[This challenge has been reformatted as a Sample.]
OBJECTIVE: To give student teams a problem which requires group cooperation, spatial problem-solving, team identification process, give-and-take, organizational and time-management skills, listening.
Conducting the Mind Sprint: [Make sure the team entering the room is the scheduled team. Then say,]
"You have 10 minutes in this room. Your task, as a team, is to design a mobile which reflects the personality of your team. We're giving you string and straws; use your own scratch paper and Competition Kit to do the rest. Colored and three-dimensional mobile parts earn extra points. Pick a theme, such as musical instruments, sports, books you love, other special interests, and you'll earn an extra 25 points. You'll get 10 points for every topic you display. At the end of nine minutes, we'll ask you to present your mobile, explaining its theme, component parts, and why this represents your school, your personalities or your uniqueness. These mobiles will be used later to introduce your team during P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box presentations, so connect them well enough that they may be moved, if necessary. We'll be watching for your creative ideas and your ability to work well together. Good luck!"
Scoring: Be sure to award points, according to the Score sheet, which give credit for theme, three-dimensional quality, color and number of topics. For example, if the team chooses "musical instruments played by this team", and they have 10 instruments, that's the "number of topics" they've shown. If some of the instruments are 3-dimensional--for instance, if they've rolled up a piece of paper to make an oboe--they receive extra points. If they've colored in the oboe--even though it may be black, since oboes are--they receive color points. Please offer any well-deserved compliments about the team's ability to cooperate on this task, if their behavior merits it; good sportsmanship begins at this Round Robin!
Then calculate the raw score for each team and return the Score sheet and the mobiles to the Host/Facilitator.(S/he may not know they're coming, or that they're supposed to be used by each team during P.A.R.T.Y. introduction time, so please inform the H/F. Teams should be asked to introduce themselves after they've done their performance, and they may also present their mobile at that time.)
*The following words were on the reminder slip given to each team:
To do in 9 minutes:
Create a mobile which reflects the team's personality.
If Mobile contains items which reflect a theme, +25 points.
If Mobile contains items representing multiple topics, +10 points per topic.
If Mobile contains items which are 3-dimensional, +15 points per 3-D item.
If Mobile items s contain color, +5 points per color, each item.
©1998 US Academic Triathlon. All rights reserved. This problem may not be duplicated or used without express, written consent except by members of 1998-99 USAT Season teams, or their member schools; or when offered in sample form.
