Pentathlon

Presented by Tim Taylor (ttaylor1@windstream.net)

Description

Teams will compete in an academic and physical pentathlon that will demonstrate the team’s overall understanding of the five major Science Olympiad content areas.

Four participants

Competition

Complete five sets of physical and academic challenges as quickly as possible.

Team members will compete individually in four sets of challenges as a relay, ending in one team physical and academic challenge.

Competition

Teams may be asked to pass a baton or other object from one member to another or just tag the next member.

The physical and academic challenges will be the same for all teams.

Competition

Appropriate attire, especially shoes, will be required. Inside or outside – be prepared for

both If held outdoors, the competition

will occur in all but hazardous weather conditions. Change of clothes

Competition

Contestants must stay on course specified by the judges.

Students with a physical handicap must complete the academic challenges but may use a substitute for the physical challenges. Let event supervisor know before you

arrive at the competition.

Competition

Timing begins when the first team member starts and ends when the team completes both of the group challenges.

Timing recorded in hundredths of a second

Competition - physical Each physical challenge must be

successfully completed before moving on. May be visible so students can choose the

order of the team on the physical challenges.

Ex: a bean bag must go through a ring. Students start at 10 meters and advances 2

meters for each following throw until the task is completed.

Competition - physical

Ploys to circumvent the challenge, such as tossing the bean bag short distances to move closer to the target before attempting the target, will result in a repeat of the series. Remember the supervisor will

determine this, not individuals

Competition - academic Academic challenges will represent the

processes of science in the six Science Olympiad content areas. Life/Personal/Social Science Earth and Space Science Physical Science Chemical Science Technology and Engineering Inquiry and Nature of Science

Competition - academic Each academic challenge must be

completed/answered correctly or an established maximum time must expire (e.g. two minutes). Ask the event supervisor what this is

before the event begins. Then the student passes the

carried object to the next team member or gets tagged.

Competition – final - team

The last challenges (both physical and academic) must involve all four team members.

The total time of the Last challenge will be used for tiebreaking purposes. Still counts in total time of team

Scoring

The lowest time, in hundredths of seconds, will determine the winner.

2 minute penalty added to total time for each missing team member. Participating team members must

complete all challenges. 2 people – 6 minute penalty

Scoring

Ties will be broken by the lowest group academic challenge time. No reason to keep scores on points

for task completion or correct academic tasks.

The team with the lowest group academic challenge time will be ranked above all other tied teams.

Examples of academic challenges

Find the density of a solid Rank order five minerals by

hardness Match several animals with their

phylum Sort planets in order of size or

location Sort liquids in order by pH

Examples of physical challenges

Bean bag or ping pong ball thrown through a ring or into a basket

Basketball dribbled a given path Ride tricycle carrying ping pong

ball on a spoon Jumping rope 20 times Carry golf ball on spoon a given

distance

On the practical side

While a fun event to watch, might be a closed event as it will need to run over several time slots and teams scheduled later in the day may gain advantage over first teams??? Scheduling nightmare – Walk-in,

Scheduled time

On the practical side

Impossible to study for? Many coaches will see who is not involved in an event at assigned time slot and chose them.

Will take a lot of room and may easily end up as an outdoor event. Rain gear and proper clothing are important.

If outdoors, can it be closed?