PRCOotM Presentation

Peachtree Ridge Cluster Odyssey of the Mind!: 

Peachtree Ridge Cluster Odyssey of the Mind! A Parent’s Guide to Peachtree Ridge Cluster Odyssey of the Mind

What makes Odyssey GREAT?: 

What makes Odyssey GREAT? It builds confidence! Students have the opportunity to work as a team. It teaches important problem solving skills. It’s an activity the family can do together! Students can express themselves and show their creativity. Students build life-long friendships. Students have the opportunity to compete in a cooperative and supportive environment. In Odyssey the un usual is usual!

What is Odyssey of the Mind?: 

What is Odyssey of the Mind? Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem solving competition. Any student from Kindergarten through college is elligible to participate.

How does OotM work in our cluster?: 

How does OotM work in our cluster? At the registration meeting in August or September, parents, Ms. Austin, and students will work together to form teams. Each team has 5 to 7 students. Each team will need a parent to coach the team. At the meeting or soon after, teams will choose which one of the problems they want to solve. Teams will work on their solution from September until regional competition in late February or early March.

Problems? What problems?: 

Problems? What problems? Each April, Odyssey of the Mind International releases synopses of the next year’s problems. The synopses are posted on our website. There is one problem for K-2 students. It is called the primary problem. There are 5 problems for all other students to choose from. All problems require teams to write and perform a skit. Some also require some type of device to be built. Teams receive the full version of the problems with all of the rules, limitations, and scoring rubrics in September. At that time, they begin really solving the problem.

The Primary Problem: 

The Primary Problem The primary problem is for students in Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades. It is noncompetitive. Students are given positive comments rather than points. Past coaches suggest meeting on weekends rather than after school as young students may have trouble focusing after a full day of school. It is best to approach this problem as pretending rather than having students write a skit. The primary problem takes much less time than the other problems! Second graders may participate in the primary problem or compete up on a competitive team.

Problem 1 - Vehicle: 

Problem 1 - Vehicle The vehicle problem requires students to build one or more vehicles. Some years the vehicles must be large enough for a student to ride in. Other years, the vehicles are small. This changes from year to year. All problems require students to create a skit. The vehicle problem requires that the vehicle’s actions be integrated with the skit. These teams work well with a balance of team member interests; some students who enjoy building and others who enjoy writing and creating props and still others who enjoy both!

Problem 2 - Technical: 

Problem 2 - Technical The technical problem requires teams to build a device. The type of device required changes from year to year. All problems require students to create a skit. The technical problem requires that the device be integrated with the skit. These teams work well with a balance of team member interests; some students who enjoy building and others who enjoy writing and creating props and still others who enjoy both!

Problem 3 - Classics: 

Problem 3 - Classics The classics problem is a skit based problem. It is usually connected to some type of classical literature. This is a true theatre problem. Students will need to build backdrops and props, but no large devices are built. Students are judged on the creativity of their skit, the quality of their backdrops, costumes, and props, and the quality of their acting. All students on these teams need to enjoy writing and acting.

Problem 4 - Structure: 

Problem 4 - Structure The structure problem requires to build a balsa wood structure that typically weighs less than 18grams and then crush it under weights. The winner is the structure that holds the most weight. These structures typically hold several hundred pounds. Winning structures routinely hold more than 600lbs. This problem is the only problem where a majority of the points scored come from what the team builds, not the skit or how what was built is integrated with the performance. It is a true engineering problem. All problems require students to write and perform a skit, however, in this problem the skit is not worth many points. All students who choose this problem should enjoy meticulous building.

Problem 5 - Comedy: 

Problem 5 - Comedy Problem 5 is a skit based problem. Unlike problem 3, problem 5 is expected to be a humorous skit. This is a true theatre problem. Students will need to build backdrops and props, but no large devices are built. Students are judged on the creativity and humor of their skit, the quality of their backdrops, costumes, and props, and the quality of their acting. All students on these teams need to enjoy writing and acting.

Who coaches teams?: 

Who coaches teams? Ms. Austin is a school sponsor, not a coach. Her job is to help teams get started and relay information from the state and international Odyssey of the Mind organizations. Parents coach!! Odyssey of the Mind IS A COMMITMENT FOR KIDS AND PARENTS. All parents need to be prepared to help the team. This is not an activity where you can just drop your children off and pick them up. You don’t need to know anything about Odyssey of the Mind to be a coach. Odyssey of the Mind provides coaches’ training. We will only have as many teams as we have parents volunteer to be coaches!! Elementary School teams need co-coaches or a coach and an assistant coach. Middle school teams can have one coach, but 2 are still recommended.

Where do teams meet?: 

Where do teams meet? Teams meet at a team member’s house. Students who choose problems 1, 2, or 4 will need to meet somewhere that has tools and a place to build things. Students who choose the primary problem, problem 3, or problem 5 can meet pretty much anywhere. Teams do not have to meet at the coach’s house (though most do). Someone on the team will need to provide a location for meetings! An entire team cannot ride the bus home with one person for meetings. This overcrowds the school bus.

When do teams meet?: 

When do teams meet? Coaches and parents set the team’s schedule, so different teams meet at different times and places. If you want to control the team’s schedule be A COACH!! ODYSSEY TAKES TIME! From September through January, OotM will take 2-3 hours each week. In February, it will take 4-5 hours each week. In the weeks immediately prior to competition, it may take 6 or more hours per week!! Problems that require teams to build a device typically take more time than problems that just require a skit. Regional competition takes place in late February or March at a local high school.

How much does OotM cost?: 

How much does OotM cost? The cost for a team to register for regional competition is $75. Each problem has a cost limit for materials used in the team’s final solution, however, teams do not have to spend that amount. They just can’t spend more than that amount. See the problem synopsis for the price limit for each problem. How teams choose to split up the money required to participate is up to them. Most split the registration price evenly among all team members. Different teams pay for their materials in different ways. Some coaches ask for a certain amount from parents, however, others just ask parents to purchase different things as the team needs them. It is up to each team to decide. Closer to competition, each child will also need to purchase our cluster’s OotM t-shirt. They typically run about $15. If your child’s team wins, there will be additional registration and travel costs for state and world finals. No fundraising for this is done by the schools.

Odyssey is a commitment!: 

Odyssey is a commitment! Odyssey is a commitment for kids and parents! Once your child is placed on team, s/he cannot be replaced. So if someone quits, the team is short one person. Teams are only as successful as the parents are SUPPORTIVE!! This is a family activity. Students get the most out of Odyssey of the Mind when their parents are involved!

What makes Odyssey GREAT?: 

What makes Odyssey GREAT? It builds confidence! Students have the opportunity to work as a team. It teaches important problem solving skills. It’s an activity the family can do together! Students can express themselves and show their creativity. Students build life-long friendships. Students have the opportunity to compete in a cooperative and supportive environment. In Odyssey the un usual is usual!