Odyssey Of The Mind 2018-19
What is Odyssey of the Mind (OotM)?
Imagine a combination of theater and problem solving with a creative twist. Through the writing of original scripts, the creation of costumes, props, scenery, and technical elements, teams of students work together to produce incredible solutions to creative problems while thinking “Beyond the Box!” Students with talents in many areas find a unique opportunity to showcase their gifts in script writing, costume creation, music, dance, visual arts, props and scenery construction, engineering, problem solving, leadership, critical thinking, and more!
Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program. Each year Bancroft teams compete at one of the largest Regional Tournaments in the State of California, the SF Bay Regional Tournament. This experience is about giving kids the opportunity to create things themselves, parents stay hands off of the solution. But, it's parent volunteers like YOU running the program that make it possible. Without you, our students would have never have this incredible mind opening experience…THANK YOU!
How it works?
Interested?
We finalize the teams in early October. 2018-19 season is set. If your student is interested in competing please check out this page in Fall 2019 or email bancroft.odyssey@gmail.com.
2018-2019 "Long Term Problem" Synopses
Problem 1: (This is a Vehicle problem)
OMER to the Rescue Again -Who better to help those in distress than OMER? In this problem, OMER and his trusty Sidekick travel to different places with suitcases holding all of the parts of an OMER-mobile vehicle! OMER and his Sidekick will assemble and ride on the vehicle where it will function in different ways to “save the day.” Between attempts, the vehicle will be disassembled, put back into the suitcases, and taken to a different area where it will be reassembled and driven again. Finally, the OMER-mobile is thrown a hero’s parade as a show of appreciation!
Problem 2: (This is a Technical problem)
Hide in Plain Sight -Teams take a cue from nature in this problem where they create and build a team-made mechanical creature that hides in plain sight. The creature will change its appearance three times to avoid being detected by a Searcher Character trying to find it. The way the creature changes will be different each time! The team will create and present a performance where its creature gets into – or out of – various situations using this resourceful skill. In the end the creature will surprise everyone by changing its appearance a final time and reveal its true self.
Problem 3: (This is a Classics problem)
Leonardo’s Workshop -Imagine how inspiring Leonardo DaVinci’s (LDV) workshop must have been. Teams will portray his workplace in an original, creative performance that includes LDV, a patron, and a naysayer. The team will recreate a DaVinci painting, make a three-dimensional representation of one of his works, and recreate another LDV work in any form the team wishes. There will also be an original “debunked” creation that LDV “invented” but discarded because it was mocked. Ironically, the item will be shown as something commonly used in modern times.
Problem 4: (This is a balsa wood Structure problem), placement of the weights, and Earth into the
theme of its performance.
Structure Toss-Step right up and put your structure to the test! Teams must strategize risk for points and “toss” their structures in this year’s problem-turned-carnival. They will use a device to propel the structure in a carnival game. If it travels in the air it gets higher score! Once the structure has been successfully tossed, it can be tested for strength. A carnival barker character will entice other characters to join the fun during a performance that incorporates testing the structure’s strength with creative games of skill and chance.
Problem 5 (This is a Theatrical problem)
Opposites Distract -Disagreements can distract groups from seeing the bigger picture. Teams will create and present a humorous performance about a sneaky character that distracts others while trying to take control of anything the team wishes. In the performance it will lure others into silly arguments and be successful two times. The arguments will be presented using different dramatic styles and will include attention-getting effects. In the end, the groups will learn that they have been intentionally distracted and will catch the sneaky character before it takes control.
Primary Problem: (Kindergarten - 2nd grade only)
Museum Makers-Kids can see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Now they will use that ability to create their own museum! The team will create and present an original museum and its exhibits. During the performance, the team will reveal three creative displays that explain the theme of the museum and show off team-made items. A tour guide will take audiences on a journey through the museum to meet a humorous artist and a curator.
* Please be aware we may not be able to accommodate everyone's first choice of Long Term Problem team.
2018/2019 Calendar of Events
New and Experienced Coaches Trainings
New Coaches attend one session from 8:30 to 3:00, Experienced Coaches attend from 12:45 to 3:00
Experienced Coaches Only Training
Spontania-Mania
SF Bay Regional Tournament
NorCal State Tournament
Odyssey of the Mind World Tournament 2019
National Site: odysseyofthemind.com
Regional Site: www.calomer.org/region/san-francisco/
For more information see above or contact Bancroft's Odyssey Coordinators and parents, Christy Paloutzian and Sarah Boaz-Shelley at bancroft.odyssey@gmail.com.
Imagine a combination of theater and problem solving with a creative twist. Through the writing of original scripts, the creation of costumes, props, scenery, and technical elements, teams of students work together to produce incredible solutions to creative problems while thinking “Beyond the Box!” Students with talents in many areas find a unique opportunity to showcase their gifts in script writing, costume creation, music, dance, visual arts, props and scenery construction, engineering, problem solving, leadership, critical thinking, and more!
Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program. Each year Bancroft teams compete at one of the largest Regional Tournaments in the State of California, the SF Bay Regional Tournament. This experience is about giving kids the opportunity to create things themselves, parents stay hands off of the solution. But, it's parent volunteers like YOU running the program that make it possible. Without you, our students would have never have this incredible mind opening experience…THANK YOU!
How it works?
- Read over the problems synopses below with your child and have them choose which problem interests them.
- Grades K-2 can only choose the Primary Problem
- Grades 3-5 can choose from problems 1-5.
- We will place children in teams of 5-7 kids, taking into account your interests as best we can. *
- The teams must have a least one volunteer parent coach, but there can be more than one coach!
- The parents who are not coaching must contribute to the team in other ways. Odyssey is an all volunteer organization, it only works with your support!
- Starting October and running until early March, teams meet at least weekly (sometimes more often closer to competition) to practice Spontaneous Problems and to create and practice a solutions for their Long Term Problems.
- Come to the Kick Off Meeting to meet other families and get a feel for the program (see below).
- Costs are typically ~$50 per child. Coaches may receive an exemption from dues. Cost go toward State and National membership as well as towards supplies.
Interested?
We finalize the teams in early October. 2018-19 season is set. If your student is interested in competing please check out this page in Fall 2019 or email bancroft.odyssey@gmail.com.
2018-2019 "Long Term Problem" Synopses
Problem 1: (This is a Vehicle problem)
OMER to the Rescue Again -Who better to help those in distress than OMER? In this problem, OMER and his trusty Sidekick travel to different places with suitcases holding all of the parts of an OMER-mobile vehicle! OMER and his Sidekick will assemble and ride on the vehicle where it will function in different ways to “save the day.” Between attempts, the vehicle will be disassembled, put back into the suitcases, and taken to a different area where it will be reassembled and driven again. Finally, the OMER-mobile is thrown a hero’s parade as a show of appreciation!
Problem 2: (This is a Technical problem)
Hide in Plain Sight -Teams take a cue from nature in this problem where they create and build a team-made mechanical creature that hides in plain sight. The creature will change its appearance three times to avoid being detected by a Searcher Character trying to find it. The way the creature changes will be different each time! The team will create and present a performance where its creature gets into – or out of – various situations using this resourceful skill. In the end the creature will surprise everyone by changing its appearance a final time and reveal its true self.
Problem 3: (This is a Classics problem)
Leonardo’s Workshop -Imagine how inspiring Leonardo DaVinci’s (LDV) workshop must have been. Teams will portray his workplace in an original, creative performance that includes LDV, a patron, and a naysayer. The team will recreate a DaVinci painting, make a three-dimensional representation of one of his works, and recreate another LDV work in any form the team wishes. There will also be an original “debunked” creation that LDV “invented” but discarded because it was mocked. Ironically, the item will be shown as something commonly used in modern times.
Problem 4: (This is a balsa wood Structure problem), placement of the weights, and Earth into the
theme of its performance.
Structure Toss-Step right up and put your structure to the test! Teams must strategize risk for points and “toss” their structures in this year’s problem-turned-carnival. They will use a device to propel the structure in a carnival game. If it travels in the air it gets higher score! Once the structure has been successfully tossed, it can be tested for strength. A carnival barker character will entice other characters to join the fun during a performance that incorporates testing the structure’s strength with creative games of skill and chance.
Problem 5 (This is a Theatrical problem)
Opposites Distract -Disagreements can distract groups from seeing the bigger picture. Teams will create and present a humorous performance about a sneaky character that distracts others while trying to take control of anything the team wishes. In the performance it will lure others into silly arguments and be successful two times. The arguments will be presented using different dramatic styles and will include attention-getting effects. In the end, the groups will learn that they have been intentionally distracted and will catch the sneaky character before it takes control.
Primary Problem: (Kindergarten - 2nd grade only)
Museum Makers-Kids can see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Now they will use that ability to create their own museum! The team will create and present an original museum and its exhibits. During the performance, the team will reveal three creative displays that explain the theme of the museum and show off team-made items. A tour guide will take audiences on a journey through the museum to meet a humorous artist and a curator.
* Please be aware we may not be able to accommodate everyone's first choice of Long Term Problem team.
2018/2019 Calendar of Events
New and Experienced Coaches Trainings
New Coaches attend one session from 8:30 to 3:00, Experienced Coaches attend from 12:45 to 3:00
- Saturday, October 13th - Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord
- Saturday, November 3rd - Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord
- Saturday, December 1st - Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord
Experienced Coaches Only Training
- Wednesday, October 24th - Rancho Romero Ele. Sch., 180 Hemme Ave., Alamo - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Spontania-Mania
- Saturday, January 26th, 2019 - Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord
SF Bay Regional Tournament
- Saturday March 2nd, 2019 - Concord High School
NorCal State Tournament
- Location and Date TBD
Odyssey of the Mind World Tournament 2019
- May 22-25, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
National Site: odysseyofthemind.com
Regional Site: www.calomer.org/region/san-francisco/
For more information see above or contact Bancroft's Odyssey Coordinators and parents, Christy Paloutzian and Sarah Boaz-Shelley at bancroft.odyssey@gmail.com.
