handbook and rules - ilearn schoolsscienceolympiad.ilearnschools.org/documents/2017handbook.pdf ·...

Handbook and RulesBergen Arts and Science Charter School

43 Maple Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601

North JerseyElementary Science Olympiad

May 13, 2017

(updated on September 27, 2016)

North Jersey Elementary Science Olympiad 2

EVENTS LIST1-A IS FOR ANATOMY 22-BARGE BUILDING 33-BOTTLE ROCKET 44-BRIDGE BUILDING 65-CAN RACE 76-CROSSWORD SCIENCE 97-EGG DROP 108-ESTIMANIA 119-MYSTERY ARCHITECTURE 1210-PAPER ROCKETS 1311-PENTATHLON 1512-TENNIS BALL CATAPULT 1713-WHICH WAY'S NORTH? 1914-WRITE IT/DO IT 20


1-A IS FOR ANATOMYDescription:

This event will consist of a written test in which the contestants will view models, slides, and pictures to identify organs from the following human body systems. Both structure and function will be tested in a series of written questions.

Skeletal and Muscular Systems will be the main focus of this year’s (2017) competition.

The Competition:

Every team will be given an answer sheet. Team members may consult with each other by writing(no talking). Only one answer for each question will be accepted. Team members will move through 20 stations answering approximately 40 questions. Questions will be at the stations or in a test booklet.

Scoring:

At the end of the testing period, the questions and answer sheet will be collected from those teams who have not turned in their responses. Time is not a factor in scoring. Correct spelling will be used as a tiebreaker.

Resources:

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Grade Science and Health Books.

1. Skeletal 6. Urinary

2. Muscular 7. Nervous

3. Digestive 8. Sensory

4. Respiratory 9. Endocrine

5. Circulatory

Number of Participants: 2 Approximate Time: 45 minutes

Updated on September 27, 2016 � of �2 20


2-BARGE BUILDINGDescription:

Students will construct a barge using aluminum foil that can support a cargo of the largest number of objects without getting them wet in a tub of water.

The Competition:

1. Barges must be built on site with the aluminum foil provided by the Science Olympiad Event Supervisor. Each team will be given a 15 x 15 cm piece of aluminum foil.

2. Each team will then be given 10 minutes to construct their barges and turn them into the supervisor. No other materials may be used in building the barge.

3. Participants may not practice filling the barge during the 10-minute building period. Teams will be timed during this period for purposes of tiebreakers.

4. The event supervisor will inform each team of the average mass of each cargo piece before they begin their construction. The cargo may be pennies, washers, paper clips, marbles, or other similar objects. The cargo will not be known until the time of competition.

5. The student barge captain and his partner must predict the number of pieces of cargo that the barge will hold. The barge must then be loaded until it sinks. The piece that caused the barge to sink will not count in the total cargo. Sinking occurs when water enters the barge.

6. During the test period, team members will load their own barges.The event supervisor will provide the barge captain with the cargo to be loaded. Each piece must be loaded one at a time while the barge is floating in a tub of water.

Scoring:

The winner will be the team with the highest score. The score will be determined by the following formula:

Score = (10 x Amount of cargo held) - (the difference between predicted amount and actual amount).

For example: If the team predicts their barge will hold 70 pieces and it sinks at 57, their score will be

Score = (10 x 57) - (70-57) = 557

Ties will be broken by accuracy of the prediction. If the judges determine that a contestant intentionally sinks his boat at or near the predicted number, that team will be disqualified and receive participation points only.




3-BOTTLE ROCKETDescription:

Prior to the tournament, contestants use 2-liter plastic soda/pop bottles to build one or two rockets propelled by air pressure and water. The rocket that stays aloft for the longest time will win.

Construction:

1. Rockets must be made from a 2-liter soda/pop bottle used to hold water and air pressure that propels the rocket when released. The bottle itself must not be altered in any way. (e.g., holes, scratches, increasing the volume, restricting the bottle's opening).

