Welcome to the
information meeting
What is the Science Olympiad?
• Annual science competition• 23 individual and team events• Students focus on 4 events• Compete against other San Diego
middle schools in February
Sci-O Benefits
• Promotes teamwork & collaboration• Improves study skills• Exposure to sciences outside of
regular science class• Great addition to academic resume• Scholarship program for alumni
Science-O Student Commitment
• 12 weeks of training Oct 9 – Feb 10
• 4-6 hours per week• Attendance & participation at all
trainings• Completion of work assigned by
coach(es)• Adherence to VMS rules
Science-O Captain Commitment
• Adherence to coaching schedules• Bulletins updating you on progress,
dates, schedules etc. every 2-3 weeks
• Work to accommodate student interest
Registration Form
• Complete contact informationStudent info Parent info Read & sign acknowledgement
• Stop• Donation for team• Last day to sign up is September 25
Science-O Event Selections• Rank top 5 on registration form• Students are grouped by desired
event(s) and coaching schedules• Build vs. Test event
Train for 2 builds and 2 tests
• Students crossed trained as much as possible (may train, but not compete)
• Teams formed week prior to Olympiad
Science Olympiad Events: Build Event
AWESOME AQUIFERS• Design and build a model aquifer
that will allow a team to demonstrate and explain groundwater conceptsIf you’re into nature, ecosystems or
model building, this event could be for you
Science Olympiad Events: Build Event
BALLOON LAUNCHED GLIDER• Design, construct and test a gilder
that will remain aloft for a maximum period of timeDo you like aerodynamics or aviation,
model building, or paper planes?Engineering inclination
Science Olympiad Events: Build Event
BALLOON RACE• Attach a weight to helium-filled Mylar
balloons and race to a predetermined levelLike messing with balloons and good at
math?Trial and error with different variables
Science Olympiad Events: Build Event
MISSION POSSIBLE• Design and build a Rube Goldberg like
device to accomplish a specific tasksLove to build things? Contraptions? Did
you play Mouse trap? Ability to build simple machines to make something happen
Engineering and ability to talk about your invention
Science Olympiad Events: Build Event
STORM THE CASTLE• Teams design, construct, calibrate
and operate a device capable of launchingUnderstand the dynamics of Slingshots
or Catapult devices? Good at math?Engineering inclination
Science Olympiad Events: Build Event
TOWER • Teams design, build and test the
lightest tower to carry a maximum loadWere you a Lego builder? House of
Cards? Enjoy Engineering, MathematicsMiniature/precision model building
Science Olympiad Events: Build Event
WHEELED VEHICLE• Design and construct a vehicle that
uses a non-metallic elastic solid as its sole means of propulsionLike to build things that go? Did you
design Lego robotics? Design and build your own vehicle
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
ANATOMY• Test your knowledge of anatomy and
health concepts (focus on digestive and nervous systems)Interested in the human body? Want to be a doctor?Written and verbal tests skills
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
DISEASE DETECTIVES• Students apply principles of
epidemiology to a published report of a real-life health situation or problemCSI fan? Do you have good logic skills, good
detective?Written test skills
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
DON’T BUG ME• Demonstrate your knowledge of
taxonomic keys, habitats, life history and geographic distributionDig bugs? Able to memorize and
categorize?Good written & verbal test skills
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
ECOLOGY• Answer questions involving content
knowledge and process skills in the area of ecology and adaptation by examining different ecosystems Love nature? Forest Life or Marine
Biology interest?Verbal test skills & teamwork
Science Olympiad Events: Test Events
FOOD CHEMISTRY• Team answer questions about food
chemistry, which may include chemical reactions, characterization and quantificationInto the vinegar volcano experiment?
Like to see things blow up? Like to cook?Verbal testing skills & teamwork
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
HEREDITY• Solve problems and analyze data or
diagrams using your knowledge of basic principles of geneticsInterested in why your eyes are blue
and your brothers are brown, dog breeding or plant mutations
Verbal & written test skills
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
METEOROLOGY• Involves the use of process skills as
applied to meteorology with respect to everyday weatherAre you in tune with the weather and
good at math?Great event for surfers
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
METRIC MASTERY• Demonstrate an intuitive feeling for
estimating and later for measuring different events/objects using S.I. metric unitsDo you have a lot of common sense?
Good knowledge of the metric system?Good at taking written tests
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
OCEANOGRAPHY• Work with your team at stations that
display a variety of oceanography materials and related questionsEnjoy or want to learn about Marine &
Ocean life and locationsGood memorization and verbal testing
skills
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
ROAD SCHOLAR• Requires the accurate interpretation
and understanding of various map features using a variety of road and topographic mapsAre you a traveler? Like navigating,
finding your way using a variety of maps?
Simple mathematical computations
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
ROCKS & MINERALS• Identify, describe and classify various
specimensGood at categorizing, enjoy rocks &
mineralsOrganization and team work
Science Olympiad Events: Test Events
SCIENCE CRIME BUSTERS• Teams will identify the perpetrators
of a crime or crimes by using paper chromatography and analysis of unknown solids, liquids and plastics found at the scene of a crimeLike CSI? Want to be a forensics
detective? Logic, analysis & verbal communication
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
SCIENCE WORD• Teams take turns using a set of
scientific terms or concepts while the other team member guesses the termsLike game shows? Fast on your feet?Memorization & organizationTeam player
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
SIMPLE MACHINES• Teams demonstrate physics
laboratory skills related to simple machinesWorking with levers, screws, pulleys, did
you love the book “How Things Work?”Engineering skills and ability to talk
about how things work
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
SOLAR SYSTEM• This event addresses the Sun, planets
and their satellites, comets, asteroids, the Oort Cloud, the Kuiper belt, meteoroids, meteorites and meteorsAre you a space cadet? Do you own a
telescope?Good memorization skills, great at taking
verbal and written tests
Science Olympiad Events: Test Event
WRITE IT DO IT• Technical writing exercise where
students write a description of a contraption and other students will attempt to recreate it using only the written descriptionAbility to write clear instructionsAbility to decipher written instructions
and construct a something
Parent Volunteers
• Parent supervisor at Coaching Sessions 2-4 hours a week
• SnacksAt weekday VMS coaching sessions
• Event daySet upFoodSupplies
Important Dates• September 12 Team Name selections• September 19 Coaches Meeting
(schedules) • September 29 Schedules delivered• October 5 Coaches Meeting (materials)• October 9 Training Begins this Week• October 10 Rubios Fundraiser
• February 6 Pre-Olympiad meeting• February 10 Science Olympiad• February 24 Science-O Picnic & Awards
Captain Contacts
Robbin Lynn, Captain760 579 2261 |
Michelle Breyer, Captain760 931 9160 |
Official website for National Science Olympiadwww.soinc.org
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