Informational / Sign-up 2014-2015

What is Science Olympiad? An international nonprofit organization dedicated to: •Improving the quality of science education

•Increasing student interest in science and science careers.

•Sponsors: Google, DuPont, Texas Instruments, Airforce.com, CDC, Lockheed Martin, Young Epidemiology Scholars, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Army ROTC, Ward’s Science, Discovery Education, FOX, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Museum of Science and Industry.

23 Events, Division B (Grades 6-8) http://soinc.org/2015_div_b_events

5 Branches of Science •Life, Personal & Social Science •Earth & Space Science •Physical Science & Chemistry •Technology & Engineering •Inquiry & Nature of Science

2014-2015 Division B Events (www.virginiaso.com)

Air Trajectory (Building) Anatomy and Physiology Bio-Process Lab Bottle Rocket (Building) - still seeking permission to run this Bridge Building (Building) Can't Judge a Powder Crave the Wave Crime Busters (States Only) Disease Detectives (States Only) Dynamic Planet Elastic Launched Glider (Building) Entomology Experimental Design Fossils Green Generation Meteorology Picture This Road Scholar Robo-Cross (Building, States Only) Simple Machines (Building) Solar System Wheeled Vehicle (Building) Write It, Do It

2015 VASO Event Table

www.virginiaso.com

Types of Events

Paper & Pencil Events (Study Events) • Take a test on the subject they have been assigned • “Cheat” sheet Engineering/Building Events

Test and Building

Anatomy & Physiology

Elastic Launched Glider, Wheeled Vehicle

What will you be doing? Scientific Procedure

Processing Skills: Build a solid foundation of knowledge by gathering information • Observation • Classification • Measurement

Reasoning Skills: Develop new knowledge by making sense of the information through a data-based approach to understanding the world • Prediction • Testing • Assessment

Critical Thinking Skills: Make use of new knowledge by applying information in new situations and in solving problems. • Inference • Communication

Maximum of 15 students/team Parent-led: • Parents are required to lead 1 or 2 events

for a student to be on the team. • Parents do not need to be knowledgeable

in the event; make sure students know rules, guide them in research on-line, structure preparation…

Student Time Commitment: • Students are required to participate in 3-4

events. • Approximately 2 hours/week/event

(longer sessions for engineering events); may meet 2x/week leading up to a tournament.

Commitment Parents & Students

Coaching Responsibilities Be the main resource for the students • Permitted event reference materials at competition • Make sure the students KNOW the rules! • Stay on top of rule changes and clarifications (virginiaso.com & soinc.org) Resources/Study materials • Event manual • Science Olympiad websites • Other research materials Help the students “own” their events • Set goals or tasks to be accomplished before next meeting • Make students accountable for researching, give a specific topic to work on before the next meeting

(plan ahead) Frequency of practices Types of practices necessary for event “All events are not created equally” *Study Events -Group, Lab, E-mail, On-line -Binders, refernce materials, “cheat” sheet *Building Events -Construction sessions, Practice sessions -Construction and practice locations -Safety and Liability

Competition Dates 2014-2015

Nationals 5/15 – 5/16 @ University of Nebraska (Lincoln)

States 4/11/15 @ Lake Braddock SS (Burke)

Invitational (optional) 1/31/15 @ Rustin (West Chester, PA) or Solon (OH)

Regionals VASO still negotiating date and location.

COST Team cost: •$230 registration/15 team members •Rules manual •Team T-shirts •Coaches training (Oct 25) Individual cost: •Teaching CD’s for more information building materials ($150 approx.) •Ward’s Science materials: www.wardsci.com •Teaching Manuals •Test packets

• Go to www.virginiaso.com and read about the different events offered.

• Choose your top 6 choices

• Email your choices by Monday, Oct. 6 to: sinaekim@gmail.com or chetnamaheshwari@hotmail.com

• Come to the first SO meeting (TBA): get assignments, partners, coaches, contracts & paperwork

• Get started!

What to do next…

Sign up!

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