2. Fins, parachutes and other items may be added to the outside of the bottle to increase the time aloft. Commercially made rocket components, sharp/pointed objects, parts made from glass and metal (except for a small snap swivel for attaching parachutes) and adhesives, such as super glue (cyanoacrylate) and high temperature hot glue that weakens the bottle is not allowed.

3. Rocket(s) must fit on the launch pad provided by the event supervisor and have a straw attached vertically to one side of the bottle to keep the rocket vertical during launch.

4. Energy to propel the rocket must come only from the water and air pressure in the bottle. Other sources of potential or kinetic energy are not allowed. Only plain tap water may be used in the rocket. No other material of any type may be put in the bottle or added to the water. A water level line may be marked on the bottle to aid in adding water.

5. Parts of the rocket may separate during flight, but they must remain attached together by a string/lanyard.

6. The school name and team number must be clearly marked on all rockets and parachutes.

The Competition:

1. Contestants may bring repair kits containing tools, spare parts and extra parachutes. The rocket(s) and repair kits must be brought for inspection 15 minutes prior to your scheduled launch. Any parts found to be dangerous (e.g. glass or metal), illegal (e.g. commercially made rocket parts), or that prevent a rocket fitting on the launch pad must be removed before the rocket can be launched. Rockets that are changed to meet the construction requirements will not be penalized. Rockets without the straw, those that cannot be made to fit on the launcher, or those that, in the event supervisor's judgment, are unsafe will not be launched.

2. A Pitsco launcher will be used. 3. Two launches will be allowed. Different rockets may be used for each launch. Contestants must

use the water, launch pad, and source of pressure provided by the event supervisor. The contestants will add the desired amount of water to the rocket before each flight and may make alterations or repairs to rockets between launches. Outside assistance/coaching from the sidelines is not permitted.

Number of Participants: 1-3 Approximate Time: 10 minutes



4. The judges will pressurize the rocket to 75 psi and launch it. Anyone within 10 meters of a pressurized rocket must wear eye protection. Contestants may not hold their rocket during pressurization. Please do not exceed this pressure when practicing. Only the coaches should pressurize the rocket.

5. Once a rocket has been pressurized it must be launched. In case of high winds, the supervisors will launch the rocket as quickly as possible. It will be the supervisors' decision whether the flight should be considered as unofficial due to the weather conditions.

Scoring:

1. Judges will measure and record the time aloft for each flight. Time starts when the rocket is launched and stops when any part of the rocket touches the ground, or any object in contact with the ground. (e.g., tree, building).

2. Teams will be scored using only the flight that will produce the better score/rank.3. Rockets will be ranked in the following manner:

a. Teams whose rockets meet all of the construction requirements will be ranked in the first tier. These will then be ranked by time aloft. (Rockets that stay attached will be ranked higher than rockets that come apart. See construction rules above).

b. Rockets that do not meet specifications will be ranked lower than those participants that meet specifications.

Tier 1 - longest flight time and meets specificationsTier 2 - longest flight time yet detachment of part of rocket during the flightTier 3 - rocket launched but does not meet specificationsTier 4 - rocket unable to be launched (e.g., will not fit on launcher) yet receives 1 point.



4-BRIDGE BUILDINGDescription:

In this event, students will build a long, strong, stable and reproducible bridge from plastic straws and one meter of masking tape capable of supporting the weight of an object, for 10 seconds.

The Competition:

1. The event supervisor will announce the mass and show the object to be used. The object will be a 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 11.5 cm square prism of clay that has a mass about 112 g.

2. Students will be given fifty plastic straws and 1 meter of masking tape. They are to construct a bridge that spans the greatest possible distance and be able to support the object when placed by the judge in the center of, and at a right angle to, the length of the bridge.

