OLYMPIAN REGISTRATION

• Tournament with events designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills
  • Some require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts
  • Some rely on scientific processes, skills, or applications
  • Ensures that everyone can participate
• The main goal is to learn about science through active, hands-on, group participation.
  • Science Olympiad is built upon cooperative learning
  • Most of the events involve teamwork, group planning, and cooperation
  • Cooperation and teamwork, practice toward an objective, and learning made exciting through motivational activities are essential
• Extra-curricular training and accomplishments show noticeable predictive power of later adult performance, achievement, and accomplishments [Taylor CW (1959), Univ. of Utah]
  • Many MSO events build on similar ideas and topics as WESO

• Elementary-level Science Olympiad held for Washtenaw County schools
• Largest in the country: ~40 schools, >2,000 students from Grades 2 through 5
• Run by WESO Board: non-profit, fully volunteer-run, funded by/through AAPS, corporate sponsors, registration fees, event-day raffle, etc. 
• One Day Tournament. Runs the entire day.  Saturday, May 10, 2025. 7:30 AM - 8:30 PM, Pioneer High School.

• We participated in 44 “events” and received 22 recognitions
  • 52 South Arbor students from 2nd to 5th grades participated 
• 22 recognitions
  • Second Grade: THREE PRIZES & THREE HONORS
  • Third Grade: THREE HONORS
  • Fourth Grade: SIX PRIZES 
  • Fifth Grade: FOUR PRIZES & THREE HONOR
• Of our students, 36 out of 50 (~69%) won at least one recognition!   
• South Arbor was ranked SECOND OVERALL (out of 31 schools)  ALL-TIME HIGH!

• Aerodynamics – All grades; 1-2 participants each grade
• Feathered Friends – All grades; 1-2 participants each grade
• iCompute – Grades 4-5; 1-2 participants each grade
• iRobot – Grades 2-3; 1-2 participants each grade
• Mystery Architecture – All grades; 1-2 participants each grade
• On Target – All grades; 1-3 participants each grade
• Pentathlon – All grades; 5 participants each grade
• Potions – Grades 4-5; 1-2 participants each grade
• Read It; Build It – Grades 2-3; 1-2 participants each grade
• The Human Machine – ONLY Grades 2-3 for 2025; 1-2 participants each grade
• Zip-it – All grades; 1-3 participants each grade
• The Plot Thickens—Grades 4-5; 1-2 participants each grade. In this event, students will work with data like scientists. Students will analyze, interpret, and create visualizations of data (More info will be added as available).
• Geology Rocks [New Event] - Grades 2-3; 1-2 participants each grade; Participants will be tested on their knowledge of basic geologic processes, mineral properties, and rock characteristics through hands-on activities and short questions.
• Circuit Wizardry [New Event] - Grades 4-5; 1-3 participants each grade; Participants will be tested on basic electrical circuit concepts, components, schematic reading and understanding, and ability to design and build a simple circuit from a functional description.
• Code Busters [New Event] - Grades 4-5; 1-2 participants each grade; Teams will be tested on their ability to decode encrypted messages using historical and modern ciphers, tentatively including the Atbash, Caesar, Aristocrat, Vigenère, Tap Code, Dancing Man, and Pig Pen ciphers.
• Photon Phun [New Event] - Grades 4-5; Teams of 2-3 students will use mirrors to aim a light beam at stationary targets in a darkened room. Teams will also answer written questions on the behavior and properties of light.

Exposing young kids to STEM while having fun is the mission!