts
What if we changed the size?
What if the robot moved slower?
How could the design make it easier to use?
What would someone new to this project notice first?
Core tools
GitHub, VS Code, and AI tools will help students share, edit, and build faster.
🐙 GitHub basics
- Create a GitHub account
- Create a repository for your project
- Copy or fork a repository
- Edit files and save changes
- Share your work with others
GitHub is a place to store, organize, and share project files.
Example: save a simple file
echo "Hello robotics team!" > README.md
💻 VS Code basics
- Open VS Code
- Create a new file
- Choose a type such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or Python
- Write or paste a simple starter example
- Save the file and preview it
VS Code helps students write code, organize files, and test ideas.
Example: HTML starter
<h1>Hello, robots!</h1> <p>This is my first project page.</p>
Coding foundations
Beginner-friendly breakdowns for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and p5.js.
Python
print("I built a robotics project")
JavaScript
console.log("My robot is ready!");
HTML
<button>Start</button>