1. Science Word Or, How Science Olympiad Plays ‘Password’ By Sachi and Sapana Vora Modified by Ann Min

2. Basic Rules The Numbers: The Numbers:  Teams of 2  4 minute time limit  40 terms  1-2 word terms The Terms: No proper nouns or names; anything else (within reason) is game The Terms: No proper nouns or names; anything else (within reason) is game Allowed- Proper names/nouns as clues, 1-2 word clues (ex. Darwinian theory for ‘evolution’) Allowed- Proper names/nouns as clues, 1-2 word clues (ex. Darwinian theory for ‘evolution’) Not allowed- Visual clues, use of term in clue, letters, acronyms (ex. DNA, NASA, ‘space ship’ for ‘space shuttle’) Not allowed- Visual clues, use of term in clue, letters, acronyms (ex. DNA, NASA, ‘space ship’ for ‘space shuttle’)

3. A Talking Game Team members will alternate giving and receiving clues until time expires, so both teammates must be good clue givers and good listeners Team members will alternate giving and receiving clues until time expires, so both teammates must be good clue givers and good listeners Good communication is absolutely vital to this event Good communication is absolutely vital to this event This is clearly a one-sided ‘conversation’

4. Choosing the Team Find students who have a broad science background; the more subjects they’ve covered, the more comfortable they’ll be with a variety of terms If you have specialists, have them look through textbooks from major subjects: ex. biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and geology i.e., life, earth, and physical sciences

5. More on Subjects Many of the terms chosen will overlap scientific fields Ex. ‘electron’ is fair game in physics or chemistry; ‘Mesozoic era’ would be found in both geology and biology textbooks Skim through chapters and find the bold- faced words ; it is better to see them in context rather than just in a glossary, especially for visual learners

6. Sample Terms Comet- (n) A celestial body moving about the sun in a greatly elongated elliptical, or a parabolic orbit Comet- (n) A celestial body moving about the sun in a greatly elongated elliptical, or a parabolic orbit DNA- (n) deoxyribonucleic acid; An antiparallel double helix of nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds to adjacent nucleotides in the same chain and by hydrogen bonds to complementary nucleotides in the opposite chain. DNA- (n) deoxyribonucleic acid; An antiparallel double helix of nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds to adjacent nucleotides in the same chain and by hydrogen bonds to complementary nucleotides in the opposite chain.

7. How to Win the Game Practice, Practice, Practice! Practice, Practice, Practice! Give the team a 3-3.5 minute time limit instead of 4: students are likely to get nervous and slow down during competition Give the team a 3-3.5 minute time limit instead of 4: students are likely to get nervous and slow down during competition Responders can guess multiple times for the same clue; but do not linger on the same term for too long…it’s okay to pass! Responders can guess multiple times for the same clue; but do not linger on the same term for too long…it’s okay to pass! Make sure the responder gives the clue- giver a chance to give more clues instead of running their mouth! Make sure the responder gives the clue- giver a chance to give more clues instead of running their mouth! (because no one plays to lose!)

8. Let’s Practice!: I’ll give you clues, you give me terms Northern Lights Northern Lights Glowing skyGlowing sky Aurora European temperature European temperature Not Fahrenheit Celsius Example Carbon Periodic Table Element Train Whistle Changing frequency Doppler Effect

9. More Tips Make flash cards to simulate the real thing Make flash cards to simulate the real thing Repeat terms as few times as possible; the more the teams work through, the better prepared they will be Repeat terms as few times as possible; the more the teams work through, the better prepared they will be Since the clue giver is limited to only one or two words per clue, make sure the guesser says something, anything, in response even if he/she has no idea Since the clue giver is limited to only one or two words per clue, make sure the guesser says something, anything, in response even if he/she has no idea Ex. Use a word like ‘star’ as a generic response to prompt for more clues; or simple responses like ‘keep going’ or ‘go on’ Ex. Use a word like ‘star’ as a generic response to prompt for more clues; or simple responses like ‘keep going’ or ‘go on’

10. A Few More Tips… Use big categories as clues: physics, biology, chemistry, etc. Use big categories as clues: physics, biology, chemistry, etc. Term: ‘molecule’ Term: ‘molecule’ “Chemistry term” “Chemistry term” “Keep going” “Keep going” “basic unit” “basic unit” “atom?” “atom?” “compound unit” “compound unit” “molecule!” “molecule!” Logistics! Logistics! How to handle compound words: Igneous vs. Igneous rock… ‘keep that,’ ‘hold word,’ ‘compound phrase,’ ‘second word’, etc… How to handle compound words: Igneous vs. Igneous rock… ‘keep that,’ ‘hold word,’ ‘compound phrase,’ ‘second word’, etc… Source material: 6-8 th grade science dictionaries Source material: 6-8 th grade science dictionaries

11. Good Luck! Any questions? Any questions? Let’s do some real practice… Let’s do some real practice…