1. May Madness and the SOLympics
Presenters: Charmaine Hubbard & Kate Wolfe
Lee Hall Elementary, Newport News, Virginia

2. Grade Levels SOLympics: 3rd grade
May Madness: Virginia Studies (4th or 5th)

3. WHAT is it?
Students compete class versus class on strands that usually prove difficult on the SOL tests.
All classes who score a certain number of points WIN!

4. WHY do it?
Engaging competition helps increase student motivation to study for SOL tests.

5. WHEN should you compete?
Can be anytime of the year
Preferably Spring as a final competition

6. WHERE to hold the competition
Opening Ceremonies: Large space (gyms, auditoriums, cafeterias, playgrounds)
Competitions: General education classrooms
Closing Ceremonies: Parade outside or down hallways to a large space

7. HOW to hold a competition
Decide what strands you want to cover
Create your teams
Decide on a schedule
Create competition questions (on PowerPoint)
Opening Ceremony
Compete!
Closing Ceremony

8. 1) Decide what strands you want to cover
Use data from throughout the school year to determine weakest strands for students
Can use subjects other than social studies
Examples:
Third Grade: Economics, World Cultures, Geography
Virginia Studies: Regions, Wars, Government (Documents, people, etc.)

9. 2) Create your teams How many classes do you have?
Find team names that represent your subjects
Examples:
3rd Grade: Mali, China, Egypt, Rome, Greece
Virginia Studies: Regions, Rivers, Famous People

10. 2) Create your teams Create team spirit Each team gets a color
Use pieces of fabric as armbands/headbands, etc..
(should only be worn during competition)
Create a team flag (2)
Choose a team song or motto

11. 2) Create your teams Possible team songs
Can choose either motivational OR subject-related
Motivational:
Eye of the Tiger
We Will Rock You
We Are Family
We Are the Champions

12. 2) Create your teams Team Flags
Use the same fabric as armbands/headbands
Put on a dowel stick
Should reflect your team name
Have a flag holder
Will be used later in the competition

13. 3) Decide on a schedule How long do you have for review?
Do you want to compete daily, twice a week, etc.?
Depends on the number of strands/subjects that you want to cover and the number of classes that you.

14. 3) Decide on a schedule
Divide each class into a Home Team and an Away Team
Can be changeable or static
Schedule your rotations (example)

15. 4) Create competition questions
PowerPoint or other presentation program
Use released SOL test questions (for subjects not social studies)
Can be multiple choice or open-ended (for more advanced students)
Decide how many questions will be in your question set

16. 5) Opening Ceremonies
Have students proceed into the room to their team songs
Create team spirit
Can have guest speakers, such as administrators
Explain rules & demo
March out to music

17. 6) Competing Rules COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY
Discuss with your teammates beforehand
When problems arise, be open to solving them in the fairest manner possible
Be flexible!

18. 6) Competing Prizes Choose a bronze, silver, and gold medal prize
Do NOT decide how many points are needed to reach each level until AFTER the first round of competition
Take the LOWEST number of points (remember to add both home & away teams) and multiply it by number of rounds. That should be your gold level.

19. 6) Competing Example Prizes Bronze: Popsicles
Silver: Popcorn Party & Movie
Gold: Frozen Yogurt Social

20. 6) Competing
Prizes
Remember to get administrative approval BEFORE you tell students about the prizes
Try to tie prizes into educational content if possible (ie, watch a Magic School Bus movie)
Make treats as healthy as possible (ie, fruit toppings, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream)

21. 6) Competing Materials Needed
Make sure that all teachers have answers to questions provided to them
Teacher white board/chalkboard for keeping points
Student white boards/chalkboards, markers, and erasers (1 per team) for writing down answers
Team flags
Clock (stopwatch)

22. 6) Competition Keeping track of points
Can be in each classroom (more personal)
Can be out in a main hallway
Bar graph (horizontal)
Show medal designations
Make sure to add HOME and AWAY points together, and then add to previous total

23. 7) Closing Ceremonies
Can ask for parents or other school volunteers to help set up frozen yogurt social beforehand
Get younger grades involved for parade
Parade with music, flags, and chants
Eat and enjoy!

24. 8) Take the SOL test
Get 600s 

25. Questions? More Ideas? Email us: Kate.wolfe@nn.k12.va.us