Transcript Virginia Science Olympiad

Virginia Science
Olympiad
2009 Coaches Clinic
Division C
Inquiry Events
Write It/ Do It
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The purpose of this event is to test the ability
of two team members to communicate
instructions for building a device or structure.
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Model structures may use almost any regular
everyday household/classroom items, from
office supplies to legos or other blocks.
Write It/ Do It- the competition
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Each partner is isolated from the other
generally in different rooms
The role of partner 1 is to write clear and
concise directions for building a structure or
device that he/she is observing
The writer has 25 minutes to write all
necessary directions
The role of the 2nd partner is to read the
directions written by partner 1 and attempt
to recreate the structure or device as
described
The builder has 20 minutes to build
Write It/ Do It- Writer Tips
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Bring a writing instrument
Write the description as a series of numbered steps that
the builder should take to build the structure or device
Check to be sure that each step logically follows the
next
Use descriptors like color, shape, and orientation of
pieces to assist the builder in putting the pieces
together correctly
Written description may only contain words and
numerals, no symbols, drawings and diagrams are not
allowed.
Every few steps clearly note what the structure should
look like at that point in building, to help the writer
know he/she is on the right track
Write It/ Do It- Builder Tips
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Bring a writing instrument
Briefly read through the entire description
first
If a materials list was provided by the writer
then compare each of the materials on the
list with those that are present at the station
Begin building carefully, rechecking piece
after piece
Pace yourself…..20 minutes goes quickly
Write It/ Do It- Scoring
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A point is earned for each piece(s) that have
been properly connected and in the proper
location as in the original model.
The team who builds the structure or device
closest to the original wins.
Use of codes or symbols is not permitted,
except for those that may be created by
pressing any of the 101 standard keys on a
keyboard + the shift button. A 5% penalty is
assessed.
Tiebreaker- time for the construction phase
Experimental Design
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A group of up to 3 students per team are
given a problem question around which they
must design and carry out an experiment
using only the materials that they have been
provided. They then must analyze the data
collected and draw up a summary of their
findings.
Experimental Design-the competition
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Supervisor provides each team with a bag of
identical materials or sets up a central supply
area where each team can pick up their supplies.
Supervisor will provide all teams with a problem
question designed to narrow the scope of the
experiments generated
The experiment conducted MUST explore the
relationship between an independent and
dependent variable.
Supervisor will provide students with an answer
packet in which they will record their results and
wright up their experiment.
Teams must use at least 2 of the materials
Experimental Design-the DO’s
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Students must bring goggles and a writing
instrument
Students should also bring a timer, ruler, and a
non-programmable calculator
Keep the experiment simple, elaboration invites
difficulties to come up
Split up the tasks, while some members of the
group are running the experiment another
member may begin writing up the beginning of
the report
The group needs to pace themselves carefully
otherwise time may run out
Experimental Design-the Don’ts
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Do not leave out a section on the lab writeup
unless you are completely unsure what belongs
in that spot
Don’t write a half procedure or write only half the
variable information etc.. Be clear so that anyone
could replicate this experiment
Experimental Design-Scoring
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All experimental design writeups will be scored
according to the same distribution of points as
written at the bottom of the rules page
The team with the highest total points wins
Tiebreakers-total points for
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1-variables
2-procedure
3-analysis of results
4-graph
5-data table
Experimental Design-Example
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Using the materials listed below design an experiment that
explores rotational motion.
Materials◦
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1 hula hoop
1 tennis ball
1 ping pong ball
30cm of masking tape
1 meter stick
Picture This
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Challenges students to be able to explain various concepts
in science using clues in diagrams and pictures with no
verbal or other visual clues.
Picture This
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the competition
Students work in a group of up to 3 students.
Each member of the group takes a turn at being the
concept sketcher (one who attempts to draw the science
concept/word)
The other two group members must try to guess the
word/concept that is being drawn
The team has a total of 4 minutes to try and work through
and guess 25 different terms
Each team will be given the same 25 terms in the same
order
Sketcher will usually draw on paper set on an easel (paper
is kept for supervisor purposes)
Picture This
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Do’s
Have all 3 students in the group regularly practice both roles
throughout the year
Sketcher should “pass” the term if he/she really has no clue or
does not believe they can draw it
The sketcher should only give visual clues of acceptance or
rejection of guesses as directed by the supervisor
The sketcher may use the (-) to indicate a word which needs
to be shortened or a (+) to indicate a word that needs to be
expanded
Arrows are the only other symbols that may be used
If the concept or science word is a phrase then the sketcher
may write down on the paper if one of the words has been
guessed correctly ONLY AFTER THE SUPERVISOR
ACKNOWLEDGES IT
During the four minutes each person rotates one at a time to
be the sketcher
Picture This
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Don’ts
The sketcher should not use any additional symbols as well
as no letters or numbers in the clue drawings
Don’t pass a word unless you are willing to give it up
completely, once passed teams cannot go back to a word
No variations of the clue word will be accepted unless it is
the singular or plural form of the word
Picture This
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Scoring
1 point is earned for each word guessed correctly
Tiebreakers◦ 1-team that passes the fewest terms
◦ 2-shortest period of time to complete list (time begins when the first
sketcher is shown the first word)
◦ 3-team with longest string of correct terms
◦ 4-team who correctly identifies the first term in a string of words not
identfied by another team
Picture This
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Suggestions for Practice
This is a great event for the entire team to work on
together
Have students generate lists of common vocabulary using
basic texts from the four core sciences
Use whiteboards for drawing to save paper
Technical Problem Solving
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Students will visit a series of up to 5 lab stations that will
require them to use mathematics, and science reasoning
skills to solve a number of different problems that stem
from all areas of science including biology, chemistry,
physics, and earth science. In this event probes will be
used at a minimum of 1 station at the state level of
competition.
Technical Problem Solvingthe competition
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Students work as a pair
Series of up to 5 lab stations will be set up
Each station will require that students do the following:
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Use mathematical expressions
Apply statistical analysis
Use correct metric units if making measurements
Use correct significant figures
At least one station at the state competition will use
probeware. Possible probes include:
◦ Temperature, voltage, light, gas pressure, pH, motion detector,
photogate
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Data will be collected and analyzed
Technical Problem Solvingthe Do’s
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Bring a non-programmable, non-graphing calculator and
chemical splash goggles
Team members for this event should have completed up
through physics
Students should show all equations that they used to solve
any of the problems on their answer sheet
Technical Problem Solvingthe Don’ts
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Don’t bring any additional resources, the supervisor will
provide any lab equipment and in some cases a list of
equations/formulas
Don’t put students on this event who have not completed
at least 3 years of HS science, unless absolutely necessary
Technical Problem SolvingScoring
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Each problem question will carry an assigned point value
based on the level of difficulty
Points are awarded based upon a correct response
Points deducted for:
◦ Improper metric units if measuring
◦ Improper sig figs
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No points given for answers not supported by the data and
calculations
Tiebreaker-will be selected problems determined by the
supervisor in advance
Technical Problem SolvingSuggestions for Practice
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Look online for old practical data gathering event tests,
these questions could be examples of things students could
see
The sky is the limit