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Kansas Science Olympiad  (KSO) Home

An Introduction to Kansas Science Olympiad

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Training the Team:

• Training regimens vary from school to school, but might involve before-school, after-school, during club periods and/or week-ends.
• It is best to train at school, but small groups will often work on specific events at their homes as this helps involve parents.
• The training schedule is somewhat determined by the number of helpers.
• Organize events into each discipline (biology, chemistry, earth sciences), process skills (nature quest, write it-do it, etc.) and building (trajectory, mission possible, etc) and have each group arrange their own training schedule.
• The students must learn to work as a member of a team, be cross- trained in other than their prime events, and be flexible enough to work with anyone as a partner.
• Students should keep notebooks for all "academic/knowledge" events for handouts, etc. - this gives them an organized method to study independently.
• For many events, quick recall is important so if reference materials are allowed, organize them to be used quickly.
• For device building events, encourage divergent and numerous efforts.
• Remember that in the building events, the student(s) which build the device must must be one of the 15 competing team members.
• Try to keep the training as much fun as possible (music, snacks, etc.).
• Set goals like "everyone getting a medal or ribbon" or "qualifying for the State
  Tournament".
• Plan activities to bring the entire team together periodically like field trips, pizza parties, swim parties, etc.
• BE FLEXIBLE - if you want a well-rounded team you will need to work around their other activities letting them help you set training schedules - don't set arbitrary times and expect them to be there.
• Try to attend an invitational tournament to give your team an idea as to what a tournament is like. Most invitationals do only some of the events and they may require you to run an event.

Go on to Before the Regional Tournament

Many of these tips were taken from the Alabama Science Olympiad Website.  Additional items came from the Wisconsin High School site.

This page last updated 03/17/2010