3. The bridge must support the block for ten-seconds.4. No building materials, other than fifty straws and tape, will be allowed in the construction of the

bridge.5. Scissors will not be provided, but will be allowed. Each team will be responsible for bringing their

own scissors. Only one pair is allowed. The cutting of both the straws and the tape is allowed.6. The bridge will be suspended between two similar supporting structures, such as two tables.7. Straws may be crimped and slipped together.8. No tape may be used for sticking the bridge to the supporting structures. No sticky part of the tape

may touch the top or sides of the supporting structure.9. All parts of the bridge must sit above the supporting structure before testing (note: the sinking of the

bridge below the supporting structure is allowed during testing due to the weight being added). 10. Any team which uses any tools or materials other than straws, scissors, and tape at the competition

site will be disqualified.

Scoring:

1. Each team’s bridge will be tested beginning with a span of fifty centimeters, followed by increments chosen by the event supervisor and be the same for all teams, until the bridge is unable to hold the block for ten-seconds. The greatest distance spanned before succumbing to the weight of the object will be recorded as a team’s final score.

2. Bridges will be ranked based on their final score (the longer the final span, the higher the rank).3. If a tiebreaker is required, more weight will be added incrementally until the last bridge is still

standing.4. If all bridges fail during the incremental weight tiebreaker round, the one that held the weight for the

longest will be declared the winner.




5-CAN RACEDescription:

A team of two students will race a can against other teams in a drag race format.

The Competition:

1. Students will make and bring to the contest one can racer for each team of two students.2. The racers will be run on a course approximately three meters in length and thirty centimeters in

width. The racing surface could be a gym floor, hallway, concrete or close nap carpet. Lane control will be provided by boards or other barriers along the outer edges of each lane.

3. Any can (small or large size) may be used. Racer surfaces may not be modified by addition of any substance.

4. Lollipop, Popsicle or other similar sticks may be used as the running arm. Tape and washers may be used.

5. Racers will be released by contestants without any assisting push and must not be touched by anyone until they cross the finish line. Racers stuck against lane barriers will have their "run length” measured at that point. Those jumping off of the course will be ranked after those that stay on the course.

To Make Racer:

1. Drill holes in the precise center of the can bottom and plastic lid(s). The holes must be large enough so the rubber band will thread through them easily, and be sure the edge of the hole in the can lid is smooth so it won't cut the rubber.

2. Put the lid(s) on the can and thread the large rubber band through the hole so that the loops protrude from both ends of the can.

3. Push the shorter wooden dowel or stick through the loop of rubber band protruding from the can bottom.

4. Punch two small holes in the can bottom on either side of the stick, and tie the stick securely to the can bottom with twine, wire, or a twist tie.

5. Thread the other loop of the rubber band through the holes in several washers. (There must be sufficient number of washers to keep the longer stick, which is added in step 6, from rubbing against the edge of the can. Later, if appropriate, you can increase or decrease the number of washers.)

6. Finally, place the longer wooden dowel or stick through the loop with the washers so that one end sticks out beyond the side of the can.

7. Wind up the rubber band and release the racer.




Scoring:

1. Total distance and elapsed running time of each racer will be recorded.2. Cans will be ranked by distance. The winner will be chosen on the basis of the greatest distance

traveled.3. In case of a tie, the shortest elapsed time will determine the winner.

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6-CROSSWORD SCIENCEDescription:

The purpose of this event is to test the student's knowledge of scientific terminology.Definitions of science vocabulary words will be presented to students in a crossword puzzle format as illustrated below.

The Competition:

1. Students will work in teams of two to complete a crossword puzzle of science vocabulary. Definitions of science words will be given in numbered columns marked Across and Down. (See illustration.) Students will cooperate to complete the crossword puzzle. Talking in quiet voices will be allowed.

2. Students will be timed. The start time and end time will be recorded on their answer sheet.

3. All words placed in the crossword puzzle will be taken from Elementary science textbooks.4. Between 30 to 50 words will be placed in the crossword puzzle.

