2. Social Studies Number Sense Calculator Maps, Graphs, and Charts Oral Reading: Poetry/Prose Art Listening Skills Dictionary Skills Science Spelling Ready Writing

3.  This contest is designed to encourage students to expand their knowledge of social studies, particularly in the areas of history, government systems, economics, citizenship, and culture.  For the district Academic Decathlon, students will be given an objective test containing approximately 40 questions, which must be answered in 30 minutes. Subject matter used for the test will be taken from the currently adopted state-mandated curriculum.

5.  Every day, individuals are called upon to use their ability to make quick mental calculations to make decisions. The development of such abilities is an integral part of the math curriculum.  For the district Academic Decathlon, students will be given a 10-minute, 80 question, fill-in-the-blank test which they must complete without doing calculations on paper or on a calculator. Erasures, mark-overs, and mark-outs are not permitted. The test will cover basic arithmetic and mathematical functions in grades four through six.

7.  Every day, individuals are called upon to use their ability to make quick mental calculations to make decisions. The development of such abilities is an integral part of the math curriculum.  For the district Academic Decathlon, students will be given a 10-minute, 80 question, fill-in-the-blank test which they must complete without doing calculations on paper or on a calculator. Erasures, mark-overs, and mark-outs are not permitted. The test will cover basic arithmetic and mathematical functions in grades four through six.

8.  The maps, graphs, and charts contest is designed to help students learn to obtain information from a variety of maps, graphs, and charts including world maps, pie charts, bar graphs, and local area maps. Tests will include previously published maps as well as charts, graphs, and maps students have seen before. The objective test will measure skills such as using a reference book to locate information, making comparisons, estimating and approximating, using scale and interpreting legends and keys.  For the district Academic Decathlon, students will be given an objective test containing approximately 75 multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions which must be answered in 45 minutes. Subject matter used for the test will be taken from the Nystrom Desk Atlas (which will be provided), as well as other maps, graphs, and/or other charts that students have never seen before.

10.  Reading literature out loud provides opportunities for students to analyze the text, to grow, and to develop as a performer, to communicate a message to an audience and to perform an artistic creation.  For the district Academic Decathlon, a selection from the oral reading list (provided by the district) will be revealed, and students will have approximately 5 minutes to practice and prepare for their oral presentation in front of the judges.

11. The art contest involves the study of 40 paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and from Texas art galleries and museums. Students learn to recognize and identify various works of art and the artists who created them. As part of their study, they will demonstrate a basic understanding of art history and intercept ideas and moods in original art works. The district Academic Decathlon for art contestants will consist of two parts :  Part A: Requires contestants to identify 15 paintings from the official list of 40 paintings given.  Part B: 30 questions about art elements and art history characteristics of the 40 art selections.

13.  The listening contest is designed to help students recognize the importance of effective listening skills and to identify problems they may have in listening skills and to identify problems they may have in listening effectively. The contest provides a challenging format to test the improvement of their listening abilities, and encourages students to develop the foundation skills they will need throughout their lives, both in and out of the classroom.  For the district Academic Decathlon, contestants will listen to a script ranging from approximately seven to 10 minutes in length, take notes as needed, and use their notes to answer 25 multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, and true/false test questions. A variety of subject matter will be used for the listening tests.

15.  Through knowledge of the dictionary is a way to increase a student’s ability to find the information that is needed for class work as well as everyday living. The subject matter of all tests is taken from the Merriam Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary. Contestants may use other dictionaries in the contest, but the correct test answers will be found in the official dictionary.  For the district Academic Decathlon, dictionary skills contestants will be given 40 questions that the students will answer using their dictionaries. They will be given 20 minutes to complete the test.

17.  Emphasis for the science contest will be placed on knowledge of scientific fact, understanding of scientific principles, and the ability to think through scientific problems. The contest is designed to test not only memory but the ability to think critically about science and science concepts.  For the district Academic Decathlon, students will consist of approximately 35 questions, which must be answered in 45 minutes. Subject matter used for the test will be taken from the currently adopted state- mandated curriculum.

19.  The spelling contest is designed to expose students to a wide variety of vocabulary words. It is not a contest of memorization. For the most educational value, preparation for this contest should include instruction in the rules of the English language, meanings and definitions, and root words.  For the district Academic Decathlon, students will spell 80 words (20 words for a tie breaker), at a rate of 5 words per minute. The A+ Spelling List, used for the competition, changes each year, so students need the current list to study.

21.  Texas puts great emphasis on writing skills at all levels of school and all levels of state-wide testing. Ready writing builds those skills and helps students refine their writing abilities. In particular, this contest helps them learn to write a clear and correct paper that is interesting and original.  For the district Academic Decathlon, contestants are given a choice between two prompts, each of which defines the audience and provides the purpose for writing. Students should be encouraged to analyze the prompts for purpose, format, audience and point of view. The format may be, for example, a letter, an article for the newspaper or essay for the principal. Various writing strategies may be stated or implied in the prompt. Some of these include description to inform, narration of a story, and persuasion. Students will be given two hours to complete a one-page composition. Various resources may be used, including dictionaries, thesauruses, and computers.

23. Fourth and fifth grade students who are interested in becoming a Team MAD member must complete the following tasks:  Receive permission from a parent/guardian and attend the informational meeting.  Complete Team MAD application, receive permission from a parent/guardian to try out, and select a category that interests you for Day 2 of try outs. Team MAD try-outs will be a two-day event.  Day One: All students who try out for the team will take part in the same timed tests that will assess the students’ abilities in dictionary skills, number sense, calculator, listening skills, spelling, and maps/graphs/ charts.  Day Two: The second day of try-outs will assess students in one of the following categories: social studies, science, poetry/prose, art, or ready writing. Try-outs for these categories is based on the personal preference of each student (according to their applications), and study materials will be provided once the Team MAD application is returned.

24.  Thursday, November 12th : Team MAD Informational Meeting  Thursday, November 19 th : Team MAD applications Due/Study Materials for Day 2 try-out selection distributed  Wednesday, December 2 nd : Try-Outs Day One (dictionary, number sense, calculator, listening, spelling, and maps/graphs/charts)  Thursday, December 3 rd : Try-Outs Day Two (one of the following: social studies, science, poetry/prose, art, or ready writing)  Friday, December 11 th : Team Members Revealed and Posted  Saturday, May 21 st : GPISD Academic Decathlon Meet