Science Olympiad Information Meeting Sanjita Sethi ( sanjita .sethi@gmail )

1. Science Olympiad Information Meeting Sanjita Sethi (sanjita.sethi@gmail.com) October 13, 2011 (River Bend)

2. What is Science Olympiad? • International nonprofit organization- Organize tournaments. • develop a passion for learning science. • tests knowledge of various science topics. • Over 15,000 schools from 49 U.S. states compete. • Teams compete in three levels of competition: • Regional, States, and National.

3. RBMS Science Olympiad Team • Team represents River Bend Middle School. • 15 students (maximum). • Science Olympiad tournament consists of 23 events. • Most events require 2 students. • Events involve taking a test, laboratory work or testing a device (built previously). • Events run in 50 minute intervals on tournament day. • Students participate in 3-4 events. • Students prepare for competition during entire school year. • Enhance their science education. • Helps develop a passion for science.

4. 23 Events – 5 Categories Life, Personal & Social Science Anatomy, Disease Detective, Forestry, Microbe Mission, Water Quality Physical Science & Chemistry Keep the Heat, Optics, Storm the Castle, Crime Busters, Food Science Earth & Space Science Dynamic Planet, Meteorology, Reach for the Stars, Road Scholar, Rocks and Minerals Technology & Engineering Bottle Rocket, Mission Possible, Mouse Trap Vehicle, Towers Inquiry & Nature of Science Awesome Aquifers, Compute This, Experimental Design, Write It Do It

5. Life, Personal & Social Science • Anatomy (Respiratory, Muscular) • effect of aging and diseases • Disease Detective (Food Borne Illness) • investigative skills in the study of disease, injury, health, and disability. • Forestry (Tundra, Taiga) • study of different eco-systems • Microbe Mission • solve problems and analyze data pertaining to microbes • Water Quality

6. Earth & Space Science • Dynamic Planet • tasks related to Earth’s fresh waters. • Rocks and Minerals • Meteorology (Severe Storms) • cyclones, weather maps, thunderstorms, tornados • Road Scholar • interpretation and understanding of various map features • use of road and topographic maps. • Reach for the Stars • planets and their satellites, dwarf planets, comets, asteroid belt, meteors.

7. Physical Science & Chemistry • Optics (Physical optics and geometry) • reflection, refraction, prisms, convex / concave mirrors. • Keep the Heat • Storm the Castle • prior to the tournament, design a device to launch a projectile as far and as accurately as possible. • Food Science • Crime Busters • identify the perpetrators of a crime by analyzing solids, liquids, and plastics found at the scene of a crime.

8. Technology & Engineering • Mission Possible • Bottle Rocket • construct rockets designed to stay aloft for the greatest amount of time. • Mouse Trap Vehicle • Towers • design and build the most efficient tower.

9. Inquiry & Nature of Science • Awesome Aquifers • construct an aquifer / questions on groundwater concepts. • Compute This • capture data from internet, and then present data in a graphical format • Experimental Design • design, conduct, and report the findings of an experiment actually conducted on site. • Write it Do it • effectively communicate with a colleague in writing by having their partner construct a device from this written description.

10. Event Breakdown • Knowledge Events • Anatomy • Food Science • Forestry • Meteorology • Microbe Mission • Road Scholar • Rocks and Minerals • Reach for the Stars • Water Quality • Laboratory Events • Awesome Aquifers • Compute This • Crime Busters • Disease Detective • Dynamic Planet • Experimental Design • Keep the Heat • Optics • Write it Do it • Building and Technology Events • Bottle Rocket • Mission Possible • Mouse Trap Vehicle • Storm the Castle • Towers Popular Build something prior to competition. Require time, money, effort and a good coach. Take a test on tournament day Low prep for coach. Find appropriate study material (books, CD). Lab based, hands on Conduct experiments and answer questions. Harder to prepare. Require scientific equipment.

11. Who are the coaches • Coaches are parents or other adults who volunteer to teach students the scientific concepts for their respective events. • Coaches do not have to be scientists. • Approximately 1-2 events per coach. • Organize meetings : 3-4 times a month • Building events may require skill / more than one coach.

12. Team selection • Passion for science: Recruit students who build electric cars, rockets, bridges as a hobby. • Priority for students whose parent volunteer their time as coaches. • Coaches teach scientific concepts for one or two events. • Coaches do not have to be scientists. Provide books, resources. • Organize meetings 3-4 times a month (or more). • Building events require skill, more than one coach. • Require a good mix of students to cover the wide range of topics. • Open for 6th – 8th graders.

13. Before you commit … • Each event requires significant effort : • work with a parent / coach beyond the regular school day, to prepare for the events. • events are designed to challenge the students. • Fill student interest form, prioritize events. • Each student is assigned 3-4 events. • Should be willing to work on any event. • Scientific equipment, books, building material ~ $ 50 - 100 / student. • Registration cost?

14. Timeline • Obtain building material / books : Oct. - Nov. • Study and prepare for tournament : Oct. – Feb. • Organize weekly meetings to monitor progress. • Coaches Clinic: Robinson Sec. School on Oct. 22, 2011.  • Regional Tournaments : Feb./March . • State Tournament : March 26, 2012, Randolph-Macon College. • National Tournament : May 2012. Resources / Contacts • Virginia Science Olympiad : http://virginiaso.com/ • National Science Olympiad : http://soinc.org/ • Contact Info : Sanjita : sanjita.sethi@gmail.com

15. Resources / Contacts • Virginia Science Olympiad : http://virginiaso.com/ • National Science Olympiad : http://soinc.org/ • Contact Info : • Sanjita : sanjita.sethi@gmail.com