Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting! McNair Elementary School

1. Think Welcome toOdyssey of the MindOrientation Meeting!McNair Elementary School Where we ...

2. Introduction • Coordinators • Kavitha Sivakumar • Jason Christopher Willett • Websites • www.vaodyssey13.org (NoVa) • http://www.va.odysseyofthemind.org (VA) • www.odysseyofthemind.com (National)

3. Think What is OM? • International program • Teamwork — 5 to 7 kids • Solve problems • 8-minute skit (Long Term) • Spontaneous • Infinite solutions (no wrong answers) • Open to everyone • Think

4. What is OM? • Above all . . . F U N !

5. WHO is OM? • K-College • Division depends on grade of oldest • Division 2 = 6-8 (up to 7 kids) • Division 3 = 9-12 (up to 7 kids) • Division depends on grade of oldest • Coaches/Co-Coaches = REALLY • IMPORTANT! • Parents • Volunteers (1/2 per team) • Judges (1 per team) • Coordinators All Volunteers!

6. WHEN is OM? • Weekly (usually) • 1 ½ hours (usually) • Coach and team decide when • Start whenever the team forms (October-December) • Coaches Training • Saturday, November 20th , 9-3, Langston Hughes Middle School • March = regional meet • March 5th Falls Church High School • More meetings toward end • Like being in a play • April/May = state/world meet (MD)

7. WHERE ? • Someone’s house • Wherever the team and coach decide Need • An 8’ x 10’ space minimum (stage) • Storage for props • Room to paint and build • May be space at McNair after school • Arrange with school (?)

8. HOW MUCH is OM? • “Cost limit” is NOT an individual fee • It’s up to the team! • Team shares all costs • Snacks if needed • Materials for skits • Materials for spontaneous problems • PTA pays for: • Membership • Creativity counts! • Thrift stores • Yard sales • Basements, attics, neighbors • Trash day (neighbors trash?)

9. HOW MUCH is OM? • “Cost Limit” = total value of items on stage ($50-$150) • Examples: • Cardboard boxes= $0 (junk) • Feather hat = $20 (bought) • Feather hat = $1 (made) • Old pants = 50¢ (yard sale price) • Exceptions: • In Program Guide (wheelchairs, shoes, electric cords, musical instruments etc.)

10. HOW is OM Done? • Coaches identified (Yeah!) • Teams cannot form without coaches!! • Coaches say when they can meet • Students identified • Sign up based on friends/age/location • Team forms • Coordinators help form teams • Some already formed with room for new • Team meets • Coaches and teams take over from here • Organize – first meeting (with mentor?) • Work on team-building • Get all the problems to review • Choose problem • When SURE team is final: • Begin work on long-term problem

11. HOW is OM Done? • NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE! • Kids RULE! • Coaches coach, lead, guide • Parents support, don’t interfere • KIDS come up with ideas • KIDS build things • KIDS write scripts • KIDS make stuff

12. HOW is OM Done? • Adults • Snacks • Transportation • Team-building • Decision-making • Skill-building • Cheer-leading

13. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 5 long-term problems • Design and build vehicles • Solve a technical problem • A solution based on the Classics • Build a balsa wood structure • An original performance – usually humorous in nature

14. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 5 long-term problems • Design and build vehicles

15. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 5 long-term problems • Design and build vehicles • Solve a technical problem – usually involving devices

16. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 6 long-term problems • Design and build vehicles • Solve a technical problem – usually involving devices • A solution based on the Classics

17. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 5 long-term problems • Design and build vehicles • Solve a technical problem – usually involving devices • A solution based on the Classics • Build a balsa wood structure

18. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 5 long-term problems • Design and build vehicles • Solve a technical problem – usually involving devices • A solution based on the Classics • Build a balsa wood structure • An original performance – usually with song and dance (humorous in nature)

19. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 5 long-term problems

20. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 1 spontaneous problem • Usually about 10 minutes • Don’t know it before the meet • Practice, practice, practice • 5 team members

21. Hey! What’s the Problem? • 3 kinds of spontaneous problems • Verbal Paint manufacturers employ people to create names for their different colors of paint. Your problem is to give a name for a paint color, and tell what you might paint with that color. • Verbal-hands-on • Hands-on • Build a bridge out of straws, tape, and paper

22. Hey! What’s the Problem? • Spontaneous problems • Judged on whether they are: • Common • Creative • Humorous “Volcanic Red when my Mom is mad!”

23. Key Dates • 1st team meetings Oct/Nov • Coaches training (regional) Nov 20th(Sat 9-3) Hughes MS • Coaches Q&As (2) TBA • Team registration deadline TBA (Jan) • Need ½ volunteer (2 hrs) • Need judge (2 days) • Spontaneous invitational • TJ Jan TBA(Sat 8-3) • Judges training Feb 20th(Sat 9-3) -tentative date Hughes MS • Regional meet March 5th(all day) -tentative date Falls Church HS

24. Elements of Success • Commitment – Motivation comes from within: • Kids – 2 hours/week • Parents • Coaches – 3 hours/week, shared • Coordinators • Coaches, coaches, coaches! • Main or Co-Coach • Snacks or spontaneous stuff • Houses for meetings • Support • Coaches training (regional) • Mentors • Library/Websites • Focus on – • The PROCESS! • Having ... F U N !

25. Think Welcome toOdyssey of the MindOrientation Meeting!Rachel Carson Middle School Thanks For Your Minds! Where we ...