Science Olympiad

IMPORTANT Science Olympiad 2018-2019 Practice Information

Click Here to Watch Science Olympiad Informational Video

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Competition Day Schedule

New Hanover County's Elementary

Science Olympiad Tournament on

Saturday, February 23, 2019

http://www.sciencenc.com/

What is Science Olympiad?

EVENTS	RESOURCES
3, 2, 1, Blast Off! Build Event Prior to the tournament, teams construct two rockets designed to stay aloft for the greatest amount of time. Rockets are made from 2-liter soda bottles and pressurized with air and water. In 2019, parachutes are allowed and rockets will be launched at 60 psi.	321 Blast Off Event Rules How to build a water rocket 2014 Coaches Institute Handout (2015 Rules) 2012 Coaches Institute Presentation (2013 rules) 2010 Coaches Institute Presentation (2011 rules) See the event help page for the Middle and High School version of this event (with more pictures) Nerds, Inc (excellent rocket launchers like the ones used at NCSO tournaments) NASA Water Rockets – general info, not specific to NCSO event rules Wiki How – Step by step videos on how to build a bottle rocket – not specific to NCSO event rules Tim Hesterberg’s How to Make a Water Bottle Rocket Page – not specific to NCSO event rules Rocket Instruction Video How to Build a Rocket Let's Rock It Fin Templates Bottle Rocket Diagram All About Water Rockets Water Bottle Concept
Backyard Biologist Study Event Teams will be assessed on their knowledge of living organisms that they may encounter in their own backyard. In 2019, the focus will be on trees, plants, and insects. Teams will be required to identify organisms from a provided list and know about the habitat and conditions required for growth of the organisms.	Backyard Biologist Rules Official Species List 2018 Backyard Biologist Test 2017 Coaches Clinic Presentation Backyard Biologist test from 2015 (birds and plants) Flora & Fauna of NC – iNaturalist FREE, really good, printable tree guide FREE really good ebook on species of the Southeast Tree id app – scroll to the bottom of the webpage NCSU / NC Cooperative Extension Tree Fact Sheets Plant Information Center: North Carolina Trees Plants by Janice VanCleave The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds The Teachers Guide- Lesson plans on Plants Learn NC -Lesson plans on Plant Growth Project Learning Tree Missouri Botanical Garden Carolina Nature: Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of NC NC Natural: Wildflowers and Plants of NC Great series of YouTube videos about leaf identification LeafSnap – an Apple app that lets you take a picture of a plant and get an identification. Sorry, no Android version yet. The Right Diet for your Plants Types of Soil by Texture Spotify Playlist of Bird Calls All About Birds– From Cornell University, bird identification and calls.
Body Builders Study Event Teams will demonstrate knowledge of the major systems of the human body in terms of their functions necessary for human life.	Body Builder Rules How Stuff Works: Digestive System – animation traces the path of food along the digestive system and explains how each major organ contributes to the absorption of nutrients and the removal of waste. The Bloodmobile. Introduction to the circulatory system. Body Systems. Carolina Biological: Human Body Systems Digestive System Video A fun and messy demo for the digestive system
Data Crunchers Study Event Data Science is an important part of an engineer or scientist’s ability to understand the world around them. Teams should be able to create and interpret data tables, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, and pictographs and perform simple experiments to collect data, graph their results and make predictions.	Data Crunchers Event Rules 2018 Data Crunchers Test NY Times: What’s going on in this graph? 2017 Coaches Clinic Presentation (with Work It Out and Science Password) Example Stations from 2014 Institute LEARN NC – Graphing and Measurement Lesson for Grades 2 and 3 I Teach Bio – List of skill-building activities for metric measurement, graphing, data, and more Math Goodies – Bar graph practice The Science Spot – Lesson plans on length, volume, density, etc. Estimation practice game Think Metric How to use a micrometer 2016 Data Crunchers test and answer key 2012 Coaches Institute Presentation (2013 rules for similar event, Measurement Mania) Sample Event (Station Test from Measurement Mania 2010)
