|
Odyssey of the Mind
is an international educational program that provides creative
problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through
college. Kids apply their creativity to solve problems that range from
building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of
literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the
local, state, and world level. Thousands of teams from throughout the
U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.
What makes
Odyssey different?
Odyssey of the Mind is a competitive program. The competitive element
encourages kids to be the best that they can be, but it's a friendly
competition. Kids learn from and even cheer on their competitors. It's
all about creativity, an often overlooked element in the growth and
development of many students. Kids are rewarded more for how they apply
their knowledge, skills and talents, and not for coming up with the
right answer. In fact, in Odyssey of the Mind problems, there isn't one
right answer. Ever….
How does it work?
Schools form teams of up to seven students. Each team chooses one of
five competitive problems to solve. The problems appeal to a wide range
of interests; some are technical in nature, while others are artistic or
performance-oriented. Under the guidance of an adult coach, teams work
on their solutions throughout the school year and, if they choose,
present them in organized competitions in the spring. The "friendly"
competitive aspect encourages students to be the best that they can be.
What are the competitive levels?
In the U.S., the
first level of competition is usually within a region of a state.
Teams who place are invited to compete at the state level. These
championship teams are then invited to participate in the annual
Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, where they compete with teams from
countries around the world, including Canada, China, Germany,
Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore,
and Uzbekistan. New countries join the program each year.
Meeting schedule: Once a week (TBD based on coach & team members)
Open
to all students K thru 5th Grade
If
you & your child are interested, please contact Anitha Mathews by e-mail
anitha.mathews@gmail.com or phone 770-908-1092.
Teams
will be formed in October and an initial meeting will be held Monday,
October 22nd 2007. |