1. Earth and Space Science
Science Olympiad
Earth and Space Science
Astronomy
Dynamic Planet
Fossils
Remote Sensing

2. ASTRONOMY

3. ASTRONOMY Completely new topic this year - GALAXIES
This tends to be a test-style event using PowerPoint slides with questions or pictures with questions
Calculations are also required

4. ASTRONOMY – basics Team of 2 students
Each student may bring a programmable calculator
Each team may bring EITHER a laptop (no internet access allowed) OR a 3-ring binder, any size containing anything as long as it is 3-hole punched and inserted into the rings (plastic sleeves are allowed)

5. ASTRONOMY – scoring
All questions will have a predetermined point value
Highest score wins
Pre-selected questions will be used to break ties

6. ASTRONOMY – tips
Divide and conquer – students should divide up the material
Image search every term in the rules and print/save for the binder/laptop
Organization is key – the amount of material is vast, students need to be able to locate notes quickly

7. ASTRONOMY – websites
National site (lots of links):
North Carolina SO site – coaches institute presentation:

8. DYNAMIC PLANET Volcanoes and Earthquakes

9. DYNAMIC PLANET - basics
Team of 2 Students
Each team member may bring in a non-graphing calculator
Each team is allowed a single 8 ½ x 11 sheet with notes on each side.
Event tends to be an “at seat” test

10. DYNAMIC PLANET - scoring
Highest score wins
Points will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses
Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

11. DYNAMIC PLANET - tips
Start off by having students go through rules and look up all terms listed
The tests tend to have a lot of questions so the only way to finish is for students to split up the questions – feel free to pull apart the test
students should also be prepared to complete some activities using their knowledge

12. Some Example Tasks finding the epicenter of an earthquake
calculating the slope of a volcano
be able to draw a profile
calculate seafloor spreading
be able to read and use graphs and charts

13. DYNAMIC PLANET - resources
Suggested Resources on Rules Sheet
Resources found on
AP Environmental Science textbook (the teacher may also have some resources they use to teach this material)
Practice tests – soinc.org, tufts wright center, virginiaso site for last year’s regional test
Marcia Krech has great teaching tools you can order online – they are geared to middle school but for students who got stuck with this event and know nothing, start with some simple fun stuff!

14. FOSSILS

15. FOSSILS - basics Team of 2 students
Each team is allowed 1 magnifying glass, one published field guide (tabs, writing, post-its allowed), & one 3-ring binder, any size containing anything as long as it is 3-hole punched and inserted into the rings (plastic sleeves are allowed)
Event tends to be a “stations” test where students rotate around the room, but may be an “at-seat” test with PowerPoint slides or pictures

16. FOSSILS – event tips
Students must be able to share the resources – have 1 use the guide and 1 use the notebook
Organization is key – teams must be able to find what they are looking for fast
Stations or slides are usually timed (ex: 10 stations, 4 minutes per station); students can’t go back to stations, but can keep working on previous questions while at other stations if extra time

17. FOSSILS - scoring Highest score wins
Points will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses
Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

18. FOSSILS – event topics
Specimen identification – limited to species on the list (download the list from and make sure to include it in the binder!)
Clues to past environments
With the ability to answer questions about classification, habitat, ecologic relationships, behaviors and the use of fossils to date and correlate rock units

19. FOSSILS –tips Get a kit with samples
Get a field guide and have students tab it, use post-its, write in it, etc. so they can find what they need quickly
Make sure all of the topics are covered – use charts, diagrams, look in texts, on internet, find syllabi from fellow teachers or online

20. FOSSILS – preparation
Arrange fossils different ways and have students practice with field guide and binder
By Periods
By Era
By mode of preservation
In groups
By index fossils
By ages of (Sea life, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and man)
By Invertebrate and vertebrate Fossils

21. FOSSILS – preparation
Have the team make charts for anything you or they can think of!
Physical properties, origins
Excel is good for these
Combine charts
Color code
Laminate

22. FOSSILS – preparation Diagrams: Index Fossils
The ages of geological Time
Era
Periods
Geologic time scale
Taxonomic Hierarchy

23. FOSSILS - resources National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fossils
Fossil Guides
(If you have the means, get several to see what the students like)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fossils
A Field Guide to Fossils by Frederick H. Pough (Peterson Field Guides)
Smithsonian Fossils Guide:
Fossils coaches guide from the Science Olympiad Store

24. REMOTE SENSING Human Interaction with Forest Biomes

25. REMOTE SENSING - basics
Team of 2 students
Each team may bring five 8.5” x 11” two-sided sheets of paper containing any information from any source
Each team member may bring any kind of non-graphing calculator
Event tends to be an “at-seat” test with some images or a “stations” test where students rotate around the room, looking at images and answering questions

26. REMOTE SENSING - scoring
Highest score wins
Points will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses
Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

27. REMOTE SENSING – event topics
Using remote sensing imagery to understand causes and consequences of human interaction with forest biomes
Using science and mathematical process skills to analyze data or interpret data presented numerically in a grid

28. REMOTE SENSING - resources
Lots of great links at – lists of terms, tutorials, images explained, etc.
Remote Sensing CD from the Science Olympiad Store
Google image search
Image scale tutorial and coaches institute presentation on website