SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

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SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

• Write It Do It
• CeAnn Chalker
• Penny Valentini

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Write It Do It Overview

• 2 students communicate precisely and clearly
  through technical writing
• A team member will write directions to build a
  model (the writer)
• Other team member will build the model using only
  the written directions (the builder)

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Possible Building Materials

• Science equipment/materials
• Everyday materials
• Straws, push pins, foam balls, paper cups,
  popsicle sticks, index cards, stickers, etc.
• Commercial toy sets
• Googoplex, Knex, Tinker Toys, Legos, Lincoln
  Logs, etc.

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Writing Limitations

• Words, Letters, Numerals
• Common Punctuation
• Editing symbols
• Items that can be produced on a 101 key keyboard
  by pressing a single key or a single key in combo
  with the shift key.
• Must be used in their normal context not as
  symbols to form a key/code.

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Writing Limitations Abbreviations

• All abbreviations must be defined at the
  beginning or when they 1st appear
• No prepared abbreviations on labels permitted

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Time Limits

• Writer
• 25 minutes to write
• Builder
• Up to 20 minutes to build
• Builders time used as a tie breaker

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Tournament Day

• Event Supervisors will provide the same models
  for all teams to write
• Teams may have to share models
• Students may not touch models
• Builders will be given pieces to build their
  models
• May have more pieces than needed

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Scoring Penalties

• 1 pt. for correct piece placed in proper
  connection and location compared to model.
• 5 Penalty for each different type of infraction
• Pieces connected correctly beyond an incorrect
  connection will be counted in the score.
• No penalty for parts not used.

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Coaching Tips

• Collect Building Materials
• Writing Techniques
• Write Build weekly

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Collect Building Materials

• Toys from garage sales, donations from school
  families
• Knex, Legos, Blocks, Lincoln Logs, etc.
• Everyday objects
• Index cards, paper clips, popsicle sticks,
  playing cards, straws, spaghetti, string, rubber
  bands, stickers, etc.

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Writing Techniques - Format

• Write key at top of page
• Quick description of model (if possible)
• Writing Style
• Numbered line format not paragraph
• Each piece gets a new numbered line
• Write phrases, not complete sentences

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Writing Techniques Pieces

• Describe each Piece as it is used
• Color
• Size
• Shape
• Features

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Writing Techniques - Orientation

• Level plane
• North, south, east, west, ne, nw, se, sw, etc.
  (south being toward yourself)
• Vertical plane
• Up, down or top, bottom
• More precise angles
• Use degrees (360 degrees)
• Hour hand on clock

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Writing Techniques Location of Connection

• What piece is new one adjoined to?
• Where is piece connected to old piece?
• Top, bottom, north, south, east, west, etc.
• What direction is new piece facing?
• What are the connection points?

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Write Build Weekly

• Have everyone both Write and Build at beginning
• Divide into appropriate pairs as the season
  progresses
• Make sure everyone uses same Writing Techniques
  and agrees on Wording and Descriptors