Scoring:

1. One point will be scored for each correct word placed in the puzzle.2. The most points earned in the shortest time will determine the winners.




7-EGG DROPDescription:

The objective is to have a two-person team construct and bring a package to protect an egg (from breaking) to be dropped free fall from a high spot selected by the tournament director.

The Competition:

1. All loading of Large, supervisor-inspected Grade A eggs must be completed 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the event. Students are responsible for the egg during loading, dropping and unloading. The student must hand the egg to the supervisor once the drop is complete. Each package should be labeled with school name and number.

2. The package size and weight limitation is no more than 20 cm on a side and no more than 1 kg. Glass and metal may not be used. The package must be constructed by the participants and brought to the tournament. The package may not contain anything that would aid in the package adhering to the target.

3. The package will be dropped free fall by one student from a height determined by the tournament director and announced when teams pre-register for the tournament. There will be only one drop with a time limit of three minutes to prepare for the drop from the time the judge says to begin. A plumb line may be used. Packages may be dropped through an aperture (provided by the supervisor).

4. The drop area will be approximately 60 cm x 60 cm and made of solid material (e.g., 1/2” plywood) with a target in the center of the area .

Scoring:

Eggs that do not break or show cracks will be ranked first. Those that break or crack will be ranked after those that do not. The farthest distance of any part of the package to the center of the target will determine the score. The package with the shortest distance wins. Ties will be broken by the lighter package (without egg).




8-ESTIMANIADescription :

Students will be asked to estimate the answers to approximately ten questions requiring an estimate between ten and one million.

The Competition:

1. Teams will rotate through stations (approximately 7-12). Each station will have 3-4 questions. 2. Students will be asked to estimate: Quantity, Length, Volume and Mass. 3. At each estimating station, students will be asked several questions of increasing difficulty.4. The questions will follow the following format:

Sample Questions:

a. How many pennies in the jar?b. How many two-centimeter paper clips could be laid end to end across a standard football

playing field?

2. Calculators will be allowed.3. Students should bring a variety of equipment to help them with their estimations (rulers, cups of

various sizes, spoons, etc.)

Scoring:

Points will be awarded on the following scale:0 - 10% away from answer = 5 points11-20% away from answer= 4 points21-30% away from answer = 3 points31-40% away from answer= 2 points

The team with the most points wins. In case of ties, the least amount of time needed to estimate the 10 problems will determine the winner.




9-MYSTERY ARCHITECTUREDescription:

This event is designed to test the student's ability to think on their feet. They w ill be given a bag of materials to build a freestanding tower as high as they can. The tower should be constructed to support a tennis ball at its top.

The Competition:

1. Each team of two students will be given a bag of building materials. All teams will receive exactly the same materials. The materials might include: straight pins, paper cups, drinking straws, paper clips, tape, string, paper, etc.(This list is only an example; the actual materials may be anything that the supervisors fee l are appropriate).

2. Each team will have a maximum time of 20 minutes to construct a tower to support the tennis ball at its highest point. The top of the tennis ball must be higher than any part of the structure.

3. Only those materials supplied in the bag, and the bag itself, may be used to construct the tower. No other materials or adhesives may be part of the finished tower. Students may bring scissors, a ruler and a pair of pliers, which they will provide, to use as tools while building the tower. Each team may bring their own tennis ball to use while building their tower, however, all towers will be measured using the same tennis ball (regulation size and weight) provided by the event supervisor. The students are to inform the judges when they finish their tower. They will place the tennis ball provided by the event supervisor on the top of their tower. The tower must remain standing long enough for the height and base to be measured.

4. The tower must be completely free standing. It cannot be attached to the tabletop, floor, wall or ceiling.

5. No coaching of the students will be allowed during the competition.

Scoring:

1. The height of the tower and the width of its base will be measured as precisely as possible by the judges. Since no building materials are to extend above it, the top of the tennis ball will be considered the highest point of the tower. The width of the tower will be measured at its base. The largest diameter of the base will be recorded.

