September 8, 2010

Dear Science Olympiad Volunteer,

Thank you very much for offering to support our students by helping with the 2011 Sonoma County Science Olympiad. Without your help, such a wonderful event would not be possible.

To volunteer, you will need to complete the form on the following one page. To do so:

1.  Download/save the form to your computer desktop.

2.  Complete the form by clicking and typing in the shaded areas.

3.  Return the form to Jill McIntyre by attaching it to an email and sending it to Jill by April 4, 2011, if possible at:

Most Science Olympiad event volunteers do not need to have a strong science background. You will be supervising the students as they do the activities. Most important is your ability to supervise and interact with elementary age (about 9-11 years old) students in a supportive, positive way as they do the activities. While the Science Olympiad is a competition, the emphasis is on having fun while doing some science activities.

The student teams will have been provided with rules for each event, and most will have used the rules as they practiced for the Olympiad. It is important that event supervisors apply the rules consistently and fairly.

Our preference is to have enough volunteers to have at least two supervisors for each event. We hope that we can have at least one “experienced” volunteer in each room. The time estimates are very approximate, but may help you to plan your day.

Judges (Volunteers) should plan to arrive at Lawrence B. Jones Middle School (formerly Creekside Middle School) in time for the orientation beginning at 8 a.m. Most events will conclude by 1:30, but you are welcome to stay for the Naked Egg Drop and awards ceremony which will probably conclude between 3:30 or 4 p.m.

If you have questions or suggestions, please let me know. I am a part-time employee, so the best way to reach me is via email (above). If you know anybody else who might be interested in volunteering, please ask them to complete a volunteer from or contact me.

I look forward to meeting you. Thank you in advance.

Mike Roa

Science Specialist

(707) 522-3253 or

Return this eVolunteer form by April 4, 2011 to: Jill McIntyre

I am unable volunteer this year, but please keep me on the list.

I will no longer be able to volunteer for the Science Olympiad.

Name
Organization / (company, group, club)
Title / (title at your organization.)
Street
City/ Zip
Daytime Phone / optional: evening phone:
Email
Comments

Is there anybody with whom you would prefer to work? If so, please list them here and ask them to also submit a volunteer from.

Name / Phone / Email / Comments

Do you know of anybody else who might be willing to help? If so, please ask them to submit an eVolunteer form of their own.

After reviewing the various categories, please mark your first, second and third choices. Please email this one (1) page document to Jill McIntyre at or, fax to Jill at 707-524-2734.

First Choice = 1; Second Choice = 2; Third Choice = 3

Barge Building
Calculator Contest Event Supervisor
Calculator Contest Scoring
Catapult
Categories
Describe It, Make it
Hit the Spot
Investigations
Event Supervisor
Investigations Scoring
Metric Measurement
Naked Egg Drop
Picture This
Overall Scoring
Science Jeopardy
Taking Flight
Tower of Strength
Who Am I?
Time / Events / Time / Events
8 AM to
1 PM / Barge Building: Teams of 1 or 2 students use a piece of aluminum foil to build a barge. They place the barge in a pan of water and add pennies until the barge sinks. Supervisors will count the pennies and help keep the area clean and dry. / 8 AM
to
1:30 PM / Metric Measurement Mania: Teams of 1 or 2 students are asked to select objects with given metric measurements. They are also asked to measure a variety of objects using metric rulers and graduated cylinders. A key will be provided for the volunteer/judge. Volunteers will need to provide general supervision and keep the area clean, dry, and neat.
8 AM to
1:00 PM / Calculator Contest: Teams of 1 or 2 students are given problems to solve using calculators that we provide. The students solve the problems and explain (in writing) how they went about solving them. We will need some volunteers to supervise the event and others to score the student responses. / 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM / Naked Egg Drop: Teams of 2 students use up to 10 sheets of paper to build an egg catcher. One member drops a raw egg into the catcher. The winner is the team that is able to drop the egg from the greatest height. This is the culminating event of the Science Olympiad. Several supervisors help make sure that the students use only the allotted materials, help with measuring the height, and help assure that the students use the ladders safely.
8 AM to
1 PM / Catapult: Teams of 1 or 2 students use craft sticks, rubber bands, plastic cups and other materials that we provide to build a catapult. They then use the catapult to launch a wad of clay for distance. Supervisors will need to generally supervise the construction of firing of the catapult and measure the distance of the “shot.” One supervisor will need to drill holes in the arm. (We’ll provide pre-cut wood and the drill.) / 8 AM to
1 PM / Picture This: Teams consist of 4 students. This event is similar to the game “Pictionary.” One student is given a science term to draw on a whiteboard. The other team members attempt to guess the term as it is being drawn. The drawer may not use any letters or verbal cues. Another term is then provided for drawing/guessing. The supervisor decides when the term has been guessed. The supervisor also assures that the students follow the rules.
8 AM to
1:30 PM / Categories: Teams of 2-3 students will be given a table with letters on the left side and categories across the top. Their challenge is to insert science terms that begin with the letters on the left. For example, they may ask to think of mammals, rivers, elements, and scientists that start with the letter “A.” This is similar to the game of “Scattergories.” Volunteers will need to have a general knowledge of science in order to be able to judge the validity of the students’ answers. A science dictionary will be provided. / 12:30 to
4:00 PM / Scoring: Collect and calculate scores in preparation of the awards ceremony. Volunteers will use a laptop computer to tabulate scores from incoming events and post scores.
8 AM to
1:30 PM / Describe It, Make it: Student teams consist of a Describer and a Builder. The Describer is given an object made of Lego building blocks. The Builder sits across from the Describer, his or her view shielded by a cardboard screen. The Describer tries to tell the Builder how to build a replica of the Lego object using only words…not diagrams. The supervisor needs to be sure that the students communicate only with words. / 8 AM to 12:00 Noon / Taking Flight: A Team of 2 students builds 1 or 2 paper airplanes. Each team member tosses one or both of their airplanes from distance. Supervisors will need to measure the distances and generally supervise students as they make and fly paper airplanes in the gym.
8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon / Hit the Spot: A team of 2 students builds 1 or 2 paper airplanes. Each team member tosses one or both of their airplanes at a target on the gym floor. Supervisors will need to measure the distances and generally supervise students as they make and fly paper airplanes in the gym. / 8 AM to 1:30 PM / Tower of Strength: Teams of 1 or 2 students use plastic straws, straight pins, and other simple materials to build a structure that will support a tennis ball. The objective is to build the tallest structure that will stand unassisted for a least 10 seconds. The supervisor will provide general supervision, including cleanup (especially of the pins) and measuring the height of the structure.
8 AM to
1:00 / Investigations: Teams of 2-3 students will be given a “performance task” to accomplish. They then summarize what they did/learn in writing. Volunteers provide general supervision as the student teams accomplish their tasks. We also need different people who are knowledgeable about the science topics to score the student responses. / 8AM to
1:30 PM / Who Am I?: Teams of 1 or 2 students. A variety of items such as animal footprints, scat, leaves, or nests are displayed. Student teams are asked questions based on the items. (What made the nest? How many animals walked by?) We will provide a “key,” but volunteers should have some knowledge of science so that they can interpret the student responses.
8 AM to 1:30 PM / Jeopardy: One at a time, teams of 4-5 students participate in a Jeopardy-like game. We will provide a “key” for the anticipated answers

SO 04 (Online Revised September 15, 2010)