Describe It, Build It Build Event This is a 2 part event. In the first part, one team member will view a constructed object (k’nex, legos, tinker toys, pipe cleaners, styrofoam bowls, magnets, beads, etc) and write a description of how to build it without using any pictures, diagrams, or symbols. The written description will then be given to their teammate who has not seen the object. Given a corresponding set of materials, the team member will then attempt to rebuild the object from the written description.	Describe It Build It Event Rules Fun English Games – Games to practice writing instructions Print and Use lined paper Games for learning how to communicate clearly See the event help page for the Middle and High School version of this event Can you talk your partner through the maze?
Ecology Experts Study Event Teams will be assessed on their knowledge of Marine, Freshwater, Estuary and Arctic ecosystems and biomes. Topics include but are not limited to the ecology of the biomes and the roles and interactions of living and nonliving things within them.	Ecology Expert Rules 2018 Ecology Expert Test 2017 Coaches Clinic Presentation University of California Museum of Paleontology – The world’s biomes NeoK12 – Games, study tools, videos, on ecosystems
Duct Tape Challenge Build Event Teams will arrive at the competition and be given a set of materials, including Duct Tape, and a task. They will then have a given amount of time to complete whatever task they are assigned, such as building the tallest tower, widest bridge, most buoyant boat, etc. The task parameters will be clearly outlined for the teams. At the end of the build time, teams will test their structures to determine the winner.	Duct Tape Challenge Event Rules 2018 Duct Tape Challenge Test Car Challenge Parachute Challenge Boat Challenge Table Challenge
Energy Matters Study Event Teams will be assessed on their knowledge of the physical properties of matter and the behavior of solids, liquids, and gases before and after they undergo changes or interactions as well as energy forms, transfer of energy, physical changes, and changes in states of matter due to heating and cooling.	Energy Matters Event Rules Science Games for Kids – Properties of Materials PhET Interactive Simulation – States of Matter PhET Interactive Simulation – Concentration PhET Interactive Simulation – Dissolving PhET Interactive Simulation – Behavior of Atoms in Different States of Matter Apple of My Eye What Is Matter? Worksheet States of Matter Notes Physical and Chemical Changes Activity Chemical & Physical Changes Interactives Physical and Chemical Changes Notes Chemical Changes Demos Density Bottle The Science Notebook – Exploring Measurement – Volume Volume of Rectangular Prisms Practice Sheet
Metric Mania Study Event Teams will demonstrate their understanding of metric measurement by estimating and measuring length (meter), mass (gram), fluid volume (liter), angles, and temperature (Celsius) and making calculations based on these measurements.	Metric Mania Event Rules Event Resources: *Note – much of this event came from an older version o Data Crunchers, so the resources linked here are valid, even with a different name. 2017 Coaches Clinic Presentation (with Work It Out and Science Password) Example Stations from 2014 Institute LEARN NC – Graphing and Measurement Lesson for Grades 2 and 3 I Teach Bio – List of skill-building activities for metric measurement, graphing, data, and more Math Goodies – Bar graph practice The Science Spot – Lesson plans on length, volume, density, etc. Estimation practice game Think Metric How to use a micrometer 2016 Data Crunchers test and answer key 2012 Coaches Institute Presentation (2013 rules for similar event, Measurement Mania) Sample Event (Station Test from Measurement Mania 2010)
Pasta Tower Build Event The objective of this event is to design and build the lightest tower, constructed only of pasta and glue, with the greatest structural efficiency, capable of supporting a load of up to 10 kg.	Pasta Tower Event Rules Jet Propulsion Laboratory Pasta Tower Tower Design Straw Tower SO Event Pasta Tower Division B and C Wiki
Planet Protectors Study Event Teams will be assessed on their knowledge of human interaction with the earth, including interacting positively and negatively with the environment, resource use, and consequences of these interactions.	Planet Protectors Event Rules Energy Sources The NEED Project Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Ramp and Roll Build Event Teams will build a ramp and vehicle to travel a certain distance and stop as close to the finish line as possible at the tournament.	Ramp and Roll Event Resources Ramp and Roll Event Resources Explore Ramps Engineering for Kids – links for learning engineering techniques
