Cedar Lane Elementary School

What is Odyssey of the Mind? A creative problem-solving competition. Problem-Solving Teams are given short and long term problems to solve Creative Problem solutions should be as creative and imaginative as possible Competition Tournament in which teams are judged and scored on their performance What types of problems? Two types – spontaneous (short) and long term problems Important to note: Problems do not have a single or absolute right answer. Team members will come up with many creative answers, none of which are wrong. Only answers that are inappropriate will be rejected.

Why ODM? – Teaches creative problem solving & teamwork – Open ended problem solving – Students learn how to identify challenges and creatively solve – Supplements their current education – Considered the “Anti-SOL” What is the competition about? – Having fun – Life lessons: teaming, time pressures, out of box thinking, identifying strengths and weaknesses of the team and leveraging Videos: A Creative Experience ( Recreating America (Odyssey: min 27)

Who? Anyone in kindergarten and up! Teams are formed by age division and compete against teams in their age division. People compete from all over the world. Teams – Teams are formed of five to seven kids. No more than seven kids. – Must be committed to the team through spring. Only 7 kids can work on long term problem, so once work starts, if a kid drops, cannot be replaced. – K-2 nd grade kids can perform in a non-competitive division. – 3rd-5 th grade kids are in competitive division. (1 &2 can also compete in this division if desired.) What’s the Cost? The PTA will cover the registration costs for the teams (through reimbursement) of the fees. Additional costs: Each problem has cost limits associated with it, tournament fees, additional training, food, trophies, etc. $50 per student

How do teams form? Signup on the forms. We need coaches! Judging – Every team must provide one judge-parent, teacher, neighbor, colleague – Judges will NOT see their child perform – Judges training is required. Volunteering - Every team must provide a volunteer to work at the tournament for 2 hours. Parents and the OM Kids – “No Outside Assistance” - hardest for parents and siblings – Be supportive – There are NO bad answers. NO wrong answers. – Team work is the key. THEY CAN DO IT!

5 long term problems to select from 1.Mechanical / Vehicle 2.Classics 3.Performance 4.Structure 5.Technical Primary problem for grades K-2 Spontaneous problems

Problem 1: Pet Project Divisions I, II, & III The problem is to design, build, and run three vehicles that will deliver parts to an Assembly Area. The team will create a signal that lets the audience know which vehicle is about to travel and deliver a part. The parts will be assembled into a pet animal. Once assembly is completed, the animal will perform a trick. The theme of the presentation must include the delivery of the parts, the assembly, and the pet animal. Cost limit: $145 USD.

Problem 2: The Must Go Through Divisions I, II, III, & IV The team's problem is to create and present an original performance that includes a technical representation of messages being sent by . A Sender character will send three s: one that requires a return receipt, one with a work of art as an attachment, and one that goes through a SPAM filter. Two of the s will go to a Receiver character and another will go to an offbeat location. Each will pass through a central server before reaching its final destination. Team members are not allowed to touch the s while the server is processing the messages. Cost limit: $145 USD.

Problem 3: ARTchitecture: The Musical Divisions I, II, III & IV For this problem, teams will create and present an original performance that includes a replica of a documented architectural structure that was built between 1,000 AD and 1,600 AD. The performance will include three works of art that "disappear" and two characters that go on a quest to find them. When the works of art are found, they will be incorporated into the replica. The performance must also include two songs that are accompanied by some type of choreographed movement. Cost limit: $125 USD.

Problem 4: Tumble-wood Divisions I, II, III & IV Teams will design and build a structure made of only balsa wood and glue that will balance and support as much weight as possible. Before weight placement begins, the team will present a commercial that includes the structure rolling down a ramp. The structure will be scored for how far it rolls and for how much weight it holds. The team will integrate the placement of the weights into the performance. Cost limit: $145 USD.

Problem 5: It's How You Look at It Divisions I, II, III & IV The problem is to create and present an original humorous performance that includes two characters that act naturally -- to them -- but odd to those around them. One scene will establish the "normal" behavior of one character that, at some point in the performance, finds itself among others who react to the out-of- place behavior. The other character's behavior will stand out too, but this character will end up in a setting where its odd behavior is considered normal. The performance will also include a meter that indicates the degree of odd/normal behavior and a creative scene change. Cost limit: $125 USD. Sponsored by NASA.

Primary: Top Sea-cret Discoveries Grades K-2 The problem is to create and present a performance that includes exploring the ocean and making discoveries. Along the way, they will encounter three different types of sea life and a humorous Captain character. Teams will also create an original reason for the ocean's waves and make a silly discovery that they have to help keep secret. Cost limit: $125 USD.

Spontaneous Problems: practice in each meeting, there are books with suggestions and this becomes really great for dinner time “games” Animal Rhymes – Your problem is to make a rhyme using a name or species of an animal. For example, you might say, "I think mice are nice" or "There's a cat in the hat.“ Be Patient – Your problem is to pretend you are a patient in an operating room and you hear noises and conversation. Say what you would like to hear or what you would not like to hear. You must begin each response with "I would like to hear..." or "I would not like to hear...."

Training Coaches training is available – Informal meeting will be at Panera Bread, Ashburn, date TBD – Formal training Oct 27 th at Park View HS – Masters Spontaneous training Dec 1 st at Park View HS Resources and materials (books, etc) are available at the training and on line Web site – for local andwww.va.odysseyofthemind.org – for national and problem information Meetings How many is the right number? What do I do as a child or as a coach? Where do I hold the meetings? Structure of the meeting Competition preparation: Allow time for extra practices, think about transporting the “problems”, assign roles and responsibilities early

Sign up sheets for tonight, did I mention we need coaches? If your child wishes to be put into the pool for consideration (it is based on coach volunteers), then please sign up on the sheets tonight. I need to know if we have any coach or assistant coach volunteers ASAP (as in tonight) but can hold off until Friday at the latest My information Lynda Ganey

Key Dates to Know Oct. 25 th – Participation interest forms due to Me Oct. 27 th - Coaches formal training at Park View HS Dec 1st– Masters spontaneous Training at Park View HS Feb. 9 th 2013 – Judges training at Park View HS March 2 h 2013 – Regional Tournament for Dulles Voices R16 April 13 th, 2013 – Virginia State Finals May 22 rd - 25 th 2013 –World Finals at Michigan State University

Thank You!