IT'S TIME FOR OAK KNOLL'S Third!!
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD!
(For Fourth & Fifth Grade Only)
Friday, May 22!
Quick Links to: What's Science Olympiad? / Aerodynamics / Copy Cats / Clay Boats / Super Straw Structures / Orienteering / Memory Lane / Brain Time / Crime Busters / Jelly Beans
Volunteer Letter - Yes! Sign me up!
Pictures from our 2007 Science Olympiad. Visit the Smugmug link below. You will need a password. Think of Oak Knoll's favorite mascot's name, or request the password from Caryl Brewbaker.
We are looking for help in organization, tallying scores, and working on awards.
Contact Caryl Brewbaker -email cbrewbaker@mpcsd.org
Science Olympiad Inc., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of science in the elementary years. Our Oak Knoll program is an adaptation of a sample program provided in the Olympiad training manual. The Science Olympiad began on the east coast, and has rapidly moved westward.
Science Olympiad Inc., has been recognized at the White House, and by the National Science Foundation.
The Science Olympiad is devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science by our students. Science Olympiad tournaments are academic, interscholastic competitions which consist of a series of individual, small team and classroom events.
It must be noted that although the rules will be followed as closely as possible, some modifications may be made prior to and during the events, depending on circumstances.
The Oak Knoll Science Olympiad is competitive and creates a homeroom "team spirit." We hope to see excitement and effort. Like sporting events, everyone is expected to show gracious acceptance of their scores. Students are encouraged to prepare for events. As a rule, the better prepared the students, the better their classroom scores. (All scores are averaged and weighted to compensate for varied class sizes and point awards.)
All Fourth and Fifth graders compete against each other's classrooms. One would think that the older students have an advantage, but historically, fourth grade competes as strongly as fifth grade in these events. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are given to winning
teams of team events. Everyone receives a certificate of
participation.
Below is a listing of the events
(These are very brief descriptions. Students will recieve full information at Science Olympiad Kickoff on May 8, 2009)
Each classroom divides into five unique teams. Each team is assigned ONE team specific challenge. Not only does each team try to master the challenge, students must also master working efficiently and effectively as a team.
There are five "team challenges, three "whole classroom" challenges, and one individual challenge.
Aerodynamics - Each Olympian for this event creates a paper glider to compete with. Glider must have aerodynamic shape (no wadded up paper balls). Points are earned for flying the airplane through a hoop at greater and greater distances, but points are deducted for each throw (accuracy counts). Gliders can be tweaked and modified throughout the event using provided paper clips, staples, and small pieces of tape.
Copy Cats -Teams are divided into "tellers" and "builders". Event leaders "unveil" a structure to "tellers" behind privacy boards. "Tellers" then talk the "builders" through the building process, without gestures, until the structure is built. If they finish that structure, they move on to progressively harder structures. There are a total of four structures that can be built. In the event of a tie, the team that finishes in the shortest period of time is declared the winner.
Clay Boats - Each class team is broken into two sub-teams. They build a boat from clay, launch it, and fill it with the greatest number of 'washers' before it sinks. Team points are averaged for total classroom points.
Super Straw Structures - - Each team builds the tallest, free standing tower possible using only straws, and any of the following: 2" pieces of tape, pins, paper clips, and four paper cups.
On Your Mark... Get Set... Go! Time's Up!
Orienteering Teams follow a set of directions using their orienteering skills ... pacing and using a magnetic compass to find the treasure (which, of course, is first place) .
Memory Lane -(Whole Classroom Challenge) - Sensory Data and Memory. Olympians are blindfolded and asked to sit in a circle. Familiar objects are passed around, and students use their senses to determine what they are holding. After a predetermined number of objects have been passed, blindfolds are removed and the class puts its collective mind to work remembering as many objects as it can. In the event of a tie, the class that remembers the most objects in the correct order from the first object, wins.
Brain Time -(Whole Classroom Challenge) - Classroom against classroom (same grade level). Science questions are asked directly from grade level Brain Quest Packs and from the CA Content Standards. The challenge includes button response modules, and one tries to be first to press the button and give the correct answer. Points are deducted if the answer is wrong.
Crime Busters -(Whole Classroom Challenge) - Olympians are taken to a crime scene and asked to put together evidence found and come up with "Who Done It."
Jelly Beans - (Individual Challenge) A favorite! Estimate the number of Jelly Beans in the jar along with what you think the jar weighs. Winner is awarded the jar of Jelly Beans for his/her class to enjoy.