2. All towers that support the tennis ball will be ranked above those that do not. The towers in each of these groups will be ranked according to their height. Tallest tower first, the shortest tower last.

3. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the tower with the smallest base measurement.

Note: supervisors should determine the acceptable measurement with the same equipment that is available to students.




10-PAPER ROCKETSDescription:

Each team will build and fly a paper rocket using materials, which will be provided.

The Competition:

The team will have 20 minutes to build a rocket and practice launching it. This will be followed by the official launching. The winner will be the team closest to the target. The following materials will be provided:• Large plastic soda straws (the kind used in fast food restaurants). One per student.• Sharpened pencils (same size as straws). One per student.• Paper (8.5 x 11 ). Two sheets per team.• Cellophane tape. One roll per team.• Scissors - one per team.• A ruler - one per team.

1. Cut a strip of paper about 8.5 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide.2. Roll the paper strip around the pencil lengthwise to form a tube. Tape the paper so that the tube slides easily off the pencil but is not too loose.3. Make several pointed cuts at one end of tube. See Figure A.

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4. Slide the sharpened end of the pencil toward the pointed cuts. Fold the points around the sharpened end of the pencil and tape to form the nose cone. DO NOT TAPE THE PAPER TO THE PENCIL.




5. Cut out two sets of fins. Use the pattern in Figure C. Fold the fins on the dashed lines in the manner shown in Figure C.6. Using two pieces of tape, fix the fins to the opposite end of the tube from the nose cone. Insert the pencil for support in taping. See Figure D.

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7. Place the rocket over the soda straw. See Figure E.

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8. During competition students will launch the rocket from one end of the classroom toward a designated target. Each team member will launch the team's rocket one time .9. Launch the rocket by blowing sharply on the straw. Be sure to aim rockets in the desireddirection.

Scoring:

1. After each launch the distance will be measured from the center of the target to the nose of the rocket where it comes to rest. The distance from the target will become the participant's score. The target will be placed 3 to 8 meters from the launching site.2. Each teammate will fly the rocket once. The score will be determined by measuring the distance in centimeters the rocket is from the target for each launch and adding the two scores.3. The lowest score will be the winner.



11-PENTATHLONDescription:

Five physical skills are interspersed with science questions in an obstacle course that will be run in a relay race style where each student passes the balloon to the next student. The team must be balanced with 2 to 3 boys and 2 to 3 girls.

The Competition:

1. Appropriate athletic attire is advised (running shoes, etc.). Change of clothing is recommended during inclement weather.

2. The physical activity will include such events as: a dash, crossing a balance beam, dribbling a basketball between a row of safety cones, running through six tires on the ground, a Frisbee throw for accuracy. All of these events must be done while carrying a fragile object (such as a water-filled balloon or an egg) without breaking it.

3. One student will be placed at each position, A-D. Students cannot pass the balloon to the next student until the question is answered. The last student completes station D & E.

4. General science questions will be asked at tables where students stop very briefly between events. Questions should be answered as rapidly as possible to avoid loss of time.

5. Each physical obstacle and academic question must be completed correctly before proceeding to the next station. Students could be given four Frisbees and moved closer after each miss, and students should be given questions of ever-decreasing levels of difficulty so they could be successful.

Scoring:1. The total team time to complete the event will be kept by timekeepers.2. Penalty points are assessed for broken fragile objects (50 seconds added to team time for each

broken object).

Number of Participants: 4-5 Approximate Time: 20 minutes



12-TENNIS BALL CATAPULTDescription:

Students will build and calibrate their own free-standing (not hand held) trajectory device that must be capable of "lobbing" a tennis ball at a target placed between 2 and 5 meters.

The Competition:

1. Each team will bring their own homemade catapult and their own tennis balls to the competition. (Please print your school's name prominently on the catapult.) If the team fails to bring their own tennis balls, they may be supplied by the judge.

