I.O. Opportunities 2014-2015

Academic Triathlon (7,8) - Teams of five students compete in “College Bowl” and “Identification Segment” where all academic areas are fair game. The College Bowl is run using a buzzer system pitting two teams against each other. The Identification Segment features questions in such areas as pop music, classical music, art identification, literature, movies, geography, and current events.

AMC tests (6-8) – For Mathletes only! These tests are designed for those students who hope to make the USA Math Olympiad Team one day. Timed individual tests are part of the matrix that qualifies a student to be on the team. VERY difficult tests.

Animal Attraction (6-8) – The Pittsburgh Zoo and/or Aviary will be the base of this unique opportunity. Learning about certain species and working with the staff to develop a toy for a specific animal will be one of the highlights of this adventure.

Arts & Bots (7) - Combine your interests in history, art and robotics by creating a robot-controlled, moving diorama of a topic related to the history of Ancient Greece. Teams of 4 will plan, design, program and build a diorama using a HummingBird robotics kit and craft supplies.

Back in Time (6) – History buffs converge to immerse themselves in our nation’s rich history while competing as a team.

Battery Car Race (6-8) – Student teams will research aerodynamics and then design and build a battery powered car. Once built, students will compete against other school’s teams.

Bog and Watershed Environmental Study Ligonier (7) – Students will travel by school bus to Linn Run State Park where they will take part in three workshops focused on understanding the unique ecological characteristics of the areas such as varieties of carnivorous species that would otherwise not be found growing in Pennsylvania. In addition, students will visit Saint VincentCollege to learn about the Monastery Run Improvement Project, which was initiated to help restore the watershed after it was polluted by mine drainage.

Calcu-Solve (6-8) - Students will compete against Allegheny County’s best math students as they work on timed math problems.

Carnegie Art Museum (6-8) – Art is explored and artists’ skills are utilized as students tour certain areas of the museum for inspiration; and then create their own masterpieces.

Chess Tournament (6-8) – Serious players, whether novice or expert, participate in a formal competition with an adjudicator (judge) and timed rounds. Each school team is composed of five ranked players for ability.

Computer Fair (6-8) – The PA Middle School Computer Fair is an annual event that highlights middle school students’ application skills and computer knowledge. Students are able to unleash their creativity, learn how to convey information more dynamically, and enhance the learning process.

Creative Convention (6,7,8) –Fluency, flexibility, and originality highlight this stimulating activity. There is a separate competition for each grade level held this year at the BaierlCenter.

Drama Workshop (7, 8) –Fun and creative processing skills are abundant during this interactive workshop involving the principles of acting.

Equations (6-8) – Mathletes compete while playing the Equations game using dice to form challenging equations while strategically puzzling their opponents.

Fairchild Challenge (6-8) –Phipps Conservatory sponsors this nature inspired challenge. Students work together to turn in projects of varying length and depth. Points are earned and accumulated over the school year. Winning teams are invited for an awards evening at the end of the event.

Faraday Lecture (6-8) - Held on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, the Faraday Lecture highlights the career of physicist Michael Faraday. Students listen to a lecture and see demonstrations that deal with gases and states of matter.

Finance (7, 8) – Students find out about how money works in the ‘real world,’ and how to manage finances. A guest speaker is featured each year.

Fluid Power Challenge (7, 8) – Engineering skills abound as students build and test a machine powered by water designed to accomplish a specific task.

Globe-Quest (6-8) – Geography buffs work as team members to solve a variety of geography contests. Map making, globe trekking, charting courses, and general geography knowledge will be part of the day.

Jennings (6) - Environmental Problem Solving is stressed on this outdoor adventure at Jennings Environmental Center by Slipper Rock University. Students collect scientific data and see a passive mine drainage treatment in three different settings. They then

Knowledge Master Open (6-8) –is held on the same. Students work together on this Jeopardy like competition to answer 150 – 200 multiple choice questions in a variety of categories. The contest is automatically scored for speed and accuracy as the questions are answered.

Linguistics (7, 8) – Students work with nearly extinct languages and use logic to solve these tough puzzles.

Mock Trial – (7, 8) – Students in teams study the case used by senior high teams the previous year for the national Mock Trial competitions. Each team, whether prosecution or defense, includes three or four lawyers and three witnesses. The teams use problem solving and critical thinking skills to decide a winning strategy. After much practice, the teams are pitted against teams from others schools at a mock courtroom with guest judges.

NA Calcu-Solve –(6-8) – North Allegheny middle school students will meet and compete against each other by completing a series of individual and group math problems. The top students from each building will go on to compete in the AIU calcu-Solve.

NACLO (8) -The North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad is a contest in which high-school students solve linguistic puzzles. In solving these puzzles, students learn about the diversity and consistency of language, while exercising logic skills. No prior knowledge of linguistics or second languages is necessary.

Picture This! (6-8) – Budding photographers will enhance their skills behind the lenses as they learn about the art and science of photography.

Prime Time Stage (6-8) – Drama and intrigue are involved as students watch a play and then get the unique opportunity to ask the actors, directors, and other vital members of the show questions to better understand what it takes to make a show successful.

Purple Comet Math (7, 8) – is an online team math competition designed for middle and high school students that has been held every year. Teams of one to six students compete by submitting solutions to a list of problems.

River Quest (6) – Students engage in science experiments to test the health of Pittsburgh’s rivers while voyaging down the river on a unique boat that has labs and science specialists onboard.

Sci-Tech Days (6 – 8) – Pittsburgh companies that use science are invited to the Carnegie Science Center to share their knowledge and their projects with students. Students are able to engage in conversation with employees and gain an understanding of how science is alive and vital in the Pittsburgh area.

Shakespeare Monologue (6-8) – Interested drama students select a monologue or a scene to memorize and perform for a panel of local actors serving as judges at Pittsburgh’s O’Reilly Theater.

Smith Island (8) - This three-day study takes students to the town on Tylerton, MD on Smith Island which is located in the Chesapeake Bay. The program is conducted by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and teaches students about the relationship between the environment and the economics of the area.

Surgical Observation (8) – Students get a glimpse into the fascinating world of surgery as they watch an actual operation taking place.

TV Studio (7, 8) – Students watch a live professional newscast and then try their hand at putting on a CMS broadcast.

World Affairs (6 -8) – Citizens from around the world come together to tell students about living and growing up in their native land. Multi-cultural performances are also part of the day.

Wordsmith (6-8) – Verbal skills will be tested as students compete in a variety of word based challenges.

Writing Workshop (6-8) – Authors share in a morning of various writing activities such as individual and interactive writings. Students will exchange these writings in oral form. After practicing the writing process, students will participate in creative writing activities and discussions about publishing and how to share their work.