Coming off the heels of a successful inaugural season of the Sphero Global Challenge, we’re excited to announce that registration for Season Two is now open. We’re back with a new year of challenges, a fun new theme, and new robots to take your students’ learning further with Sphero! Let’s jump in and explore what’s new for our 2021/22 robotics competition.
Watch the highlights from Season One below!
What is the Sphero Global Challenge?
The Sphero Global Challenge is not your ordinary robotics competition - it’s an opportunity for students to go deeper with computational thinking, engineering, and programming skills in our various STEM and coding challenges. Teams and individuals of all abilities will work to identify problems and develop solutions then submit entries virtually for a chance to qualify for the Sphero World Championship in Spring 2022.
Highlights from Sphero Global Challenge Season One
In Season One, 74 teams from eight countries competed in three unique STEM events. In the end, 15 teams made it to the finals to compete in the Sphero World Championship to present their designs and inventions in littleBits Invent for Good, BOLT Space Mission, and the RVR + littleBits Mission to Mars to our “e-STEAM-ed” panelist of judges.
Sphero Global Challenge Season Two Theme
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Season Two of the Sphero Global Challenge! This year, we’re thrilled to unveil our new theme - Heroes Among Us. Using creativity, imagination, technical problem-solving skills, and superhero-like coding abilities, how will you save the world?
New STEAM Events Added for 2021
This year’s robotics competition will consist of five unique STEAM events designed to challenge students PK-12 to go deeper with computational thinking, engineering, and programming skills, all while having fun.
Sphero indi - Community Heroes (primary/early elementary, ages 4-8)
Have you heard the saying, “Not all superheroes wear capes?” Did you also know that superheroes can come in small packages? Sphero indi might seem small, but it has super vision - able to see colors and turn them into commands or actions.
What You'll Need:
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2 Sphero indi Student Kits
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Optional: Sphero Craft Pack
Sphero littleBits Invent 4 Good: Super Suit (upper elementary/middle school, ages 8-11 and 11-14)
Every superhero has a superpower- the key feature that allows them to push beyond the limits of what is expected. But for most superheroes, it takes a super-suit or tool to fully harness their power and use it for maximum impact.
What You'll Need:
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littleBits STEAM+ Kit (recommended) or other littleBits Kit
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Optional: Sphero Craft Pack
Sphero BOLT: Super Senses (upper elementary/middle school, ages 8-11 and 11-14)
BOLT has some incredible senses without being bit by a spider! Gather some teammates and create or join a super squad because now is your time to activate the super senses of BOLT to complete the superhero missions!
What You'll Need:
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2 Sphero BOLT robots
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City Code Mat and/or Sphero Craft Pack
Sphero RVR + littleBits: Search & Rescue (upper elementary/middle school, ages 8-11 and 11-14)
Saving people and keeping communities safe is part of what it means to be a superhero. Assemble your best pit crew and turn RVR into your own Batmobile in order to complete a daring search and rescue mission!
What You'll Need:
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Sphero Craft Pack (optional)
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micro:bit (not sold by Sphero)
Sphero RVR: Super Car (high school, ages 14-18)
From Wonder Woman’s invisible plane to the iconic Batmobile to S.H.I.E.L.D’s helicarrier, superheroes have always had some of the slickest and most decked out vehicles. If you were in charge of creating a superhero vehicle, what would you do? Showcase your creativity and ingenuity by turning RVR into a supercar!
What You'll Need:
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1 Raspberry Pi (not sold by Sphero)
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Access to Sphero SDK (free)
How to Register for the Sphero Global Challenge in Three Steps
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Register for the Sphero Global Challenge—the ultimate STEM competition for students! This year’s theme is Heroes Among Us, and consists of five unique events: Community Heroes Mission; Super Senses Mission; Search and Rescue Mission; Invent 4 Good: Super Suit Mission; and SuperCar Mission. Whether your students are in elementary, middle, or high school, there’s an exciting mission for them!
- Select the age bracket that your team(s) fall into (except for the free indi event*) and add to your cart. After checking out you will receive an email confirmation.
- To finalize your registration and officially join the challenge, please fill out the Google form you receive via email for each team that will be participating. This is where you will select which event(s) your team is registering for. Your coaching materials—including guides, the official rulebook, rubrics, and more—will be sent to your email in August 2021.
*No need to add the free indi event to your cart.
What’s Included with Registration?
In August, we’ll send you everything you need to participate in the Sphero Global Challenge Season Two, including:
- Coaching Guides
- At-Home and Virtual Coaching Guide
- Team Meeting Agendas
- Sphero Global Challenge Official Rules Book and Evaluation Rubrics
- Sphero Community Customizable Resources and Collateral
- And More!
Suit Up for the Challenge
If you’re going to save the world, you have to have the right gear! These are our recommended robots, kits, packs, and accessories designed for each of the Sphero Global Challenge events.
Register for Season Two Today
Ready to compete? Register now through August 1, 2021 to receive early bird Team pricing for the RVR, BOLT, RVR+LB, and LBi4G events at just $49. (Regular registration price of $75 starts August 2, 2021.)
Register & Learn More Here
Looking for more information or have questions on how to get started? Our competition team is ready to help! Email us at competitions@sphero.com.
