Instant Challenge #5 - One By Ten (Task-based)

Challenge: Build a structure that is as tall as possible without falling over.

Time: Your team will have five minutes to build your structure before entering the testing phase.

Procedure: Using only the materials provided, your team must build the tallest structure possible. You may alter of break the materials but each material may only be used once. In other works, if you break a materla in half, only one of the haloves may be used. When you have finished building the tallest structure, you will have 10 seconds to positiion it to stand as tall as possible. If the structure does not stand, your team will have 30 seconds to take off one of the materials and reposition the structure to stand for score. This procedure may be repeated until the structure stands for at least 10 seconds and can be scored.

Materials:
1 straw
1 strip of paper
1 mailing label
1 piece of ribbon
1 plastic bag
1 twist tie
1 paper clip
1 toothpick
1 piece of felt

Scoring: You will receive
A. 2 points for each full inch of structure
B. 2 points for each material used
C. Up to 20 points for teamwork

Timing instant challenges

It works best for the team manager to use a kitchen timer that beeps when the time is up. The team is responsible for keeping track of how much time is left and may appoint one team member to be the timer and wear a watch for this purpose or check the TM's timer. The team may also ask the TM or appraiser how much time is left at any time. During the tournament, an appraiser may indicate when there is one minute left of the preparation time in the instant challenge. A TM can do this but the team must realize that at the tournament the appraiser is not required to tell when a minute is left.

Instant Challenge #4 - Number Please (Performance based)

Challenge: Your challenge is to create and present a humerous story as a team, using as many numbers as possible.

Time: You will have three minutes to discuss and develop the story and two minutes to present it to the judges. You must stress each number as it is being presented.

The Scene: You have been asked to provide the entertainment for a conference of noted mathematicians.

Scoring: You will recieve
1 - 20 points for the overall creativity of the story
1 - 20 points for the components of the story (theme, charachters, location, etc>
1 - 10 ponits for the overall structure of the story (does it have a beginning, middle and end)
10 points for each full minute of presentation
1 - 20 points for teamwork

Warm-up #5 - What's in the Box

This box is a family heirloom (hold up a box or pretend to). It once belonged to Great Aunt Rose, a woman who was such a unique character, there are family legends told about her to this day. What did she keep in the box? (Encourage teams to expand their frames of reference)

Instant Challenge #3 - New Holidays (Performance based)

Challenge: You must design two new holidays to be celebrated in the new millenium and present them to the judges. Your presentation must include:
1. What each holiday will commemorate
2. Who will celebrate it (USA or worldwide)
3. How it will be celebrated
4. When will it be celebrated
5. You will presnt a verbal "greeting" card

Time: You will have 4 minutes to plan your new holidays and presentation then two minutes to present your holidays and verbal greeting cards to the judges.

The Scene: You are the advertising team of a greeting card company. The president of the company wants you to boost sales by proposing two additional holidays.

Scoring: You will receive
1 - 10 points for the overall creativity of each holiday, up to 20 points total
1 - 10 points for the creativity of each verbal greeting card, up to 20 points total
1 - 25 points for the overall quality of presentation to the judges
1 - 20 points for teamwork

Instant Challenge #2 - Create and Sell

Challenge: You must create an object out of the materials provided and then write a commercial to sell it.

Time: You will have four minutes to create the object and plan your commercial and two min utes to present it to the appraisers.

The Scene: You arrive at a sales conference and are informed that your "new product" idea will be presented in a short period of time. However, you didn't know you had to come up with a new product idea.

Materials:
12" square of fabric
2 mailing labels
6 buttons
2 feathers
2 safety pins
2 paper cups
3 drinking straws
10 toothpicks

Scoring: You will receive
1 - 20 points for the creativity of the "new product idea"
1 - 20 points for how well it works (at whatever it does)
1 - 30 points for the overall quality of the commercial
1 - 15 points for the originality of the use of the materials
1 - 20 ponts for teamwork

Instant Challenge #1 - Monster Lov'n (Performance based - Entry level)

Challenge: Your TASK is to make something for a monster to love and then present a PERFORMANCE which includes at least one monster and what it loves.

Time: Your will have up to four minutes to use your IMAGINATION to make something for a monster to love and plan your skit, and then up to two minutes to present your PERFORMANCE to the appraisers.

The Scene: Cookie Monster loves cookies! Using the materials provided, you are to create something else for a monster to love, You should then present a skit which includes at least one monster and what it loves. You also should make sure says something that rhymes.

Materials:
1 piece of foil
1 piece of bubble wrap
1 piece of paper
4 mailing labels
6 toothpicks
2 feathers
4 pipe cleaners
4 craft sticks
Your team will also have 5 colored markers, but these may NOT be part of your creation. In addition, a piece of paper and a pencil will be available for your team to use as as you plan your PERFORMANCE>

Scoring: You will receive:
A. 10 points if a monster says something that rhymes in your skit.
B. Up to 10 points for the creativity of the rhyme.
C. Up to 20 points for the creativity of your monster(s).
D. Up to 20 points for the creativity of what your monster loves.
E. Up to 20 points for the creativity of your PERFORMANCE
F. Up to 20 points for how well your teamworks together.