Earth and Space ScienceAstronomy

Dynamic PlanetFossils

Remote Sensing

ASTRONOMYCompletely new topic this year - GALAXIES

This tends to be a test-style event using PowerPoint slides with questions or pictures with questions

Calculations are also required

ASTRONOMY – basicsTeam of 2 studentsEach student may bring a

programmable calculatorEach team may bring EITHER a laptop

(no internet access allowed) OR a 3-ring binder, any size containing anything as long as it is 3-hole punched and inserted into the rings (plastic sleeves are allowed)

ASTRONOMY – scoringAll questions will have a predetermined point value

Highest score winsPre-selected questions will be used to break ties

ASTRONOMY – tipsDivide and conquer – students should divide up the material

Image search every term in the rules and print/save for the binder/laptop

Organization is key – the amount of material is vast, students need to be able to locate notes quickly

ASTRONOMY – websitesNational site (lots of links): http://soinc.org/astronomy_c

North Carolina SO site – coaches institute presentation: http://www.sciencenc.com/Coaches_institute/2009_Presentations/2009%20astronomy%20institute.pdf

DYNAMIC PLANET - basicsTeam of 2 StudentsEach team member may bring in a non-graphing calculator

Each team is allowed a single 8 ½ x 11 sheet with notes on each side.

Event tends to be an “at seat” test

DYNAMIC PLANET - scoringHighest score winsPoints will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses

Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

Start off by having students go through rules and look up all terms listed

The tests tend to have a lot of questions so the only way to finish is for students to split up the questions – feel free to pull apart the test

students should also be prepared to complete some activities using their knowledge

Some Example Tasksfinding the epicenter of an earthquake

calculating the slope of a volcanobe able to draw a profilecalculate seafloor spreadingbe able to read and use graphs and charts

DYNAMIC PLANET - resourcesSuggested Resources on Rules SheetResources found on www.sciencenc.comAP Environmental Science textbook (the

teacher may also have some resources they use to teach this material)

Practice tests – soinc.org, tufts wright center, virginiaso site for last year’s regional test

Marcia Krech has great teaching tools you can order online – they are geared to middle school but for students who got stuck with this event and know nothing, start with some simple fun stuff!

http://mjksciteachingideas.com/store.html

FOSSILS - basicsTeam of 2 studentsEach team is allowed 1 magnifying glass,

one published field guide (tabs, writing, post-its allowed), & one 3-ring binder, any size containing anything as long as it is 3-hole punched and inserted into the rings (plastic sleeves are allowed)

Event tends to be a “stations” test where students rotate around the room, but may be an “at-seat” test with PowerPoint slides or pictures

FOSSILS – event tipsStudents must be able to share the

resources – have 1 use the guide and 1 use the notebook

Organization is key – teams must be able to find what they are looking for fast

Stations or slides are usually timed (ex: 10 stations, 4 minutes per station); students can’t go back to stations, but can keep working on previous questions while at other stations if extra time

FOSSILS - scoringHighest score winsPoints will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses

Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

FOSSILS – event topicsSpecimen identification – limited to

species on the list (download the list from www.soinc.org and make sure to include it in the binder!)

Clues to past environmentsWith the ability to answer questions

about classification, habitat, ecologic relationships, behaviors and the use of fossils to date and correlate rock units

FOSSILS –tipsGet a kit with samplesGet a field guide and have students tab it, use post-its, write in it, etc. so they can find what they need quickly

Make sure all of the topics are covered – use charts, diagrams, look in texts, on internet, find syllabi from fellow teachers or online

FOSSILS – preparationArrange fossils different ways and

have students practice with field guide and binderBy PeriodsBy EraBy mode of preservationIn groups

By index fossilsBy ages of (Sea life, fish, amphibians,

reptiles, mammals and man)By Invertebrate and vertebrate Fossils

FOSSILS – preparationHave the team make charts for anything you or they can think of!Physical properties, originsExcel is good for theseCombine chartsColor codeLaminate

FOSSILS – preparationDiagrams:

•Index Fossils

• The ages of geological Time

• Era

• Periods

• Geologic time scale

• Taxonomic Hierarchy

FOSSILS - resourcesFossil Guides

(If you have the means, get several to see what the students like)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fossils

A Field Guide to Fossils by Frederick H. Pough (Peterson Field Guides)

Smithsonian Fossils Guide: http://www.amazon.com/Fossils-Smithsonian-Handbooks-David-Ward/dp/0789489848

Fossils coaches guide from the Science Olympiad Store

REMOTE SENSING - basicsTeam of 2 studentsEach team may bring five 8.5” x 11” two-

sided sheets of paper containing any information from any source

Each team member may bring any kind of non-graphing calculator

Event tends to be an “at-seat” test with some images or a “stations” test where students rotate around the room, looking at images and answering questions

REMOTE SENSING - scoringHighest score winsPoints will be awarded for quality and accuracy of responses

Pre-selected questions will be used as tie-breakers

REMOTE SENSING – event topicsUsing remote sensing imagery to

understand causes and consequences of human interaction with forest biomes

Using science and mathematical process skills to analyze data or interpret data presented numerically in a grid

REMOTE SENSING - resources Lots of great links at

www.soinc.org – lists of terms, tutorials, images explained, etc.

Remote Sensing CD from the Science Olympiad Store

Google image search Image scale tutorial and

coaches institute presentation on www.sciencenc.com website