Rock Star Study Event Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of rocks & minerals, the rock cycle and geologic maps.	Event Rules Rock Star Coaches Guide to Rocks & Minerals 2014 Coaches Institute Presentation 2012 Coaches Institute Sample Tests Study Guide Template (2010 rules) Sample Event Stations (2010 rules) The Rock Cycle – an introduction FOSSweb – Rocks University of Missouri eThemes – Classroom activities for Rocks and Minerals 40 Common Minerals GREAT resource Mineral Information Institute (Great website with lesson plans, student help, information, pictures, and more) University of Texas Geology (introduction and explanation of mineral properties) Mineralogy Database Helpful Quizzes Request a NC Rock & Mineral Kit Geologic Maps Rocks for Kids NASA – Rocking the Rock Cycle Chocolate Rock Cycle Lab
Science Sketchers Study Event Team members will take turns drawing and guessing clues for scientific terms or concepts from across all Essential Standards for Elementary Math & Science.	Science Sketchers Event Rules Science SketchersWordList2019 Science Pictionary How to use Pictionary
Sky Quest Study Event Teams will be tested on their knowledge of the solar system. Topics include the sun, moon, planets, rotation and revolution, moon phases, seasons, and identification of constellations/stars based on a provided list.	Sky Quest Event Rules 2017 Coaches Clinic Presentation Cassini – The Grand Finale of the Saturn mission Great resource books and lessons from NASA
Super Sleuths Study Event Given a mystery scenario, evidence, and a list of possible suspects, teams will be expected to perform a series of tests to draw specific conclusions about the scenario and suspects. The test results along with other evidence will be used to solve the mystery of the scenario.	Super Sleuths Event Rules 2017 Coaches Clinic Presentation Powder Identification Blank Chart General sites on Forensics Forensic checklist of links, activities, and notes http://php.indiana.edu/~lwoz/socrime/index.htm or http://www.soinc.org/events/scicrime/notes/index.htm Zeno’s Forensic site with links to real world stuff Forensics in the Classroom—activites! Links to forensic activities for students Polymers and Fibers: Microscopic Images of Fibers—search for the types of fibers and select the kind of microscopic technique for the image you want. Hair analysis—FBI Animal Hair Images Fiber analysis—FBI Sample fiber identification flow chart Chromatography: Intro to Chromatography How To Do Paper Chromatography with students Shoe and Tire Prints Techniques for collecting evidence of shoe and tire prints Lab activity on shoe and tire prints Fingerprints-general information Intro to Glass – Dr. Binishi Forensic Science Pages Soil handout from Institute Kids Zone – Forensics
Weather Permitting Study Event This event will test the team’s knowledge of conducting investigations and using appropriate technology to build an understanding of Global Weather Patterns.	Weather Permitting Event Rules 2018 Weather Permitting Test 2016 Weather Permitting Test Severe Storms: NASA – Hurricanes & Tropical storms Tropical Tidbits – great blog explaining current weather phenomena NOAA – National Hurricane Center click on the Education and Outreach sections on the left side bar The Weather Channel NASA – Meteorology Educator’s Guide The Teacher’s Guide – Weather Internet4Classrooms- Weather Links American Meteorological Society – lots of good info and links Weather Wiz Kids – Tornados, Hurricanes, Rain and Floods, Safety, and many activities. Hurricane Sandy – a summary Climate: NC State University – Climate Education for K-12 NOAA – Climate Education http://climatekids.nasa.gov/ What is Climate? Video NOAA – Climate NOAA – Ten Climate Science Activities NASA Precipitation Education page
Work It Out Study Event Teams of 4 will compete in a relay race to show their overall understanding of the topics covered in NCSO events this year. Pairs of students will complete an activity or task and answer quiz questions before their teammates can begin their portion of the relay.	Work It Out Event Rules 2018 Work it Out Test 2017 Coaches Clinic Presentation This is an event we ran last time this event was in rotation