1. Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting
Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting! McNair Elementary School
Think
Where we ...

2. Introduction Coordinators Websites Kavitha Sivakumar
Jason Christopher Willett
Websites
(NoVa)
(VA)
(National)

3. What is OM? International program Teamwork — 5 to 7 kids
Solve problems
8-minute skit (Long Term)
Spontaneous
Infinite solutions
(no wrong answers)
Open to everyone
Think
Think

4. What is OM?
Above all . . .
F U N !

5. WHO is OM? All Volunteers! IMPORTANT! K-College
Division depends on grade of oldest
Division 2 = 6-8 (up to 7 kids)
Division 3 = 9-12 (up to 7 kids)
Coaches/Co-Coaches = REALLY
IMPORTANT!
Parents
Volunteers (1/2 per team)
Judges (1 per team)
Coordinators
All Volunteers!

6. WHEN is OM? Weekly (usually) Coaches Training March = regional meet
1 ½ hours (usually)
Coach and team decide when
Start whenever the team forms
(October-December)
Coaches Training
Saturday, November 20th , 9-3,
Langston Hughes Middle School
March = regional meet
March 5th Falls Church High School
More meetings toward end
Like being in a play
April/May = state/world meet (MD)

7. WHERE ? Someone’s house Need May be space at McNair after school
Wherever the team and coach decide
Need
An 8’ x 10’ space minimum (stage)
Storage for props
Room to paint and build
May be space at McNair after school
Arrange with school (?)

8. HOW MUCH is OM? “Cost limit” is NOT an individual fee
It’s up to the team!
Team shares all costs
Snacks if needed
Materials for skits
Materials for spontaneous problems
PTA pays for:
Membership
Creativity counts!
Thrift stores
Yard sales
Basements, attics, neighbors
Trash day (neighbors trash?)

9. HOW MUCH is OM?
“Cost Limit” = total value of items on stage ($50-$150)
Examples:
Cardboard boxes = $0 (junk)
Feather hat = $20 (bought)
Feather hat = $1 (made)
Old pants = 50¢ (yard sale price)
Exceptions:
In Program Guide (wheelchairs, shoes, electric cords, musical instruments etc.)

10. HOW is OM Done? Coaches identified (Yeah!) Students identified
Teams cannot form without coaches!!
Coaches say when they can meet
Students identified
Sign up based on friends/age/location
Team forms
Coordinators help form teams
Some already formed with room for new
Team meets
Coaches and teams take over from here
Organize – first meeting (with mentor?)
Work on team-building
Get all the problems to review
Choose problem
When SURE team is final:
Begin work on long-term problem

11. HOW is OM Done? NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE! KIDS come up with ideas
Kids RULE!
Coaches coach, lead, guide
Parents support, don’t interfere
KIDS come up with ideas
KIDS build things
KIDS write scripts
KIDS make stuff

12. HOW is OM Done? Adults Snacks Transportation Team-building
Decision-making
Skill-building
Cheer-leading

13. Hey! What’s the Problem? 5 long-term problems
Design and build vehicles
Solve a technical problem
A solution based on the Classics
Build a balsa wood structure
An original performance
– usually humorous in nature

14. Hey! What’s the Problem? 5 long-term problems
Design and build vehicles

15. Hey! What’s the Problem? 5 long-term problems
Design and build vehicles
Solve a technical problem – usually involving devices

16. Hey! What’s the Problem? 6 long-term problems
Design and build vehicles
Solve a technical problem – usually involving devices
A solution based on the Classics

17. Hey! What’s the Problem? 5 long-term problems
Design and build vehicles
Solve a technical problem – usually involving devices
A solution based on the Classics
Build a balsa wood structure

18. Hey! What’s the Problem? 5 long-term problems
Design and build vehicles
Solve a technical problem – usually involving devices
A solution based on the Classics
Build a balsa wood structure
An original performance – usually with song and dance (humorous in nature)

19. Hey! What’s the Problem?
5 long-term problems

20. Hey! What’s the Problem? 1 spontaneous problem
Usually about 10 minutes
Don’t know it before the meet
Practice, practice, practice
5 team members

21. Hey! What’s the Problem? 3 kinds of spontaneous problems Verbal
Paint manufacturers employ people to create names for
their different colors of paint. Your problem is to give
a name for a paint color, and tell what you might paint
with that color.
Verbal-hands-on
Hands-on
Build a bridge out of straws, tape, and paper

22. Hey! What’s the Problem? Spontaneous problems
Judged on whether they are:
Common
Creative
Humorous
“Volcanic Red
when my Mom
is mad!”

23. Key Dates 1st team meetings Oct/Nov
Coaches training (regional) Nov 20th(Sat 9-3) Hughes MS
Coaches Q&As (2) TBA
Team registration deadline TBA (Jan)
Need ½ volunteer (2 hrs)
Need judge (2 days)
Spontaneous invitational
TJ Jan TBA(Sat 8-3)
Judges training Feb 20th(Sat 9-3)
-tentative date Hughes MS
Regional meet March 5th(all day)
-tentative date
Falls Church HS

24. F U N ! Elements of Success Commitment – Motivation comes from within:
Kids – 2 hours/week
Parents
Coaches – 3 hours/week, shared
Coordinators
Coaches, coaches, coaches!
Main or Co-Coach
Snacks or spontaneous stuff
Houses for meetings
Support
Coaches training (regional)
Mentors
Library/Websites
Focus on –
The PROCESS!
Having ...
F U N !

25. Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting
Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting! Rachel Carson Middle School
Thanks For Your Minds!
Think
Where we ...