Virginia Science Virginia Science OlympiadOlympiad

2009 Coaches ClinicDivision C

Inquiry Events

Write It/ Do ItWrite It/ Do ItThe purpose of this event is to test the ability

of two team members to communicate instructions for building a device or structure.

Model structures may use almost any regular everyday household/classroom items, from office supplies to legos or other blocks.

Write It/ Do It- Write It/ Do It- the competitionthe competition

Each partner is isolated from the other generally in different rooms

The role of partner 1 is to write clear and concise directions for building a structure or device that he/she is observing

The writer has 25 minutes to write all necessary directions

The role of the 2nd partner is to read the directions written by partner 1 and attempt to recreate the structure or device as described

The builder has 20 minutes to build

Write It/ Do It- Write It/ Do It- Writer TipsWriter Tips

Bring a writing instrument Write the description as a series of numbered steps that

the builder should take to build the structure or device Check to be sure that each step logically follows the next Use descriptors like color, shape, and orientation of pieces

to assist the builder in putting the pieces together correctly

Written description may only contain words and numerals, no symbols, drawings and diagrams are not allowed.

Every few steps clearly note what the structure should look like at that point in building, to help the writer know he/she is on the right track

Write It/ Do It- Write It/ Do It- Builder TipsBuilder Tips

Bring a writing instrumentBriefly read through the entire description

first If a materials list was provided by the writer

then compare each of the materials on the list with those that are present at the station

Begin building carefully, rechecking piece after piece

Pace yourself…..20 minutes goes quickly

Write It/ Do It- Write It/ Do It- ScoringScoring

A point is earned for each piece(s) that have been properly connected and in the proper location as in the original model.

The team who builds the structure or device closest to the original wins.

Use of codes or symbols is not permitted, except for those that may be created by pressing any of the 101 standard keys on a keyboard + the shift button. A 5% penalty is assessed.

Tiebreaker- time for the construction phase

Experimental DesignExperimental DesignA group of up to 3 students per team are

given a problem question around which they must design and carry out an experiment using only the materials that they have been provided. They then must analyze the data collected and draw up a summary of their findings.

Experimental Design-Experimental Design-the competitionthe competition

Supervisor provides each team with a bag of identical materials or sets up a central supply area where each team can pick up their supplies.

Supervisor will provide all teams with a problem question designed to narrow the scope of the experiments generated

The experiment conducted MUST explore the relationship between an independent and dependent variable.

Supervisor will provide students with an answer packet in which they will record their results and wright up their experiment.

Teams must use at least 2 of the materials

Experimental Design-Experimental Design-the DO’sthe DO’s

Students must bring goggles and a writing instrument

Students should also bring a timer, ruler, and a non-programmable calculator

Keep the experiment simple, elaboration invites difficulties to come up

Split up the tasks, while some members of the group are running the experiment another member may begin writing up the beginning of the report

The group needs to pace themselves carefully otherwise time may run out

Experimental Design-Experimental Design-the Don’tsthe Don’ts

Do not leave out a section on the lab writeup unless you are completely unsure what belongs in that spot

Don’t write a half procedure or write only half the variable information etc.. Be clear so that anyone could replicate this experiment

Experimental Design-Experimental Design-ScoringScoring

All experimental design writeups will be scored according to the same distribution of points as written at the bottom of the rules page

The team with the highest total points winsTiebreakers-total points for

◦ 1-variables◦ 2-procedure◦ 3-analysis of results◦ 4-graph◦ 5-data table

Experimental Design-Experimental Design-ExampleExample

Using the materials listed below design an experiment that explores rotational motion.

Materials-◦ 1 hula hoop◦ 1 tennis ball◦ 1 ping pong ball◦ 30cm of masking tape◦ 1 meter stick

Picture ThisPicture This Challenges students to be able to explain various concepts

in science using clues in diagrams and pictures with no verbal or other visual clues.

Picture This- Picture This- the competitionthe competition

Students work in a group of up to 3 students. Each member of the group takes a turn at being the

concept sketcher (one who attempts to draw the science concept/word)

The other two group members must try to guess the word/concept that is being drawn

The team has a total of 4 minutes to try and work through and guess 25 different terms

Each team will be given the same 25 terms in the same order

Sketcher will usually draw on paper set on an easel (paper is kept for supervisor purposes)

Picture This- Picture This- Do’sDo’s

Have all 3 students in the group regularly practice both roles throughout the year

Sketcher should “pass” the term if he/she really has no clue or does not believe they can draw it

The sketcher should only give visual clues of acceptance or rejection of guesses as directed by the supervisor

The sketcher may use the (-) to indicate a word which needs to be shortened or a (+) to indicate a word that needs to be expanded

Arrows are the only other symbols that may be used If the concept or science word is a phrase then the sketcher

may write down on the paper if one of the words has been guessed correctly ONLY AFTER THE SUPERVISOR ACKNOWLEDGES IT

During the four minutes each person rotates one at a time to be the sketcher

Picture This- Picture This- Don’tsDon’ts

The sketcher should not use any additional symbols as well as no letters or numbers in the clue drawings

Don’t pass a word unless you are willing to give it up completely, once passed teams cannot go back to a word

No variations of the clue word will be accepted unless it is the singular or plural form of the word

Picture This- Picture This- ScoringScoring

1 point is earned for each word guessed correctly Tiebreakers-

◦ 1-team that passes the fewest terms◦ 2-shortest period of time to complete list (time begins when the first

sketcher is shown the first word)◦ 3-team with longest string of correct terms◦ 4-team who correctly identifies the first term in a string of words not

identfied by another team

Picture This- Picture This- Suggestions for PracticeSuggestions for Practice

This is a great event for the entire team to work on together

Have students generate lists of common vocabulary using basic texts from the four core sciences

Use whiteboards for drawing to save paper

Technical Problem SolvingTechnical Problem Solving Students will visit a series of up to 5 lab stations that will

require them to use mathematics, and science reasoning skills to solve a number of different problems that stem from all areas of science including biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. In this event probes will be used at a minimum of 1 station at the state level of competition.

Technical Problem Solving- Technical Problem Solving- the competitionthe competition

Students work as a pair Series of up to 5 lab stations will be set up Each station will require that students do the following:

◦ Use mathematical expressions◦ Apply statistical analysis◦ Use correct metric units if making measurements◦ Use correct significant figures

At least one station at the state competition will use probeware. Possible probes include:◦ Temperature, voltage, light, gas pressure, pH, motion detector,

photogate Data will be collected and analyzed

Technical Problem Solving- Technical Problem Solving- the Do’sthe Do’s

Bring a non-programmable, non-graphing calculator and chemical splash goggles

Team members for this event should have completed up through physics

Students should show all equations that they used to solve any of the problems on their answer sheet

Technical Problem Solving- Technical Problem Solving- the Don’tsthe Don’ts

Don’t bring any additional resources, the supervisor will provide any lab equipment and in some cases a list of equations/formulas

Don’t put students on this event who have not completed at least 3 years of HS science, unless absolutely necessary

Technical Problem Solving- Technical Problem Solving- ScoringScoring

Each problem question will carry an assigned point value based on the level of difficulty

Points are awarded based upon a correct response Points deducted for:

◦ Improper metric units if measuring◦ Improper sig figs

No points given for answers not supported by the data and calculations

Tiebreaker-will be selected problems determined by the supervisor in advance

Technical Problem Solving- Technical Problem Solving- Suggestions for PracticeSuggestions for Practice

Look online for old practical data gathering event tests, these questions could be examples of things students could see

The sky is the limit