A small group challenge, where each team is given a pool noodle “ski jump” to tinker with the effects of different shapes and slopes, and marbles to use as the jumpers.  The teams practice for 10 minutes, during which the teams decide where to put their egg cartons and bonus point noodle rings. Then, the scoring round begins. Teams compete against each other to see who gets the most points!

Groups of 3 or 4!  Jobs...

• 2 noodle holders, base and top

• 1 marble release person

• 1 chaser

Materials:

• Pool noodle - 1 per group

• 4 taped-together 1000 place value cubes 

• 10 Marbles

• 3 Egg crates to land in

• 5 Yellow noodle rings

• 2 Purple noodle rings

• 1 Blue noodle rings 

• Score Board for class to record results

Directions:  

• Teams will build a ski jump out of place value blocks and noodles.  

• The base of the noodle jump must touch the place value block tower.  

• Another team member holds the top of the jump as high or low as they want; experiment with different slopes and shapers.  

• Place the landing strip so that the base of the tower and 2 white trays line up as marked

• Place the 3 egg crates and 8 noodle rings on the white trays, these are your targets.  *Noodle rings score bonus points.

• Practice hitting the targets with your jumpers.. Decide how to arrange the egg crates and noodle rings on the white trays.  Practice using the different tape marks on pool noodle for more point value.

• If a jumper does not land in the egg crate or noodle ring, the marble must be retrieved by the chaser BEFORE THE NEXT JUMP is allowed to go. This marble scores zero points and will not be rerun.  This is important!

• Teams have 10 minutes to practice and another 5 minutes to take their 10 scored jumps.

• Record their jump scores on the scoreboard.  Then add them up!

Here are a couple more cool videos about ski jumping to watch if you have time!

9 year old Finnish jumper, including summer training (4 min) and video of a ski jump taken from a Go Pro camera on his helmet! (2 1/2 minutes)

Olympic Flag Challenge

Now, students will get a straw, masking tape, and half a sheet of white paper. They will need to use their own colored pencils or crayons. This task requires students to create their own flag using the suggestions below as their guide:

• Use 2-3 colors in horizontal or vertical bands

• Choose simple shapes such as circles, stars, or crosses

Students can be as creative as they would like. Attach the colored flag to a straw with masking tape. 

OR....

Students may choose instead to color a national flag; many choices have been provided.

*** Supplies are Limited *** Please be respectful of students who will use these supplies next, and take only what you need today. Thank you!

Here are some rules to keep in mind...your partners might agree to make changes depending on how things are going, and that's okay.  Be creative! Have Fun!

What You'll Need:

• curling laminated course

• 2 curling “brooms” per team 

• 4 two sided “stones” per team

• Scoresheet, dry erase marker and eraser

• Extra “stones” (white cylinders and colored tiles) to try if time allows

How To Play (2 to 4 Players):

1. Two teams of 1 or 2 players on each team.  Each team will choose a set of 4 "stones" each, choose a color (red or yellow) and will choose a curling “broom”. You might find it useful to tape down your "ice" to prevent slipping.

2. You want to sit across from your teammate, and NEXT TO your opponent. One member of each team will be at each end.

3. Whoever goes first flicks or slides their first "stone" down the "ice" with their curling “broom”. The goal is to get your "stone" as close to the center of the circle as possible. The center of the circle is called the "button". 

4. The other team then flicks or slides their first "stone" towards the same "button". Game play rotates between the two players at the same end of the table until each player has flicked their 4 "stones".

5. After all 8 "stones" are "thrown", whichever color stone is closest to the "button" scores 1 point for every stone closer to the button than the opposing teams' stones. Only stones within the "house" (the circles) can score points. 

6. Play now shifts to the players on the other side of the table, and continues the same as above.

7. Whichever team has the most points after 10 "ends" (or rounds) wins! 

Also important to remember...A stone can be knocked out of bounds by the other team's stone, or by your own team's stone!