Dear Mitchell Families
We are in the beginning stages of creating our Science Olympiad Team. The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) is scheduled for May 14th. Children in 2nd through 5th grades can compete. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn more about science, team work and HAVE FUN in the process.
Mitchell MUST have a Head Coach (team organizer) per WESO, for our school or we will NOT be able to participate in Science Olympiad this year. See below for Head Coach Responsibilities. Last year, Science Olympiad hosted EVERY Ann Arbor Public School as well as many charters and all the other Washtenaw County District Public Schools. More information about WESO can be found at https://sites.google.com/a/aaps.k12.mi.us/weso-wizards/
If you are interested in Head Coaching or Co-Head Coaching our team, please email Stacie Jackson at stacie@mikancorp.com ASAP. School Registration for the events is due by December 1st. Again, if we don't have a Head Coach by that date, we will not be able to participate.
If you'd like to learn more about the Science Olympiad, please come to the PTO meeting on November 17th at 6pm in the Media Center where we'll be discussing the event.
Registration forms, as well as event descriptions, will be coming home this month. Practices will be after school starting in January and go until May. (These after school schedules are created by the volunteer coaches; who will work with their group of students to create an afterschool practice schedule that works for members of that group.)
Science Olympiad event practices will require adult Coaches to teach our students various aspects of their events. WESO does provide training sessions in January for parents to attend. Coaches DO NOT need to be experts. Volunteering as a coach or at the event is required of all families with participating students.
Head Coach Responsibilities:
The Head Coach serves as the contact person for WESO. All official correspondence and updates will be emailed to the Head Coach or made available on the WESO web site. Head Coaches will be responsible for distributing information to the school's respective event coaches, parents, and students. Schools may also designate one Co-head Coach. The Head Coach will also be required to be at the event the entire day of May 14th to run the event raffle.
WESO Event Coaches Needed for Science Olympiad (Event Descriptions below)
This is a large, volunteer driven, countywide event on May 14th
Science Olympiad is only open to 2nd – 5th graders but parents of younger children can and are encouraged to coach.
Event Coaches will need
To attend a training session (date to be determined) hosted by WESO
Do NOT need to be an expert in the field
Can work with another volunteer to Co-Coach events
May be coaching one event for multiple grades
To pass a background check
Meet with students to practice for 1 hour weekly
Tentatively - Mid January – 1st week of May
No practices weeks of school breaks
2016 Science Olympiad (WESO) Event Descriptions
Science Olympiad 2nd Grade Events
Barge Building: Participants will construct a barge using the given material that can support a cargo of the largest number of weighted objects (e.g. pennies) without getting them wet.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
In Bloom: Students will be tested on their knowledge of plants, including grasses, flowers, and trees.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target: Each team will build 6 missiles, utilizing precision straws as the missile body. Missiles will be constructed the day of the event, using only materials provided by WESO, and launched indoors at a fixed target. The accuracy of the missile (distance from target) on its three best launches will be used to determine the team score, with the shortest total distance from target being considered the winner.
Pasta Bridges: Participants will build a bridge using the materials supplied (a variety of dried pasta and clay) and support a cup (in the middle of the bridge) with as many small weights as possible.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).
Science Olympiad 3rd grade Events
Aerodynamics: Participants will build and fly paper airplanes for distance, time and accuracy.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
In Bloom: Students will be tested on their knowledge of plants, including grasses, flowers, and trees.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target: Each team will build 6 missiles, utilizing precision straws as the missile body. Missiles will be constructed the day of the event, using only materials provided by WESO, and launched indoors at a fixed target. The accuracy of the missile (distance from target) on its three best launches will be used to determine the team score, with the shortest total distance from target being considered the winner.
Pasta Bridges: Participants will build a bridge using the materials supplied (a variety of dried pasta and clay) and support a cup (in the middle of the bridge) with as many small weights as possible.
Water Rockets: Students will build a rocket in advance out of a 2-liter soda bottle, making alterations and adding a parachute to help it stay aloft. The rocket that stays in the air the longest will be the winner.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).
Science Olympiad 4th & 5th Grade Events
Circuit Wizardry: Circuit Wizardry tests participants' knowledge of basic electrical circuit concepts, components, schematic reading and understanding, and ability to design and build a simple circuit from a functional description.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
iCompute: Participants will be tested on their knowledge of basic computing concepts, including hardware and software, their understanding of how computers solve problems, and their ability to create a simple program.
May the Force be With You: Students will perform activities and answer questions related to force and motion.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target: Each team will build missiles, utilizing a precision straw as the missile body (all materials being provided by WESO). The accuracy of the missiles launched indoors at a fixed target will be tested.
Potions: Each team will follow instructions to make a potion, demonstrating basic lab skills (e.g. weighing, measuring, transferring, and filtering materials) and familiarity with safety rules.
Straw Tower: Each team will attempt to build the strongest tower with the specified number of drinking straws and straight pins.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).
Water Rockets: Students will build a rocket in advance out of a 2-liter soda bottle, making alterations and adding a parachute to help it stay aloft. The rocket that stays in the air the longest will be the winner.
Write It, Build It: Two team members will be shown a "picture" and will write a description of it. In a separate room, the other team members will be given the pieces of the "picture" and the written description and attempt to rebuild it. The team with the most pieces placed correctly wins. This event tests competitor's ability to clearly communicate in writing and follow written directions.
