Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting! McNair Elementary School Think Where we ...

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

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 Think

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

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

WHEN is OM? Weekly (usually) Coaches Training March = regional meet 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)

WHERE ? Someone’s house Need May be space at McNair after school 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 (?)

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?)

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.)

HOW is OM Done? Coaches identified (Yeah!) Students identified 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

HOW is OM Done? NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE! KIDS come up with ideas 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

F U N ! 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 !

Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting Welcome to Odyssey of the Mind Orientation Meeting! Rachel Carson Middle School Thanks For Your Minds! Think Where we ...