2. A data chart showing the launching characteristics of the catapult (using various settings) will be required for the competition.

3. Launch force must be provided by gravity or elastic solids (such as springs, rubber bands, etc.). The last point on the device touched by the tennis ball may not be more than 50 cm above the ground before, during or after starting.

4. Each device should be designed and built by the students (adult construction assistance is OK). Each device should be designed to operate safely at all times. No points will be awarded for design.

5. The device will sit on a level area of ground and fire at the target area that will also be at ground level. The target area will be a sand pit of at least 1 meter in diameter (e.g., a child's plastic wading pool). A small object level with the sand will mark the center.

6. The distance from the "foul line" to the center of the target will be announced at the start of the competition. Students may place their catapult at any point behind the foul line up to 2 meters.

7. The event could take place outside.

Scoring:

1. Each team will have a one-shot practice round after which they will each shoot at the target three times. The first two shots will count toward the score. The third shot will be used only in case of a tie. The distance from the target will be measured after each shot, including the practice shot and announced to the team to allow them to make adjustments based upon their data chart. (Refer to Rule No. 3.) The cumulative distance after two shots will be the team's score. The smallest score wins.

2. The distance from the center of the target will be measured to the tennis ball's initial point of impact as determined by the judge. Tennis balls landing outside of the sand pit area will also be measured according to the initial point of impact as determined by the judge. Tennis balls hitting the target on initial impact will receive a score of zero.

3. No tennis balls should be shot before or during the catapult event except during the specified practice round or actual competition. Each team must bring their catapult to the competition site at a time posted at the registration table, and leave it there for safekeeping until their turn. This rule is meant to provide safety and fairness so teams will not be practicing during the day of the competition after the distance is announced.




13-WHICH WAY'S NORTH?Description:

Teams of up to two students will attempt to navigate themselves around a state road map.

The Competition:

1. Teams will be given a standard state road map and a set of directions to guide them across the state to a pre-determined destination. All teams will receive the same map and directions.

2. Rulers will be provided. Calculators may be used but will not be provided. Students may make notes. Notes must be confined to one side of an 8.5”-11” sheet of paper. Notes will be collected when students turn in their answer sheets. Students are not to mark on the maps.

3. All participants will begin at the same time and have a maximum of 45 minutes to answer the questions and turn in their notes and answer sheets.

4. Question areas include locating and interpreting symbols, locating and interpreting features, determining the distance between features, and using the map index, scale and key, inset maps, and data tables.

5. Questions may follow along a storyline journey, be in form of a simple test, or a combination of both.

Scoring:

The number of correct answers recorded will determine places in this competition. In case of a tie, the team using the least amount of time will be awarded the higher place.

Notes:

A combination of a storyline journey, fill in the blanks section and a brief map quiz section has proven successful. The storyline journey can include names of towns passed through, highways intersecting, points of interest passed by, etc., as the students follow a given set of directions. In the map quiz, students can be quizzed on all elements of the map from the key and legend to other informational elements (state info, rest area locations, state police posts) printed on the map.




14-WRITE IT/DO ITDescription:

This event tests competitor's ability to clearly communicate in writing and follow writtendirections.

The competition:

1. One student is shown a contraption built from blocks, science equipment, tinker toys, Legos, K'NEX, Construx, Lincoln Logs, or other inexpensive materials (cups, pipe cleaners, plates, straws, etc.). The student has 25 minutes to write a description of the object and give directions on how to reproduce it.

2. His/her partner (in another room) takes the description and attempts to recreate (build) the original object in 20 minutes.

3. No diagrams allowed and no verbal or other communication allowed in passing.

Scoring:

The team which builds the object nearest to the original is declared the winner. A point will be given for each piece of material placed in the proper location. No penalty will be assessed for parts that were not assembled. The decision of the judges is final. Time may be used as a tiebreaker.



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