Science Olympiad

Getting Help

Running a Science Olympiad or coaching a Science Olympiad team requires people and resources. Recruit help from everywhere. In the past, teams and events have had sponsorship from local service clubs, parents' groups, school boards, intermediate (regional) school districts, senior citizens groups, flower sales, bagel sales, bake sales, book publishers, the military, science supply houses, local community colleges and newspapers. You could also try fast food chains, local congressmen, garden clubs, conservation groups, professional associations, anyone! Many businesses require about six weeks for contributions to go through their machinery, so allow enough lead-time.
Seek help with judging, organizing, and publicity from your community. This is good public relations for the school and a good way for you and your students to meet interesting people. You may even find, as several schools have, someone who will prepare students for an event. Encourage those who volunteer to wear something identifying them with the group they represent. All event supervisors, however, should wear a common Science Olympiad Officials' T-shirt, hat or name badge. Be sure to thank all those who help both publicly (perhaps with a resolution from the Board of Education) and personally in writing. Also, ask if letters may be sent to superiors.

Scheduling

There are several ways to schedule the Olympiad events. Each tournament director is free to choose the scheduling method best suited for their needs. Coaches who are on the planning committee should have input as to the "best" alternatives. Some events require specific times for each team to compete. Other events are scheduled within certain more flexible time periods. It is in the scheduling of these other events that we offer the following suggestions:

1. If judges are available, events may be scheduled in some open manner, which means the competition can run all morning, all afternoon or all day. A team may enter any time that is convenient to them (e.g., Aeronautics, Bottle Rocket or Tower Building)
2. Events may be scheduled for several specific time blocks and the contestants may enter on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some teams, if they are not careful, will not be able to compete if they saved that event for last and were shut out because of space limitations.
3. Some events are scheduled within one limited time block and schools are scheduled to participate alphabetically or numerically during that designated time.
4. Some events may be scheduled so all teams must compete at once. For example, Periodic Table is scheduled for a specific time block during which all teams compete against each other.

Curriculum

In addition to the need to publicize and recognize our young people, there is also a need to take a longer look at our curriculum guides in science and our daily lesson plans. Have we really included process skills in a meaningful way in our courses? Do we have students complete work in a laboratory situation weekly? Do we perform demonstrations to illustrate the concepts and facts that we want our students to understand? A student cannot become proficient in the manipulation and use of laboratory equipment overnight. A planned sequence of experiences throughout their school experience would allow the students to feel confident as they attempt to meet the challenges of the Science Olympiad's laboratory competitions. The same would be true for construction projects. Students need to be assigned low risk, high interest, well-defined, designed for-success projects. Once they reach success in these simpler projects, something more complex will not unnerve them. Finally, look at each of our science classes. Could we make them a little more interesting by using interesting Science Olympiad learning techniques? Occasionally, we could introduce or review a concept or chapter by doing Write It-Do It, Science Word, Experimental Design, etc. Teaching is hard work, but Science Olympiad can make it fun and exciting as well as challenging!

Post-Science Olympiad

After a local, state or the national finals of the Science Olympiad, do not forget to celebrate your success. At the very least, recognize the members of the team. Have their participation announced in an article of the school newspaper and have their names and events read over the school's intercom. Submit a short article in the local newspaper. Call local radio stations, including popular teen music stations. Arrange to have the youngsters accept their "Certificate of Outstanding Performance" at a school assembly or a "Breakfast with Champions". Then collect the certificates from the youngsters and make arrangements to have the local Board of Education award these certificates again at a regular meeting. The press is usually present at official school board meetings. Consider asking students to display or demonstrate their event or devices. If any of the students or team won a medal or trophy, collect them after a few days and develop a display for the principal's office or science display case. Include pictures of the students accepting the award. If none are available, have the school photographer take pictures for inclusion in the display. Make certain that the team's picture is given to the yearbook editor for inclusion as an important student activity. Again, see to it that those students who placed in an event receive appropriate recognition. Have the principal, at a school assembly, place the medal around their neck as was done at the Science Olympiad awards assembly/banquet. Be sure to also recognize parents and organizations that helped sponsor your team. Nothing succeeds like success! Recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of your talented students. The positive public relations that can be generated from this academic competition should be maximized. Use your imagination!

