Arizona Science Teacher Association

Geneva Baker
ASTA 2013
What is Science Olympiad?
 Exciting Science Competition
 7000 teams in 50 states
 Three levels - Divisions
 A – Elementary School – up to 5th grade
 B – Middle school – 6th – 9th grades
 C – High school – 9th – 12th grades
What is Science Olympiad?
 Science Olympiad Clip
 Science Olympiad is Awesome
What is SCIENCE OLYMPIAD?
 23 different events
 Developed at the National Level
 6 Content Areas
 Biology & Life Sciences
 Earth & Space
 Chemistry
 Physics
 Technology/Engineering
 Inquiry & Nature of Science
What is SCIENCE OLYMPIAD?
Events approximately divided:
 Cerebral/Study/Lab – 15 events
 Technical/Building – 8 events
Team of 15 students (at a competition)
 Your school can have more on the team during the year
Study Events – S for Science
 Anatomy
 Meteorology
 Dynamic Planet
 Entomology
 Heredity
 Solar System
 Rocks & Minerals
Lab Events – S for Science
 Crimebusters
 Can’t Judge a Powder
 Experimental Design
 Write it, Do it
Technology Events – T for Technology
 Robo-cross
Building Events – E in Engineering
 Boomilever
 Helicopter
 Wheeled Vehicle
 Rotor Egg Drop
 Sounds of Music
 Simple Machines
Math is embedded in many of the events.
 Metric Mastery
 Road Scholar
 Simple Machines
 Boomilever
 Water Quality
 Shock Value
So how can you use it in the classroom…
 Old Science Olympiad Handbooks
 Mini – Olympics
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Egg Drop
Bottle Rocket
Scrambler
Mousetrap Vehicle
 Use events as challenges or to teach concepts
 Experimental Design Rubric
 Write it, Do it – CCS
 Can’t Judge a Powder
 Crimebusters
Aligned to the NGSS
Aligned to the NGSS
Aligned to the NGSS
Water Quality Challenge
 Make a salinometer/hydrometer
 Supplies: clay, straw, know saline solutions, pen
 What is the salinity of the unknown water sample?
Water
Salt Solution
Directions
1.
Mold a ball of modeling clay around one end of the straw. Make sure
that the clay the straw (clay covered end down) and add/remove clay
until the straw floats at the maximum depth you wish.
2.
Use the permanent marker to mark the depth where the salinometer
floats in the water (0% salt solution).
3.
Use the 10% solution to use as a calibration standard.
4.
Place the salinometer in the calibration standard and mark the level
where it floats.
5.
Interpolate/extrapolate from the two marks you have made to add
additional lines on the scale. You can calibrate your device using
additional standards at other concentrations to improve its accuracy.
What is the salinity concentration of the unknown sample?
Coach a Team!
 7 Tournaments
 1st tournament –
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Desert Sky Middle School, Tucson
November 16
 State Tournament
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Mountainside Middle School, Scottsdale, AZ
March 1, 2014
 $250 Team Registration
For more information
 AZ Science Olympiad Website
 www.azsciolydivb.org
 National Science Olympiad Site
 www.soinc.org
 Geneva Baker
 www.thesciencequeen.net