FIRST^® Robotics Competition Team “OCTOPUS” is Championing STEM for Everyone™

Each year, FIRST^® teams are encouraged to give back to their community. From helping foster STEM skills in younger students to using the problem-solving they have learned to solve community concerns, FIRST students are constantly making a huge impact. This team from Brazil is no exception! Meet FIRST Robotics Competition Team 7567 “OCTOPUS” from Bauru, São Paulo in Brazil.

Since their rookie year in 2019, Team “OCTOPUS” has been focused on their mission of unlocking everyone’s full potential through STEAM. This goal led them to develop STEAM FOR ALL, an educational system aligned with Brazil’s National Common Core Curriculum (BNCC) and validated by SESI (Serviço Social da Indústria) educators. Seeing challenges as starting points for change, Team “OCTOPUS” is dedicated to ensuring all kids have the opportunity to explore STEAM.

Keep reading to learn more about the impactful change this team is actively working toward.

Remember our #PeopleofSTEAM feature and FIRST alum, Luiza? She is from Team “Octopus!” Now, she is giving back to the team that transformed her life and serves as a mentor to its current students.

STEAM FOR ALL

Through their time spent teaching other students through interactive workshops, Team “Octopus” discovered that the current educational reality and school curriculum in Brazil does not allow space and time for hands-on learning activities. This revelation is what inspired Team “Octopus” to create an entirely new learning methodology called STEAM FOR ALL, a teaching methodology that explains STEAM topics and how they apply to everyday life.

Team "OCTOPUS" at Space Center Houston during FIRST Championship

This way of teaching and learning has allowed the team to immerse young people in STEAM through interdisciplinary knowledge and everyday activities. From applying STEAM concepts learned in the classroom to simple at-home, hands-on activities that inspire, teach, and encourage passion in STEAM, Team “Octopus” is working hard to reach every student through an applicable version of their methodology – the OCTOBOOK.

The OCTOBOOK

Based on their STEAM FOR ALL methodology, Team “Octopus” has conceptualized and created a collection of OCTOBOOKS based on seven introductory topics:

• Ecosustainability
• Musicality
• Aerodynamics
• Cardboard Engineering
• Hydraulics
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Theoretical

Each book presents complex physics and engineering concepts in a way that is practical and easy to understand for everyone. Within, you can find 16 different activities to learn STEAM concepts through engaging experiences that utilize cheap and easy-to-find materials.

Every module also contains QR codes that link to audiobooks, allowing visually impaired individuals (or even those who prefer to learn through listening) the ability to learn intricate concepts the same as everyone else. Not only does this follow their STEAM FOR ALL philosophy, it expands the way students can interact with the material.

Committed to reaching a range of audiences, the OCTOBOOK has been translated into six different languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, and two dialects Indigenous to Brazil, Terena, and Guarani. The collection has also been given the support of SESI São Paulo Publishing House, allowing all volumes to receive commercial registration and ISBN numbers and ensuring their inclusion in the Brazilian National Library to further expand their reach.

“Every challenge we faced, every late night, and all the dedication that brought us here suddenly felt worth it, because we know that our path is not always easy, but moments like these remind us why we do what we do. Far beyond just robots, our mission is to share our passion for robotics, science, and technology with the next generations.”

-Team “Octopus”

Because of their outreach and dedication to STEM for Everyone™, Team “Octopus” was awarded the Judges Choice award at the 2026 FIRST^® Championship presented by BAE Systems.

“Our experience at the 2026 FIRST Championship presented by BAE Systems was truly unforgettable! We had the opportunity to meet incredible people, share meaningful conversations, learn from teams from all around the world, and most importantly, share the heart and soul of our team through our project: OCTOBOOK, a collection of books designed to teach STEAM concepts and FIRST values using materials available for everyone," the team said about their experience.

Thanks to the incredible and diligent efforts of Team “OCTOPUS,” the OCTOBOOK has been taken to five continents and impacted the lives of over 300,000 students around the world. More committed than ever to their mission of STEAM FOR ALL, this is just the beginning of the impact this team has made and will continue to make.

“More than anything, we are grateful to be part of this incredible cycle of inspiration that FIRST creates, where we learn, inspire, and help build a brighter future together."

Are you a person of STEAM? Share your story with #PeopleofSTEAM on social media or send us your story at marketing@firstinspires.org.