Getting Help

Running a Science Olympiad or coaching a Science Olympiad team requires people and resources. Recruit help from everywhere. In the past, teams and events have had sponsorship from local service clubs, parents' groups, school boards, intermediate (regional) school districts, senior citizens groups, flower sales, bagel sales, bake sales, book publishers, the military, science supply houses, local community colleges and newspapers. You could also try fast food chains, local congressmen, garden clubs, conservation groups, professional associations, anyone! Many businesses require about six weeks for contributions to go through their machinery, so allow enough lead-time.
Seek help with judging, organizing, and publicity from your community. This is good public relations for the school and a good way for you and your students to meet interesting people. You may even find, as several schools have, someone who will prepare students for an event. Encourage those who volunteer to wear something identifying them with the group they represent. All event supervisors, however, should wear a common Science Olympiad Officials' T-shirt, hat or name badge. Be sure to thank all those who help both publicly (perhaps with a resolution from the Board of Education) and personally in writing. Also, ask if letters may be sent to superiors.

Scheduling

There are several ways to schedule the Olympiad events. Each tournament director is free to choose the scheduling method best suited for their needs. Coaches who are on the planning committee should have input as to the "best" alternatives. Some events require specific times for each team to compete. Other events are scheduled within certain more flexible time periods. It is in the scheduling of these other events that we offer the following suggestions:

1. If judges are available, events may be scheduled in some open manner, which means the competition can run all morning, all afternoon or all day. A team may enter any time that is convenient to them (e.g., Aeronautics, Bottle Rocket or Tower Building)
2. Events may be scheduled for several specific time blocks and the contestants may enter on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some teams, if they are not careful, will not be able to compete if they saved that event for last and were shut out because of space limitations.
3. Some events are scheduled within one limited time block and schools are scheduled to participate alphabetically or numerically during that designated time.
4. Some events may be scheduled so all teams must compete at once. For example, Periodic Table is scheduled for a specific time block during which all teams compete against each other.

Curriculum

In addition to the need to publicize and recognize our young people, there is also a need to take a longer look at our curriculum guides in science and our daily lesson plans. Have we really included process skills in a meaningful way in our courses? Do we have students complete work in a laboratory situation weekly? Do we perform demonstrations to illustrate the concepts and facts that we want our students to understand? A student cannot become proficient in the manipulation and use of laboratory equipment overnight. A planned sequence of experiences throughout their school experience would allow the students to feel confident as they attempt to meet the challenges of the Science Olympiad's laboratory competitions. The same would be true for construction projects. Students need to be assigned low risk, high interest, well-defined, designed for-success projects. Once they reach success in these simpler projects, something more complex will not unnerve them. Finally, look at each of our science classes. Could we make them a little more interesting by using interesting Science Olympiad learning techniques? Occasionally, we could introduce or review a concept or chapter by doing Write It-Do It, Science Word, Experimental Design, etc. Teaching is hard work, but Science Olympiad can make it fun and exciting as well as challenging!

Post-Science Olympiad

After a local, state or the national finals of the Science Olympiad, do not forget to celebrate your success. At the very least, recognize the members of the team. Have their participation announced in an article of the school newspaper and have their names and events read over the school's intercom. Submit a short article in the local newspaper. Call local radio stations, including popular teen music stations. Arrange to have the youngsters accept their "Certificate of Outstanding Performance" at a school assembly or a "Breakfast with Champions". Then collect the certificates from the youngsters and make arrangements to have the local Board of Education award these certificates again at a regular meeting. The press is usually present at official school board meetings. Consider asking students to display or demonstrate their event or devices. If any of the students or team won a medal or trophy, collect them after a few days and develop a display for the principal's office or science display case. Include pictures of the students accepting the award. If none are available, have the school photographer take pictures for inclusion in the display. Make certain that the team's picture is given to the yearbook editor for inclusion as an important student activity. Again, see to it that those students who placed in an event receive appropriate recognition. Have the principal, at a school assembly, place the medal around their neck as was done at the Science Olympiad awards assembly/banquet. Be sure to also recognize parents and organizations that helped sponsor your team. Nothing succeeds like success! Recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of your talented students. The positive public relations that can be generated from this academic competition should be maximized. Use your imagination!