Public Education

The First Lego League and The Dirt Busters

The First Lego League (FLL) introduces STEM to children through fun, hands-on challenges using LEGO technology. This year’s season (2025-2026) is inspired by archaeology and teams use STEM and collaboration skills to unearth new findings about themselves and their collective communities to help build a better world.

The Dirt Busters are a mixed team of homeschool, elementary and Jr. High kids (5th - 8th grade) from Bethel Alaska, ranging in FLL experience from 1st year rookies to 5th year veterans. They work well together, have fun, are inclusive of other teams. They wanted to do something that impacted their home state of Alaska. They gathered information and learned about archaeology to create the Archaeology in Alaska Activity Book. Guided by archaeologists near and far, the students presented the book in Bethel to other classes in their school. The Dirt Busters hope their activity book helps kids learn what archaeology is and about the archaeological sites, projects, and museums that are here in their own backyards.

They've created an Archaeology of Alaska Activity Book in both digital and print formats. You can download them here:
Archaeology of Alaska Activity Book (Digital)
Archaeology of Alaska Activity Book (Printable)

For more information about the First Lego League, please visit https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/fll/.

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Several public education programs take place in Alaska and provide multiple opportunities for those interested to partake in or learn about Alaska’s archaeology and history.

The Office of History and Archaeology keeps people around the state updated on historic preservation activities with its monthly newsletter Heritage. OHA also hosts yearly Workshops, Training, and Virtual Education, and shares relevant Public Events.

Check out our lesson plans and other teacher resources available.

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