2026 Science Olympiad

Backyard Biologist (1.E.2, 1.L.1, 2.L.1, 3.L.2, 6.L.1) - Teams will be assessed on their knowledge of living organisms that they may encounter in their own backyard. In 2025, the focus will be on trees, plants, and birds. Teams will be required to identify organisms from a provided list and know about the habitat and conditions required for growth of the organisms.

Chew the Fat (3.L.1, 4.L.2, 5.L.1) - Teams will demonstrate knowledge of the human digestive system and proper nutrition.

Clue Into Science (K-6 Science & Math Essential Standards) - Teams will be given four progressively narrower clues to guess a famous scientist’s name.

Codebusters (Science as Inquiry) - Teams will cryptanalyze (decode) encrypted messages using cryptanalysis techniques and show skill with ciphers by decrypting a message.

Data Crunchers (K-6 Science & Math Essential Standards) - Teams should be able to create and interpret data tables and graphs and perform simple experiments to collect data, graph their results, and make predictions.

Duct Tape Challenge (Science as Inquiry) - Teams will be given a set of materials, including Duct Tape, and a mystery task. They will then have a given amount of time to complete whatever task they are assigned.

Ecology Experts (1.L.1, 1.L.2, 1.E.2, 3.E.2, 4.L.1, 5.L.2, 6.L.2) - Teams will be assessed on their knowledge of Deserts, Grasslands & Forest 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.

Just Plane Awesome (Science as Inquiry) - Prior to the tournament teams will construct up to two rubber-powered monoplanes. Planes will be tested to achieve maximum time aloft.

Pasta Tower (Science as Inquiry) - The objective of this event is to design and build a tower, constructed only of pasta and glue, with the greatest structural efficiency, capable of supporting a load of up to 10 kg.

Ping Pong Parachute (Science as Inquiry) - Prior to the tournament, teams will design, build and bring up to two bottle rockets to launch a ping pong ball attached to a parachute to stay aloft for the greatest amount of time.

Ramp & Roll (3.P.1, 5.P.1, Science as Inquiry) - Teams will build a ramp and vehicle to travel a certain distance and stop as close to the finish point as possible at the tournament.

Rock Star (3.E.2, 4.P.2) - Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of rocks, minerals & the rock cycle.

Sky Quest (1.E.1, 3.E.1, 4.E.1, 6.E.1) - Teams will be tested on their knowledge of the properties and evolution of stars and galaxies. Participants will identify the stars/constellations included on a provided list.

Super Sleuths (3.P.2, 4.P.2, 5.P.2, Science as Inquiry) - Given a mystery scenario, evidence, and a list of possible suspects, teams will be expected to perform a series of tests to solve the crime. (Powders, Spatters, Fingerprints)

Weather Permitting (K.E.1, 2.E.1, 5.E.1) - This event will test the team’s knowledge of conducting investigations and using appropriate technology to build an understanding of Climate.

Past events

Underlined events have "Bite Sized SO Activity" Links:

3, 2, 1 Blast Off→ BO Rules * * Team Notes

Backyard Biologist → BB Rules * Team Notes

Bridgearoni * →B Rules * (Explore "Bridge Designer" app on school iPads) Team Notes

Chew the Fat→ CtF Rules Team Notes

Code Busters * * * * ****→ CB Rules Team Notes

Data Crunchers * * → DC Rules Team Notes

Describe it: Build it→ DiBi Rules Team Notes

Duct Tape Challenge→ DTC Rules Team Notes

Ecology Experts→ * * EE Rules Team Notes

Genes R Us→ GRU Rules (See old BitSize SO: Genes R Us below) Team Notes

Fossil Frenzy→ * * * * * FF Rules Team Notes

Landformers→ L Rules Team Notes

Marshmallow Catapult→ MC Rules Team Notes

Newton's Notions→ NN Rules * →Sample Rube Goldberg →The Result! Team Notes

Science Password→ SP Rules →Our Study Lib * Team Notes

Sky Quest→ SQ Rules * * Team Notes

Stem Design Challenge→ *(*How migth this work with K-Nex?)SDC Rules Team Notes

Super Sleuths → SS Rules (See old BitSize SO: Super Sleuths below) * Team Notes

Weather Permitting → WP Rules Team Notes

(Past Bite-Sized NCSO links to explore for fun:)

Pump It Up!

Ramp and Roll *

Rock Star * * * *

Old Code Busters

Old Genes R Us

Old Newton's Notions

Old Marshmallow Catapult

Old Data Crunchers

Old Sky Quest

Old Super Sleuths

Old Weather Permitting

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