Challenge: Your must build a three dimensional map of a city in the year 3000. You must also give a 3 minute presentation to the judges explaining your model.
Time: You will have 6 minutes to design and build the three dimensional map of the city and 2 minutes to present the map to the judges.
The Scene: You are the chief architect for your firm. You have been invited to bid on building a new city in the year 3000.
Materials:
10 spagetti 3 cotton balls
10 "ziti" pasta 12" piece of wax paper
6 straws 2 index cards
2 rubber bands 1 paper cup
2 sheets paper 1 paper plate
12" piece of string 4 mailing labels
5 paper clips 12" piece of aluminum foil
Scoring: You will receive
1 - 25 points for the overall quality of the map (including completeness)
1 - 20 points for the creativity of the layout
1 - 15 points for the creative use of the materials
1 - 20 points for the presentation to judges
1 - 20 points for teamwork
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Instant Challenge #10 - The Fling Thing (Task-based)
Challenge: Build a device that will send a cotton ball as far as possible through the air.
Time: You will have up to 5 minutes to use your imagination to build your device and up to 2 minutes to propel the cotton ball and tell a story about the situation.
Procedure: Candy Cottonball has been hired by your employer, Brainy and Bomber Circus, as its newest attraction. Your team is part of the maintenance crew assigned to design and build a device that will fling Candy Cottonball through the air as far as possible so she can dazzle the audience with her graceful landing. With the materials provided, you must design and build the Fling Thing that will launch Ms. Cottonball. A team member may not touch Candy Cottonball during the launch. Your score will depend on how far from the device she lands.
Materials:
2 cotton balls
1 piece of aluminum foil
1 balloon
2 stir sticks or Popsicle sticks
2 corks
2 straws
2 twist ties
2 paper clips
Scissors may be used to work with the materials but may not be used in the solution
Scoring: You will receive up to:
A. 2 points for each inch between launch and landing
B. 20 points for the creativity of the device
C. 20 points for how well your team works together
D. 20 points for the creativity of your story
Time: You will have up to 5 minutes to use your imagination to build your device and up to 2 minutes to propel the cotton ball and tell a story about the situation.
Procedure: Candy Cottonball has been hired by your employer, Brainy and Bomber Circus, as its newest attraction. Your team is part of the maintenance crew assigned to design and build a device that will fling Candy Cottonball through the air as far as possible so she can dazzle the audience with her graceful landing. With the materials provided, you must design and build the Fling Thing that will launch Ms. Cottonball. A team member may not touch Candy Cottonball during the launch. Your score will depend on how far from the device she lands.
Materials:
2 cotton balls
1 piece of aluminum foil
1 balloon
2 stir sticks or Popsicle sticks
2 corks
2 straws
2 twist ties
2 paper clips
Scissors may be used to work with the materials but may not be used in the solution
Scoring: You will receive up to:
A. 2 points for each inch between launch and landing
B. 20 points for the creativity of the device
C. 20 points for how well your team works together
D. 20 points for the creativity of your story
Friday, November 5, 2010
Instant Challenge #9 - Three By Two (Task-based - Advanced level)
Challenge: Build three structures that are as tall as possible.
Set-up: On the table are materials you can use to build your structures. On the floor are three taped squares in which to build each of your structures.
Procedure: Using the provided materials, your team is to build 3 structures that are as tall as possible. Each structure must be built to stand within one of the taped squares on the floor. Each structure can only be made out of a maximum of 2 types of materials and if a type of material is used in one structure, it cannot be used in another. At the end of 6 minutes or when a team member asks, each structure will be measured for height. To qualify to be measured, a structure must be free-standing for at least 10 seconds. Once a structure is measured, it cannot be measured again.
Materials (Can be changed)
10 straws
10 pieces spagetti
5 styrofoam cups
10 rubber bands
25 tooth picks
4 sheets of paper
5 balloons
4 mailing labels
36" piece of string
Scoring: You will receive:
A. 1 point for each full inch of height of each structure
B. Up to 20 points for how creatively you use the materials
C. Up to 20 points for how well your team works together
Set-up: On the table are materials you can use to build your structures. On the floor are three taped squares in which to build each of your structures.