We are in the beginning stages of creating our Science Olympiad Team. The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) is scheduled for May 14th. Children in 2nd through 5th grades can compete. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn more about science, team work and HAVE FUN in the process.
Mitchell MUST have a Head Coach (team organizer) per WESO, for our school or we will NOT be able to participate in Science Olympiad this year. See below for Head Coach Responsibilities. Last year, Science Olympiad hosted EVERY Ann Arbor Public School as well as many charters and all the other Washtenaw County District Public Schools. More information about WESO can be found at https://sites.google.com/a/aaps.k12.mi.us/weso-wizards/
If you are interested in Head Coaching or Co-Head Coaching our team, please email Stacie Jackson at stacie@mikancorp.com ASAP. School Registration for the events is due by December 1st. Again, if we don't have a Head Coach by that date, we will not be able to participate.
If you'd like to learn more about the Science Olympiad, please come to the PTO meeting on November 17th at 6pm in the Media Center where we'll be discussing the event.
Registration forms, as well as event descriptions, will be coming home this month. Practices will be after school starting in January and go until May. (These after school schedules are created by the volunteer coaches; who will work with their group of students to create an afterschool practice schedule that works for members of that group.)
Science Olympiad event practices will require adult Coaches to teach our students various aspects of their events. WESO does provide training sessions in January for parents to attend. Coaches DO NOT need to be experts. Volunteering as a coach or at the event is required of all families with participating students.
Head Coach Responsibilities:
The Head Coach serves as the contact person for WESO. All official correspondence and updates will be emailed to the Head Coach or made available on the WESO web site. Head Coaches will be responsible for distributing information to the school's respective event coaches, parents, and students. Schools may also designate one Co-head Coach. The Head Coach will also be required to be at the event the entire day of May 14th to run the event raffle.
WESO Event Coaches Needed for Science Olympiad (Event Descriptions below)
This is a large, volunteer driven, countywide event on May 14th
Science Olympiad is only open to 2nd – 5th graders but parents of younger children can and are encouraged to coach.
Event Coaches will need
To attend a training session (date to be determined) hosted by WESO
Do NOT need to be an expert in the field
Can work with another volunteer to Co-Coach events
May be coaching one event for multiple grades
To pass a background check
Meet with students to practice for 1 hour weekly
Tentatively - Mid January – 1st week of May
No practices weeks of school breaks
2016 Science Olympiad (WESO) Event Descriptions
Science Olympiad 2nd Grade Events
Barge Building: Participants will construct a barge using the given material that can support a cargo of the largest number of weighted objects (e.g. pennies) without getting them wet.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
In Bloom: Students will be tested on their knowledge of plants, including grasses, flowers, and trees.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target: Each team will build 6 missiles, utilizing precision straws as the missile body. Missiles will be constructed the day of the event, using only materials provided by WESO, and launched indoors at a fixed target. The accuracy of the missile (distance from target) on its three best launches will be used to determine the team score, with the shortest total distance from target being considered the winner.
Pasta Bridges: Participants will build a bridge using the materials supplied (a variety of dried pasta and clay) and support a cup (in the middle of the bridge) with as many small weights as possible.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).
Science Olympiad 3rd grade Events
Aerodynamics: Participants will build and fly paper airplanes for distance, time and accuracy.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
In Bloom: Students will be tested on their knowledge of plants, including grasses, flowers, and trees.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target: Each team will build 6 missiles, utilizing precision straws as the missile body. Missiles will be constructed the day of the event, using only materials provided by WESO, and launched indoors at a fixed target. The accuracy of the missile (distance from target) on its three best launches will be used to determine the team score, with the shortest total distance from target being considered the winner.
Pasta Bridges: Participants will build a bridge using the materials supplied (a variety of dried pasta and clay) and support a cup (in the middle of the bridge) with as many small weights as possible.
Water Rockets: Students will build a rocket in advance out of a 2-liter soda bottle, making alterations and adding a parachute to help it stay aloft. The rocket that stays in the air the longest will be the winner.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).
Science Olympiad 4th & 5th Grade Events
Circuit Wizardry: Circuit Wizardry tests participants' knowledge of basic electrical circuit concepts, components, schematic reading and understanding, and ability to design and build a simple circuit from a functional description.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
iCompute: Participants will be tested on their knowledge of basic computing concepts, including hardware and software, their understanding of how computers solve problems, and their ability to create a simple program.
May the Force be With You: Students will perform activities and answer questions related to force and motion.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target: Each team will build missiles, utilizing a precision straw as the missile body (all materials being provided by WESO). The accuracy of the missiles launched indoors at a fixed target will be tested.
Potions: Each team will follow instructions to make a potion, demonstrating basic lab skills (e.g. weighing, measuring, transferring, and filtering materials) and familiarity with safety rules.
Straw Tower: Each team will attempt to build the strongest tower with the specified number of drinking straws and straight pins.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).
Water Rockets: Students will build a rocket in advance out of a 2-liter soda bottle, making alterations and adding a parachute to help it stay aloft. The rocket that stays in the air the longest will be the winner.
Write It, Build It: Two team members will be shown a "picture" and will write a description of it. In a separate room, the other team members will be given the pieces of the "picture" and the written description and attempt to rebuild it. The team with the most pieces placed correctly wins. This event tests competitor's ability to clearly communicate in writing and follow written directions.
