Earth and Space Science Science Olympiad 2009-10 Earth and Space Science Astronomy Dynamic Planet Fossils Remote Sensing

ASTRONOMY

ASTRONOMY Completely new topic this year - GALAXIES This tends to be a test-style event using PowerPoint slides with questions or pictures with questions Calculations are also required

ASTRONOMY – basics Team of 2 students Each student may bring a programmable calculator Each team may bring EITHER a laptop (no internet access allowed) OR a 3-ring binder, any size containing anything as long as it is 3-hole punched and inserted into the rings (plastic sleeves are allowed)

ASTRONOMY – scoring All questions will have a predetermined point value Highest score wins Pre-selected questions will be used to break ties

ASTRONOMY – tips Divide and conquer – students should divide up the material Image search every term in the rules and print/save for the binder/laptop Organization is key – the amount of material is vast, students need to be able to locate notes quickly

ASTRONOMY – websites National site (lots of links): http://soinc.org/astronomy_c North Carolina SO site – coaches institute presentation: http://www.sciencenc.com/Coaches_institute/2009_Presentations/2009%20astronomy%20institute.pdf

DYNAMIC PLANET Volcanoes and Earthquakes

DYNAMIC PLANET - basics Team of 2 Students Each team member may bring in a non-graphing calculator Each team is allowed a single 8 ½ x 11 sheet with notes on each side. Event tends to be an “at seat” test

DYNAMIC PLANET - scoring Highest score wins Points will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

DYNAMIC PLANET - tips Start off by having students go through rules and look up all terms listed The tests tend to have a lot of questions so the only way to finish is for students to split up the questions – feel free to pull apart the test students should also be prepared to complete some activities using their knowledge

Some Example Tasks finding the epicenter of an earthquake calculating the slope of a volcano be able to draw a profile calculate seafloor spreading be able to read and use graphs and charts

DYNAMIC PLANET - resources Suggested Resources on Rules Sheet Resources found on www.sciencenc.com AP Environmental Science textbook (the teacher may also have some resources they use to teach this material) Practice tests – soinc.org, tufts wright center, virginiaso site for last year’s regional test Marcia Krech has great teaching tools you can order online – they are geared to middle school but for students who got stuck with this event and know nothing, start with some simple fun stuff! http://mjksciteachingideas.com/store.html

FOSSILS

FOSSILS - basics Team of 2 students Each team is allowed 1 magnifying glass, one published field guide (tabs, writing, post-its allowed), & one 3-ring binder, any size containing anything as long as it is 3-hole punched and inserted into the rings (plastic sleeves are allowed) Event tends to be a “stations” test where students rotate around the room, but may be an “at-seat” test with PowerPoint slides or pictures

FOSSILS – event tips Students must be able to share the resources – have 1 use the guide and 1 use the notebook Organization is key – teams must be able to find what they are looking for fast Stations or slides are usually timed (ex: 10 stations, 4 minutes per station); students can’t go back to stations, but can keep working on previous questions while at other stations if extra time

FOSSILS - scoring Highest score wins Points will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

FOSSILS – event topics Specimen identification – limited to species on the list (download the list from www.soinc.org and make sure to include it in the binder!) Clues to past environments With the ability to answer questions about classification, habitat, ecologic relationships, behaviors and the use of fossils to date and correlate rock units

FOSSILS –tips Get a kit with samples Get a field guide and have students tab it, use post-its, write in it, etc. so they can find what they need quickly Make sure all of the topics are covered – use charts, diagrams, look in texts, on internet, find syllabi from fellow teachers or online

FOSSILS – preparation Arrange fossils different ways and have students practice with field guide and binder By Periods By Era By mode of preservation In groups By index fossils By ages of (Sea life, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and man) By Invertebrate and vertebrate Fossils

FOSSILS – preparation Have the team make charts for anything you or they can think of! Physical properties, origins Excel is good for these Combine charts Color code Laminate

FOSSILS – preparation Diagrams: Index Fossils The ages of geological Time Era Periods Geologic time scale Taxonomic Hierarchy

FOSSILS - resources National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fossils Fossil Guides (If you have the means, get several to see what the students like) National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fossils A Field Guide to Fossils by Frederick H. Pough (Peterson Field Guides) Smithsonian Fossils Guide: http://www.amazon.com/Fossils-Smithsonian-Handbooks-David-Ward/dp/0789489848 Fossils coaches guide from the Science Olympiad Store

REMOTE SENSING Human Interaction with Forest Biomes

REMOTE SENSING - basics Team of 2 students Each team may bring five 8.5” x 11” two-sided sheets of paper containing any information from any source Each team member may bring any kind of non-graphing calculator Event tends to be an “at-seat” test with some images or a “stations” test where students rotate around the room, looking at images and answering questions

REMOTE SENSING - scoring Highest score wins Points will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

REMOTE SENSING – event topics Using remote sensing imagery to understand causes and consequences of human interaction with forest biomes Using science and mathematical process skills to analyze data or interpret data presented numerically in a grid

REMOTE SENSING - resources Lots of great links at www.soinc.org – lists of terms, tutorials, images explained, etc. Remote Sensing CD from the Science Olympiad Store Google image search Image scale tutorial and coaches institute presentation on www.sciencenc.com website