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Unearthing the Future: The Critical Role of STEM Education in Calgary


FIRST LEGO League 2025-26 season logo "Unearthed". A geometric star design on a yellow card features icons of a flag and binoculars, with a circle and cross at the bottom corners.

As a dedicated robotics instructor at Flying Minds Education Centre in Calgary, I am honoured to guide young innovators in the 2025–2026 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge, themed “UNEARTHED.”This archaeology-inspired global competition offers an incredible platform for our team, the Excavators, and for all young learners to harness the transformative power of STEM education—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Why STEM Education Matters


Three children happily build a robot together at a table with red trays of parts, in a bright room with a brick wall background.

STEM education is far more than an academic track; it is the foundation for preparing future generations to solve global problems—from sustainable energy to responsible artificial-intelligence use. By nurturing curiosity, collaboration, and creativity, STEM builds the intellectual agility students need to design a smarter, more ethical world.

At Flying Minds, we see daily how STEM programs for children in Calgary cultivate independence and innovation. Students learn to think critically, collaborate effectively, and adapt confidently to the challenges of tomorrow.

The Power of Interdisciplinary Learning

The impact of STEM lies in how its disciplines interconnect:

  • Science sparks curiosity and evidence-based thinking

  • Technology builds coding and digital-literacy skills.

  • Engineering fuels creativity, design, and problem-solving.

  • Mathematics strengthens logic, structure, and precision.

Together, they help children tackle authentic challenges—such as preserving cultural heritage or designing efficient resource systems—while learning teamwork and perseverance.

Hands-On Innovation with FIRST LEGO League

Child's hands assembling a robotic toy with black tracks on a wooden table. Striped sleeves visible. Bright daylight filters in.

In FIRST LEGO League UNEARTHED, our team, the Excavators, uses LEGO Education SPIKE Prime kits to build and code autonomous robots. These robots navigate simulated archaeological sites, identify artifacts, sort materials, and perform preservation missions using Scratch or Python programming.This hands-on STEM experience transforms abstract classroom ideas into tangible engineering solutions—building a deep understanding of physics, coding, and robotics.

Mentorship and Growth at Flying Minds

Guided by Flying Minds’ visionary founder, Zoar Shteinbach, our students go beyond competition goals. They learn resilience through debugging, explore the mathematics of gear ratios for better robot performance, and develop leadership through teamwork.Through these challenges, children evolve from curious beginners into confident thinkers—ready to apply STEM knowledge in school, career, and life.

Preparing Innovators for Tomorrow

Pile of colorful LEGO Technic pieces, mostly yellow and black, scattered on a gray carpet. Bright hues and varied shapes visible.

STEM education in Calgary—especially through programs like FIRST LEGO League—equips students with lifelong skills:critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and adaptability.These are the tools tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, and creators will need to solve real-world problems and lead meaningful innovation.

Join the Journey

We invite parents, educators, and community leaders to explore Flying Minds robotics and engineering classes.Together, let’s help every child unearth their potential to build, create, and innovate for a brighter future. Mohamed Safwan, Robotics Instructor at Flying Minds Education Centre, Calgary

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