SCIENCE OLYMPIAD 2008 EVENT DESCRIPTIONS AND CURRICULUM CORRELATIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL (C) AND JUNIOR HIGH (B)

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD EVENTS are balanced among three broad areas of Science Standards or Intended Learning Outcome (ILO’s). The events from the past several years are listed, those in red are new (at least to the division) for the 2008 tournament.

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD EVENT DESCRIPTIONS:

Amphibians/Reptiles (B)- this event will test knowledge of amphibians, turtles, crocodiles and reptiles.

Anatomy (2008 Nervous & Circulatory, Addiction) (B)- teams will be tested on their knowledge of anatomy and health concepts

Astronomy (2008 Variable Stars) (C) - Teams identify constellations and solve astronomy problems.

Earth Systems Standard 1 Objective 2: Relate the structure and composition of the solar system to the processes that exist in the universe.

Balloon Launch Glider (B) - Students will construct and test gliders prior to event day.

8^th Grade Standard 4 Objective 3: Investigate the application of forces that act on objects, and the resulting motion.

8^th Grade Standard 4 objective 3d: Design and build a complex machine capable of doing a specified task.

Bio- Process Lab (B)- teams will demonstrate biology laboratory skills related to selected topics.

            Various ILO’s

Boomilever (C)- teams will design, build and test the lightest Boomilever to carry a maximum load.

Physics Standard 3 Objective 1a: Investigate how mass affects the gravitational force (e.g., spring scale, balance, or other method of finding a relationship between mass and the gravitational force).

Chemistry Lab ( 2008 Chemical Reactions & Energy) (C) -Teams will demonstrate chemistry laboratory skills related to selected topics.

Chemistry Standards

Circuit Lab (C) - Students will compete in experimentation and problem solving activities to test their knowledge of electrical circuits.

Physics Standard 3 Objective 2: Describe the factors that affect the electric force (i.e. Coulomb’s law).

Physics Standard 4: Students will understand transfer and conservation of energy.

Crave the Wave (B)- Students will demonstrate their understanding of waves and wave motion.

            8^th Grade Standard 4 Objective 1A: Relate the energy of a wave to wavelength.

Disease Detective (B/C) - Students will be asked to identify probable causes of various public health problems and propose possible strategies to control or prevent those problems from given data.

6^th Grade Standard 5 Objective 3d: Relate several disease caused by microorganisms to the organisms causing the disease.

Biology Standard 5 Objective 3: Describe how interactions among organisms and their environment help shape ecosystems.

Ecology (2008 Forests & Deserts) (B/C)- Students will answer questions involving content knowledge and process skills in ecology and adaptation by examining different ecosystems.

7^th Grade Standard 4 Objective 2: Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.

Biology Standard 1: Students will understand that living organisms interact with one another and their environment.

Biology Standard 5 Objective 1b: Relate genetic variability to a species’ potential for adaptation to a changing environment.

Electric Vehicle (C)- Students will construct a vehicle that uses electrical energy as its sole mean of propulsion.

            Physics Standard 4: Students will understand transfer and conservation of energy.

Experimental Design (C) - Given a set of unknown objects, teams will design, conduct, analyze and write-up an experiment.

Various ILO’s

Fermi Questions (C) - Teams seek a fast, rough estimate of quantity in power(s) of ten.

Five Star Science (C)- Teams will compete in an academic pentathlon to demonstrate their overall understanding of five major science content areas.

Food Science (B/C) - Students will answer questions and perform experiments pertaining to food chemistry.

7^th Grade Standard 1 Objective 2C: Calculate the density of various solids and liquids.

Biology Standard 2 Objective 1: Describe the fundamental chemistry of living cells.

7^th-9^th Grade Intended Learning Outcome 1: Use Science Process and Thinking Skills

Forensics (C) - Students will identify polymers, solids, fibers, and other materials in a crime scenario.

Chemistry Standard 3: Students will understand chemical bonding and the relationship of the type of bonding to the chemical and physical properties of substances.

Health Science (2008 Nervous & Circulatory, Addiction) (C) - Teams will be tested on their knowledge of health concepts.

