Elementary Science Olympiad 2000: Background

General Description
The Science Olympiad is a national nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. The Elementary Science Olympiad is also designed to encourage classroom teachers to explore new and challenging ways of teaching science. The Science Olympiad tournaments are academic interscholastic competitions which consist of a series of individual and team events which students prepare for during the year. Most Science Olympiad events are team competitions which require teamwork, group planning and cooperation. The emphasis is on learning, participation, interaction, and having fun.

History
The Science Olympiad was created in 1983 to expand interest in science for students, and to serve as an alternative to the conventional science fair and tournaments. The Olympiad consists of over 100 individual and team events that require expertise in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, problem-solving, and technology. Division A is for grades K-6, Division B is for grades 6-9, and Division C is for grades 9-12. Students who participate in the Science Olympiad are taught advanced science through active, hands-on participation. All events involve teamwork, group planning and cooperation, and promote team spirit and good sportsmanship. There are now over 12,000 schools from all 50 states, grades K-12, who actively participate in the Olympiad. In the past sixteen years, the Science Olympiad has increased student attendance at the tournaments, encouraged students to be multi-year participants, and has increased enrollment in school science courses in many areas.

Further Details
For more information on the national Science Olympiad program at all levels, please contact the national headquarters at
Science Olympiad, 5955 Little Pine Lane, Rochester, MI 48306
Phone: (248) 651-4013
Fax: (248) 651-7835 Complete, detailed event manuals, including competition information, are available.

The Elementary Science Olympiad at Jacksonville High School

Students Teaching Students
Jacksonville High School is proud to present an annual Elementary Science Olympiad which is completely organized by high school students for its elementary school participants. Since its inception in 1993, the Olympiad at JHS has been directed fully by Science Club members and other science students under the supervision of Science Club sponsors Vicki Lamb (1993-1996) and Andra Lyons (1997-1998). Previous ESO at JHS student coordinators include David Peters and Kevin Borders (1993-1995), Brad Rohrer (1996), Jason Lord and Jennifer Molleur (1997), Anna Messer (1998), and Jessica Childs (1999-2000). Nearly 200 other students have assisted in the preparation of each Olympiad from event design and direction to score tabulation. To our knowledge, the ESO at JHS is the only Science Olympiad competition in the United States which has successfully employed this educational technique. The proud tradition of the student-run Elementary Science Olympiad at Jacksonville High School is expected to continue to prosper in the future.

ESO at JHS General Information
The Elementary Science Olympiad at Jacksonville High School offers competition in Division A-2 (grades 4-6). In 2000, 28 events from the various disciplines will be offered for competition. Olympic-style medals are awarded to the top five individuals in each event. In addition, team and coach trophies are awarded to the top five schools based on a total compilation of points during the Olympiad.

ESO at JHS Fast Facts

The Elementary Science Olympiad at Jacksonville High School is a 8-hour day-long competition beginning at about 8:00 am and ending around 4:00 pm.

Teams consist of no more than 24 students from grades 4 through 6. There is a limit of eight (8) sixth graders per team, but an unlimited number (up to maximum of 24) of fourth and fifth graders. Schools may enter only one team in the Olympiad.

Events are 30 minutes to an hour long. All events will take place on the grounds of Jacksonville High School and under the supervision of sponsors and Elementary Science Olympiad staff members.

Teams may enter as many or as few of the 28 events as they wish. For each event, each team should enter the required number of participants. Events are attended only by its student participants (i.e. no coaches or parents). Due to the large number, many events will be occurring simultaneously.

The Elementary Science Olympiad at Jacksonville High School is only an area event. Winners do not advance to a regional or state competition.

Starting Your Own ESO
Looking to start your own ESO competition?
The ESO at JHS staff shares its knowledge and experiences in Starting Your Own.

Last Updated: November 30, 2000