Rising Star Team Manager Training October 17, 2013 Northwest ISD

| © 2010 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Creativity has the power to change the world. Becoming a team is a life-changing experience. Our world’s future depends on extraordinary problem solvers.

What is Destination ImagiNation? Destination ImagiNation is an educational activity in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. DI is available across the US and in more than 30 countries.

The DI Program Elementary to university-level students can participate. Students must participate in teams up to 7 members. Teams compete in any of 7 Team Challenges. –A Destination ImagiNation Challenge is a fun exercise that socially and intellectually activates students by prompting them to use creativity and teamwork to solve a problem. –We offer the following types of Team Challenges: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Structural, Service Learning, and Early Learning Challenge (aka Rising Stars!)

The DI Program Teams showcase their Challenge solutions in Tournaments: Teams first attend Regional Tournaments. The tournament date is February 22 at Legacy High School in Mansfield. They can advance to Affiliate (State) Tournaments. Top teams advance from Affiliate Tournaments to the DI Global Finals at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Participation There are 5 age levels in DI: –Rising Stars! (ages 5 to 7, non-competitive) –Elementary (3 rd to 5 th grade) –Middle (6 th to 8 th grade) –Secondary (9 th to 12 th grade) –University (university-level)

Rising Stars This level of DI is a great way to teach kids about solving challenges in a fun and non- competitive environment. These are the years when you get the kids hooked on Destination Imagination, so make it fun and stress-free!

The Two Required Components of Competition In DI, there are two components to the competition: Central Challenge- this is the challenge that the kids will work on for a few months. For Rising Stars, it will be a play/skit. They will practice and perfect it for competition. It can involve props and costumes. It can last as long as 8 minutes. Family and friends will watch this performance. Let’s watch one:

Instant Challenges This is the 2 nd required component for competition. In this challenge, teams are asked to creatively solve a problem using given materials in a small amount of time. The Instant Challenge is kept confidential until the day of the tournament. Only the team members and 1 coach can go into the instant challenge room.

Instant Challenge Cont. Instant Challenges measure: - The ability to use materials in a creative way -Improvisational skills -Engineering skills -Time management -TEAMWORK!!!!!

Instant Challenges Cont. Important: -Practice as many Instant Challenges as possible before competition day! -Do not help the team solve the challenge! You can give feedback after the challenge but not during.

Instant Challenges Cont. Still confused??? Let’s try one. Volunteers???

The Optional Component For Rising Stars, there is an optional component called team choice elements that is required for competition teams. For Rising Stars, the team choice elements are not scored but it is a good idea to get teams thinking about them.

What is a Team Choice Element? It is an extra element that has a meaningful connection to the Central Challenge solution. For example: -A poem, dance, or song -Costumes -A backdrop -An interesting Prop -Evidence of teamwork

Any questions so far?

Let’s take a look at the challenge! Unpacking the Program Materials

Rules of the Road Please go over this before you meet with your team. Interference of a challenge is prohibited by the coach and parents. Interference is offering any type of assistance to the team in solving the challenge.

Are you Hooked???

The Next Step Contact your campus liaison and let them know that you would LOVE to coach a DI team. They will get you the names of your team members. Contact the parents with a location and time of your meetings. Your campus liaison can help you find a place on campus to meet with your team. All coaches need a background check! Good Luck!!!

Questions

Registering your team Once you have your list of team members, go to the Greater Ft. Worth Website to register your team. Click on Register teams for Tournament. Follow the Directions!! Go ahead and have each child fill out a Medical and Media Release form. We will call for these along with your printed tournament registration form at the beginning of December. (You will be glad you did this early)

Thank you for coming!! Imagination Rocks!!!