Procedure: Using the provided materials, your team is to build 3 structures that are as tall as possible. Each structure must be built to stand within one of the taped squares on the floor. Each structure can only be made out of a maximum of 2 types of materials and if a type of material is used in one structure, it cannot be used in another. At the end of 6 minutes or when a team member asks, each structure will be measured for height. To qualify to be measured, a structure must be free-standing for at least 10 seconds. Once a structure is measured, it cannot be measured again.
Materials (Can be changed)
10 straws
10 pieces spagetti
5 styrofoam cups
10 rubber bands
25 tooth picks
4 sheets of paper
5 balloons
4 mailing labels
36" piece of string
Scoring: You will receive:
A. 1 point for each full inch of height of each structure
B. Up to 20 points for how creatively you use the materials
C. Up to 20 points for how well your team works together
Instant Challenge #8 - Save Our Ship (Performance-based - Imaginary or team created props - Entry level)
Challenge: Rescue your team from a sinking ship.
Time: You will have up to 4 minutes to use your imagination to develop a solution and up to 2 minutes to present your solution to the appraisers.
The Scene: Your team is sailing on a large cruise ship when it accidently hits an iceberg and begins to sink. Sound familiar? Using the materials on the table to create any necessary props, your team is to figure out how to prevent the ship from sinnking. Who knows? If your solution is creative enough, you could become movie stars.
Items to Use in Your Presentation:
On the table are markers and a pair of scissors along with two large sheets of paper to use to make props.
Scoring:You will receive up to:
A. 40 points for the creativity of your solution
B. 20 points for the creativity of your presentation
C. 20 points for how well you include props in your presentation
D. 20 points for how well your team works together
Time: You will have up to 4 minutes to use your imagination to develop a solution and up to 2 minutes to present your solution to the appraisers.
The Scene: Your team is sailing on a large cruise ship when it accidently hits an iceberg and begins to sink. Sound familiar? Using the materials on the table to create any necessary props, your team is to figure out how to prevent the ship from sinnking. Who knows? If your solution is creative enough, you could become movie stars.
Items to Use in Your Presentation:
On the table are markers and a pair of scissors along with two large sheets of paper to use to make props.
Scoring:You will receive up to:
A. 40 points for the creativity of your solution
B. 20 points for the creativity of your presentation
C. 20 points for how well you include props in your presentation
D. 20 points for how well your team works together
Instant Challenge #7 - Duds For The Dogs (Performance based with props - Entry level)
Challenge: Design five costumes to wear to your dogs birthday party.
Time: You will have up to 5 minutes to use your imagination to design your costumes and up to 2 minutes to give a fashion show to the appraisers.
The Scene: Your team has been invited to your dog's birthday party. However, you have all been asked to come in costume. Using the materials provided, you are to create 5 costumes that will make your dog howl with laughter. No people costumes allowed! Your team will then have a chance to present a fashion show for all the dog appraisers.
Items to use in your presentation:
Things that CAN be changed:
4 white plastic bags
4 paper bags
1 roll toilet paper (or maybe part of one)
4 sheets white paper
4 sheets colored paper
24" yarn
24" ribbon
12 mailing labels
2 cardboard tubes
2 squares aluminum foil
Things that CANNOT be changed:
1 pair scissors
5 colored markers
Scoring: You will receive up to:
A. 8 points each (40 points total) for the creativity of your costumes
B. 20 points for the creativity of your fashion show
C. 20 points for the humor of your presentation'
D. 20 points for how well your team works together
Time: You will have up to 5 minutes to use your imagination to design your costumes and up to 2 minutes to give a fashion show to the appraisers.
The Scene: Your team has been invited to your dog's birthday party. However, you have all been asked to come in costume. Using the materials provided, you are to create 5 costumes that will make your dog howl with laughter. No people costumes allowed! Your team will then have a chance to present a fashion show for all the dog appraisers.
Items to use in your presentation:
Things that CAN be changed:
4 white plastic bags
4 paper bags
1 roll toilet paper (or maybe part of one)
4 sheets white paper
4 sheets colored paper
24" yarn
24" ribbon
12 mailing labels
2 cardboard tubes
2 squares aluminum foil
Things that CANNOT be changed:
1 pair scissors
5 colored markers
Scoring: You will receive up to:
A. 8 points each (40 points total) for the creativity of your costumes
B. 20 points for the creativity of your fashion show
C. 20 points for the humor of your presentation'
D. 20 points for how well your team works together
Instant Challenge #6 - Picnic Pest
Challenge: Keep an army of ants from destroying your picnic.
