Mixed: The 51st State

The 51st State

Judges Version
Source: Spirit of Chicago
http://texasom.blogspot.com/

This is a verbal hands-on problem. You have one minute to determine which team members will solve the problem.

JUDGE READS TO TEAM (after participants are determined):

You will have 7 minutes to complete this problem. You may talk or ask questions at any time; however, time continues. At the end of 7 minutes, you will have one minute to present your solution to be scored.

Your problem is to create a new state. You need to name it, design a symbol, a flag, a state tree, and a state song that will be sung to the judges. You must use the materials given to design you hat. No other materials may be used. At the end of time, you will have one minute to present your state information and song to the judges.

Score will be as follows:

• 1-15 points for creativity of the name
• 1-15 points for creativity of the symbol
• 1-15 points for creativity of the flag
• 1-15 points for the creativity of the tree
• 1-20 points for the creativity and presentation of the song
• 1-20 points for team work

Materials and Setup

Give each team the following materials.

• 3 piece of papers
• colored crayone, markers, or pencils
• Scissors
• Sticky lables

Scoring Grid

Item	Quantity	Value	Total
Creativity of name		1 - 15
Creativity of flag		1 - 15
Creativity of tree		1 - 15
Creativity of symbo		1 - 15
Creativity and presentation of song		1 - 20
Teamwork		1 - 20

Verbal: Indecisive Appliance

Indecisive Appliance

Judges Version Problem
Source: Spirit of Chicago
http://texasom.blogspot.com/

This is a verbal spontaneous problem. You have one minute to decide which 5 team members will participate.

(After the team chooses) JUDGE READS TO THE TEAM:

You will have 1 minute to think and 4 minutes to respond. You will respond in clockwise order. Before responding, you must remove one item from the container on the table and place it in front of you. You may give responses until time ends or you run out of items. Questions count against your thinking time. You may not skip your turn, nor repeat, nor pass. If one member of the team is stuck, the team is stuck.

• Common answers will receive 1 point.
• Creative answers will receive 3 points.
• Highly creative or humorous answers will receive 5 points.

The toaster named "Phil," desperately to become another kitchen appliance. Your problem is to state what appliance Phil wants to be and why?

(Judge repeats, "Your problem is:…)

JUDGES: Be sure each team member has 7 cards. Provide a box or basket for the cards to be placed into after each response.

HO: Hanging Tennis Ball

Hanging Tennis Ball

Judges Version
Problem Source: http://www.geocities.com/nepaootmspon/

This is a hands-on problem. You have one minute to determine which team members will solve the problem.

JUDGE READS TO TEAM (after participants are determined):
You will have 7 minutes to complete this problem. You may talk or ask questions at any time; however, time continues. At the end of 7 minutes, you will present your solution.

Your problem is to design and build a device to hang a tennis ball. You may not pierce the tennis ball. You will be given materials to be used in your solution. No other materials may be used. At the end of six minutes, the judge will hang your device from a door jamb or some other suitable place using a piece of masking tape.

Score will be as follows:

• 1-20 points for creativity of the device
• 1-20 points for team work
• 5 point for every inch from the top of the device to the top of the tennis ball.

Materials and Setup

Give each team the following materials.

• 1 Tennis Ball
• 4 Toothpicks
• 2 Paper Clips
• 2 Straws
• 1 Sheet of Paper
• 2 Rubber Bands

Scoring Grid

Item	Quantity	Value	Total
Creativity of the device		1 - 20
Team Work		1 - 20
Inches from device to ball		x 5

HO: Hats Off

Hats Off

Judges Version
Problem Source: http://texasom.blogspot.com/

This is a hands-on problem. You have one minute to determine which team members will solve the problem.

JUDGE READS TO TEAM (after participants are determined):

You will have 7 minutes to complete this problem. You may talk or ask questions at any time; however, time continues. At the end of 7 minutes, you will have one minute to present your solution to be scored.

Your problem is to design a hat that will have an alternative function when not being worn. You must use the materials given to design you hat. No other materials may be used.

Score will be as follows:

• 1-20 points for creativity of the hat
• 1-20 points for creativity of the alternate use
• 1-20 points for team work
• 1-20 point for presentation of solution

Materials and Setup

Give each team the following materials.

• 2 paper bags
• 3 paper plates
• 5 cottenballs
• 3 pipe cleaners
• 5 styrofoam cups
• 10 paper clips
• 12 inches of string
• 3 mailing labels
• Scissors
• Two colored markers or crayons
• 10 pieces of spaghetti
  

Scoring Grid

Item	Quantity	Value	Total
Creativity of the hat		1 - 20
Creativity of the alternate use		1 - 20
Team Work		1 - 20
Presentation		1 - 20

Baseball Cards

I use this activity as a way for kids to get to know each other, display creativity, and learn about revision. I ask the kids to create a "baseball card" for themselves. All I require is that it include their name and phone number since these will be distributed to all the other team members for contact information. When they bring their cards, we go over them as a group pointing out the different features of each card. I've seen everything from drawn pictures taped to index cards to computer generated cards.

After reveiwing the cards, you can take one of two approaches. In the past, I've asked them to redo their cards for next week and bring enough for everyone in the group to have one. The point is that no matter how good a card is, there is room for improvement. It's also a way to find out how much effort each member is willing to put into improving their card. This year, I'm going to ask the teams to review the cards and decide on a format that all the cards should follow. Since I haven't actually reached this point, all I can say is that I hope that this will be the start of learning group decision-making and accepting other people's ideas. We'll see.

Verbal: Language Invention

Language Invention

Judges Version
Problem Source: Spirit of Chicago
http://texasom.blogspot.com/

This is a verbal spontaneous problem. You have one minute to decide which 5 team members will participate.

(After the team chooses) Judge reads:

You each have a piece of paper and pencil. You will have three minutes to complete this task. Each member must write their own answers without assistance from other team members. Questions count against your time. All team member responses will be scored at the end of three minutes. Except for questions, no talking is allowed.

• Common answers will receive 1 point.
• Creative answers will receive 3 points.
• Highly creative or humorous answers will receive 5 points.

Your problem is: each team member is to make-up 3 words and write the definition for each made-up word. The team will receive points for creativity and originality. For example: donker is someone who rides a donkey. (Judge repeats, "Your problem is:…)

JUDGES: Be sure each team member has one sheet of paper and a pen or pencil.

L-Creativity: Mind Tools

You should visit this site for two reasons. The first is that it provides a clear and concise overview of a variety of problem solving techniques. SCAMPER, Brainstorming, and the Six Thinking Hats are just some of the methods/tools you'll find on the site. The second reason to visit is that it reaffirms that Odyssey of the Mind has meaning in the "real" world. This is a site for career coaching. These tools are part of the site because they are useful in advancing careers. We may be "playing" in OM, but the skills learned will last long after we compete in our last tournament.