Biology Standard 3: Students will understand the relationship between structure and function of organs and organ systems.

Herpetology (C)- this event will test knowledge of amphibians, turtles, crocodiles and reptiles.

Meteorology (2008 Severe Storms) (B) – This event involves the use of process skills as applied to meteorology.

Earth Systems Standard 4: Students will understand that water cycles through and between reservoirs in the hydrosphere and affects the other spheres of the Earth system. Metric Mastery (B) - Students will demonstrate an intuitive feeling for estimating and later for measuring different events/objects using SI metric units.

            Various ILO’s

Mystery Architecture (B) - Students build a device for a specific purpose with given materials.

7^th-9^th Grade Intended Learning Outcome 3: Demonstrate Understanding of Science Concepts, Principles and Systems.

8^th Grade Standard 4 Objective 3: Investigate the application of forces that act on objects, and the resulting motion.

Oceanography (B/C) - Teams will work at stations that display a variety of earth science materials and related earth science questions.

            Various Earth Science Standards

Physics Lab (2008 Energy, alternative, ect.) (C) – Teams will demonstrate physics laboratory skills related to selected topics.

Various Physics Standards

Reach for the Stars (2008 Constellations)(B) - Teams will identify stars, constellations, and deep sky objects and be knowledgeable about their evolutionary stages.

Earth Science Standard 1 Objective 2:Relate the structure and composition of the solar system to the processes that exist in the universe.

Remote Sensing (2008 Mars) (C) – Teams use maps and remote sensing technology to explain human land use patterns and the relationship of a region’s physical environment to the cultural landscape.

Interpretation of Data ILO’s

Road Scholar (B) - Requires the accurate interpretation and understanding of various map features using a variety of road and topographic maps.

Interpretation of Data ILO’s

Robot Cross (B)- students will design and build a robot capable of performing certain tasks.

            Various ILO’s

Robot Ramble (C) – Students will design and build a robot capable of performing certain tasks.

Various Physics Standards depending on task.

Rocks & Minerals (B/C) - Students will move from station to station answering problems on identification, composition, and economic importance of rocks and minerals.

7^th Grade Standard 2 Objective 1: Examine the effects of density and particle size on the behavior of materials in mixtures.

7^th Grade Standard 2 Objective 2: Use and develop a simple classification system.

8^th Grade Standard 3 Objective 1: Compare rocks and minerals and describe how they are related.

Science Word (B) - Teams will take turns using a set of scientific terms or concepts while the other team member guesses the terms

Scrambler (B) - Students will design and build a mechanical device which uses the energy from a falling mass to transport an egg along straight track, stopping as close to a terminal barrier as possible without braking the egg.

Physics Standard 1: Students will understand how to measure, calculate, and describe the motion of an object in terms of position, time, velocity, and acceleration.

Physics Standard 2: Students will understand the relation between force, mass, and acceleration.

Physics Standard 4: Students will understand transfer and conservation of energy.

Simple Machines (2008 Magnify Your Strength) (B)- teams will demonstrate physics laboratory skills related to simple machines.

8^th Grade Standard 4: Students will understand the relationship among energy, force, and motion.

Sounds of Music (B) – A team will build musical instruments, describe the scientific principles behind their operation and perform a musical selection on them.

8^th Grade Standard 4 Objective 1a: Relate the energy of a wave to wavelength.

 Trajectory (B) - Teams will design, construct, calibrate and operate a device capable of launching a projectile into a target using energy provided by nonmetallic elastic solids.

            Various ILO’s

 Tower Building (B)-Teams will design, build & test the lightest tower to carry a maximum load.

Physics Standard 2 Objective 2: Using Newton’s second law, relate the force, mass, and acceleration of an object.

 Wright Stuff (C) Students will design and build a propeller propelled aerodynamic device for greatest time aloft.

8^th Grade Standard 4 Objective 3: Investigate the application of forces that act on objects, and the resulting motion.

Physics Standard 2: Students will understand the relation between force, mass, and acceleration

 Write It/Do It (B/C)- A technical writing exercise where students write a description of a contraption and other students will attempt to recreate it using only the written description.

Communication ILO’s