Time: You will have up to 4 minutes to use your IMAGINATION to create and practice your solution and up to 2 minutes to present your solution.
The Scene: Your team is outside having a picnic, when all of a sudden, you see an army of ants charging your way! You need to find a way to keep them from destroying your picnic, and fast! Your presentation should include 3 characters that each react differently to the approaching ants. For example, one character might be a baby who thinks the ants are for eating!
MATERIALS:MAY be changed: 5 paper plates, 1 picnic basket, 5 plastic forks
MAY NOT be damaged or altered: 1 plastic tablecloth, 5 paper napkins, 1 loaf of bread
A piece of paper and a pencil will be available for your team to use as you prepare your presentation.
Scoring:You will receive up to:
30 points for the creativity of your solution and presentation
10 points each (30 points total) for the creativity of your characters
20 points for the humor of your presentation
20 points for how well your team works together
Time: You will have up to 4 minutes to use your IMAGINATION to create and practice your solution and up to 2 minutes to present your solution.
The Scene: Your team is outside having a picnic, when all of a sudden, you see an army of ants charging your way! You need to find a way to keep them from destroying your picnic, and fast! Your presentation should include 3 characters that each react differently to the approaching ants. For example, one character might be a baby who thinks the ants are for eating!
MATERIALS:MAY be changed: 5 paper plates, 1 picnic basket, 5 plastic forks
MAY NOT be damaged or altered: 1 plastic tablecloth, 5 paper napkins, 1 loaf of bread
A piece of paper and a pencil will be available for your team to use as you prepare your presentation.
Scoring:You will receive up to:
30 points for the creativity of your solution and presentation
10 points each (30 points total) for the creativity of your characters
20 points for the humor of your presentation
20 points for how well your team works together
Thursday, November 4, 2010
So, your team is new to instant challenges
A team needs to develop an understanding of what the challenge is asking for. If most of the points are given for how tall a structure is, that's what's most important. If points are given for "the creativity of" or using each material, that needs to be kept in mind. Here are some pointers for new teams and TM's:
1. Read the challenge to the team then ask them what is important before starting the challenge. Do this with one challenge each week until they are good at analyzing what matters.
2. Some teams assign the members to pay attention to each line of scoring and timing. Someone is in charge of timing. Someone is in charge of each line of "scoring" in the challenge. They keep the team on track by saying what matters (ex - we get points for creative use of materials so how can we use this pipe cleaner?)
3. Some teams quickly discuss what's most important. Usually a leader emerges to lead this discussion. One of my teams had a "natural leader" for the task-based challenges and a different "natural leader" for the performance based challenges.
4. Let them score themselves and say why.
5. When first working on instant challenges, don't spend a lot of time analyzing scores. Do a lot of instant challenges and let them develop a method for attacking a challenge.
6. Repeat a challenge. Sometimes they like a challenge and want to repeat it. You can wait a few weeks and repeat a challenge to give them a chance to do it better.
7. Give them nore preparation time at first. Let them have 6 minutes instead of 4 minutes.
8. There's no INTERFERENCE rules with instant challenges. You can talk them through it to help them develop a method for attacking a challenge if it looks like they're not developing one themselves.
1. Read the challenge to the team then ask them what is important before starting the challenge. Do this with one challenge each week until they are good at analyzing what matters.
2. Some teams assign the members to pay attention to each line of scoring and timing. Someone is in charge of timing. Someone is in charge of each line of "scoring" in the challenge. They keep the team on track by saying what matters (ex - we get points for creative use of materials so how can we use this pipe cleaner?)
3. Some teams quickly discuss what's most important. Usually a leader emerges to lead this discussion. One of my teams had a "natural leader" for the task-based challenges and a different "natural leader" for the performance based challenges.
4. Let them score themselves and say why.
5. When first working on instant challenges, don't spend a lot of time analyzing scores. Do a lot of instant challenges and let them develop a method for attacking a challenge.
6. Repeat a challenge. Sometimes they like a challenge and want to repeat it. You can wait a few weeks and repeat a challenge to give them a chance to do it better.
7. Give them nore preparation time at first. Let them have 6 minutes instead of 4 minutes.
8. There's no INTERFERENCE rules with instant challenges. You can talk them through it to help them develop a method for attacking a challenge if it looks like they're not developing one themselves.
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