You ought to try looking here. These guys have put together a real nice package with a lot of info. check it out...
http://www.hightechkids.org/fll/

Cool! Thanks!

I was never a middle schooler; I was merely in the 7th and 8th grade!

Middle schoolers are just the right age to think that they're "kool big kids" and give you attitudes. I'm sorta thinking that 9 and 10 year-olds would be more excited about it than 12 and 13 year-olds...
*remembers that sixth graders will be put in middle school next year*
Argh...I need to talk to Chuck...

I live with in a mile 1/2 of 2 middle schools that don't have a lego leauge team, I hope I can start one in at least one of the schools, I think My only problem is going to be getting students interested because they might think that they will be made fun of for "playing with Lego's". Has this been a problem for anyone else before?

Lucky Lego Kids...
 

I have a middle school about 5 minutes walking distance from my house, and I was involved in many of the technology oriented after school activities. Normally it isnt too difficult to get kids who are already involved in TSA (Technology Student Association), KWN (Kid Witness News), Junior Solar Sprint and even Science Olympiad to do Lego League.

The middle school has a great Technology Education class for 7th and 8th graders which gives them exposure to engineering projects on a small scale. Luckily the kids love the class, so an after school program is just more fun.

Try and talk to the Tech Ed teachers or whoever is running science olympiad, those teachers normally know who to talk to student wise.

Hmmm.... I should treat the little middle schoolers like I treat my brother who is also in middle school. They are doomed. Anyway I like how my school calls middle school kids, junior high kids. I think of fifth and sixth graders when I hear the words middle school.

Kyle,
Not only has this not been a problem, there is an abundance of students trying to get on the team. We have an extensive entry process with at least 100 students trying out for 49 positions. Each potential student must attend a mandatory meeting outlining the program, followed by a test to see if they can follow instructions.(an attempt to see if they would be able to have a working understanding of the game rules.) The students and parents must sign a commitment contract outlining the time needed and be prepared to put up a $25 fee. (These two things weed out the families who were looking for free baby sitting service and no commitment to attend.) Lastly, the students must have an official OK from their teachers (team leaders) and maintain good grades throughout the season. During the season there are only two unexplained absences allowed before you are off the team. That's a lot of rules, I know, but it gives the maximum benefit to the remainder of students who will make up seven teams of seven students each.

We're hoping to get 1 or 2 (2 if I'm up to it) LEGO League teams this year at one of the middle schools in our area. Personally, I think that LEGO League at the middle school level, is great way to recruit new members (when they reach high school). They'll already have some involvement with FIRST and it'll prepare them.