1. Presentation for participating educators to share with students

2. You Be The Chemist Challenge®
The Challenge is a fun and interactive competition, designed for students like you!
Focuses on the science of chemistry
Think spelling bees but with science!
Grades 5-8
You Be The Chemist Challenge®
The Challenge is an academic contest that explores important chemistry concepts. Think spelling bees or quiz bowls but with science questions!
Before we talk about how the Challenge works in schools across the country, here is a look at the 2015 National Challenge.
2015 National Challenge video

3. Challenge Content
Study materials and Challenge questions cover chemistry and general science concepts such as:
the scientific method
properties of matter
chemical formulas & equations
chemistry in the human body
and much more!
Sample Question
A skateboarder is moving at a speed of about 3 m/s. If the combined mass of the skateboarder and his skateboard is approximately 40 kg, what is his kinetic energy?
13 J
120 J
160 J
180 J
Challenge Content
The competition study materials and questions cover topics like:
the scientific method
properties of matter
chemical formulas & equations
chemistry in the human body
and much more!
The Challenge questions and study materials might cover the same material that you’re already learning at school!

4. How the Challenge Works
The Challenge is an individual competition for students in grades 5-8 and begins in schools all over the country! Students take a short multiple choice test, the Challenge Qualifier, at school. The top scoring students who took the Qualifier move on to the next level of competition: the Local Challenge.
The Challenge competitions are in quiz-bowl format. Students are asked multiple choice questions then answer the questions using electronic response devices. At the Challenge, students compete against other top students from other schools.
Just over 50,000 students participated in the Challenge last year, in 37 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This year there will be Challenges in at least 38 states plus DC and Puerto Rico.
In states with more than one Local Challenge site, winners of Local Challenges advance to their respective State Challenge.
The champion from each state then advances to the National Challenge, which is an exciting event held in Washington, D.C.

5. National Challenge The National Challenge
Past National Challenge competitions took place in Philadelphia but in 2017, the National Challenge is moving to Washington, D.C.!
Each year, the Champion from each state, as well as a chaperone and nominated educator, receive an expenses-paid trip to the National Challenge.
The participants and chaperones are joined by family, educators, members of the chemical industry, government officials, and other attendees at this three-day event.
The top four National Challenge participants win scholarships, national recognition, and other prizes, and the chance to see some of D.C.’s special sights.

6. What You Need to Do
Use the free online study materials to prepare for each level of the competition.
Take the Challenge Qualifier, a 25 question multiple choice test, at school to determine if you move on to the Local Challenge.
How it works
It is free for you, your parent(s)/guardian(s), and your school to participate. All you have to do is study the study materials (which you can find on CEF’s website) and take the Challenge Qualifier at school!
[Insert date/time the Qualifier will be administered at school. Include other details such as whether it will be a paper test, scantron, electronic, etc.]
Your teacher(s) will let you know if you will advance to the Local Challenge. Top students who move on to the Local Challenge will receive more info after the Qualifier.

7. Study Materials Online
Locating the
Study Materials Online
Go to then click on “Programs” then click on “You Be The Chemist Challenge.” Select “Study Materials” from the green sidebar.

8. Challenge Timeline September 2016 – February 2017
Schools register
Students take the Challenge Qualifier
February – March 2017
Local Challenge competitions
April 2017
State Challenge competitions
June 2017
National Challenge competition in Washington, D.C.
Challenge Timeline
The Challenge cycle follows a typical school year calendar. Starting in the fall, your school can register and give the Challenge Qualifier
February – March 2017
Local Challenges take place in February and March at schools or other venues in your community.
April 2017
If your state has more than one Local Challenge, then there will be a State Challenge where the top students from each Local Challenge compete for a chance to move on to the National Challenge.
June 2017
After all Local and State Challenges, there is the National Challenge! The Challenge Champions from each state receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Challenge.

9. Exciting Challenge Opportunities!
The 2014 and 2015 National Challenge Champions have both been invited to President Obama’s White House Science Fair!
Challenge Opportunities
Students involved in the Challenge go on to do and accomplish awesome things! In 2015, the 2014 National Challenge Champion was invited to the White House Science Fair. While she was there, Audrey met President Obama as well as some popular figures in the science community including Bill Nye. Earlier this year, the 2015 National Challenge Champion Daniel Liu was invited to the 2016 WSHF!
There are often prizes for the top students at each Local and State Challenge, and the top 4 students at the National Challenge receive over $18,000 combined in scholarships!
The top participants at the 2016 National Challenge received a total of $18,500 in scholarship awards plus all participants received additional prizes such as medals and National Parks passes!

10. GOOD LUCK!