This presentation describes the Odyssey of the Mind program at Bells Mill Elementary School. It is intended for parents and educators to learn more about how the program works.
Bells Mill Odyssey of the Mind: Program Introduction
1. Odyssey of the Mind
Bells Mill Elementary
Parent Information Night
2. What You’ll Hear
• What is Odyssey of the Mind?
• Why being in Odyssey is great!
• What do kids do?
• What do parents do?
• When is it all happening?
• How to join!
3. What You’ll Hear
• What is Odyssey of the Mind?
• Why being in Odyssey is great!
• What do kids do?
• What do parents do?
• When is it all happening?
• How to join!
4. What IS Odyssey of the Mind?
Team-Building,
Problem-Solving,
Creative-Thinking
FUN!
5. What Is It Really?
It is an international creative problem-solving
program with competition
Based upon idea that creativity is a skill that
can be taught and improved with practice
Everything is a team effort
Odyssey of the Mind develops real-life
teamwork, communication and brainstorming
skills, and develops creativity in the solution of
problems ranging from simple to
overwhelmingly complex
There is no single right answer. Ever.
6. Creativity?
• “Creativity is not a
talent, it’s a way of
operating” – John
Cleese
• “I define creativity
as the process of
having original
ideas that have
value.” – Ken
Robinson
8. What You’ll Hear
• What is Odyssey of the Mind?
• Why being in Odyssey is great!
• What do kids do?
• What do parents do?
• When is it all happening?
• How to join!
9. Celebrity Guest Star!
Dr. Bill Klein
Former Bells Mill parent,
recipient of the Maryland Odyssey of the Mind
“OMER” award for his coaching work
13. Benefits of Odyssey
Demonstrates that each member
of a team contributes differently
but importantly
14. Benefits of Odyssey
Explore how to express and implement
their ideas in a collaborative setting.
15. Benefits of Odyssey
Challenges students to become more
detail-oriented and inclined to do
their best.
16. Benefits of Odyssey
Provides unique, unforgettable
experiences that will serve them in
every aspect of their lives
17. Benefits of Odyssey
…and they perform in front of the
school to showcase their hard work!
18. Kids are Naturally Creative
“When we’re six or seven years old,
we’re all [creative]. It’s what happens in
school and at home that determines
who remains [creative].” – Pablo
Picasso
19. ReCreating America
First film of new documentary series is
documenting four ways of promoting
creativity, one of which is Odyssey of
the Mind
20. What You’ll Hear
• What is Odyssey of the Mind?
• Why being in Odyssey is great!
• What do kids do?
• What do parents do?
• When is it all happening?
• How to join!
24. Spontaneous Problems
Name things that run!
Build a puppet out of aluminum foil. Tell
a story with the puppet.
25. Spontaneous Problems
Name things that run!
Build a puppet out of aluminum foil. Tell
a story with the puppet.
Using only newspaper and mailing
labels, build a bridge that spans 12”.
Score one point per penny the bridge
can support.
26. Long-Term Problem
Posed as question where the answer is
presented in the form of a play, subject
to many conditions!
30. Long-Term Problems 2015
Vehicle – A train going to stations
Technical – powered by rubber bands!
Classics – Pandora’s Box video game
Structure – Marble releaser
Theatrical – Silent movie
Primary – Wacky weather report
31. It’s All Them!
Kids come up with all the ideas
Kids write the script
Kids make the costumes
Kids make the sets
Kids make the props
Kids do all the acting
32. What You’ll Hear
• What is Odyssey of the Mind?
• Why being in Odyssey is great!
• What do kids do?
• What do parents do?
• When is it all happening?
• How to join!
33. Parent Jobs at Registration
Lead Coaches run teams of 5-7 members with guidance
and support from us
Assistant Coaches help the Lead Coaches (e.g., be
there much of the time; substitute for absence)
Assistant Treasurer assists the OM Treasurer in her
duties and learns the ropes for next year
Secretary assists with membership and registration,
works with school staff to arrange for rooms and other
needs, assists with State Final registration
Judge for the Maryland State Tournament: each team is
required to provide two parent judges
Volunteer for the Maryland State Tournament: each team
is encouraged to provide one volunteer to provide
helping hands (manage competition; registration; selling
t-shirts, pins, etc.)
34. The Role of Parents
Best: Coach or co-coach a team!
Work with kids, including yours
Learn and grow with them
Requires a weekly commitment for about 2 hours
(usually Friday afternoon), plus some amount of
patience, enthusiasm, and love of kids
Also good: Judging
Serve as a judge at competitions, ~8 hours
At least: Support your child & his/her team
Bring them to all the meetings; host a meeting at
your house; help them learn!
35. Parents & Their Child
You can teach, but you can’t help.
“I’ll teach you to sew, but you have to attach
all the jingle bells yourself!”
“You said you want to build a truss so today
we’re going to learn how to use a power drill!”
Expect them to burn themselves on the hot
glue gun. This is called “experience.”
36. Parent Commitment
Make sure your child participates
Help them collect the materials for the
play. Cost limit for whole team is $125,
so it’s mostly found items
Teach them skills for the play
37. Want to Coach?
Help guide your child’s team through the
Odyssey
We’ll provide
session plans
and training
You enable
your team
to do their
best!
39. What You’ll Hear
• What is Odyssey of the Mind?
• Why being in Odyssey is great!
• What do kids do?
• What do parents do?
• When is it all happening?
• How to join!
40. Important Dates
• By Friday, September 26:
– Register student
– Tell us if you’re interested in coaching
• Sunday, Sep. 28: Coach Training
• Friday, Oct. 3: First Session 3:30!
• Sessions almost every Friday
41. Important Dates
• In January: “Spontaneous Day!”
– Fun, learning-oriented session
– Like competition, judged, no stress
• March, “Spontaneous Competition”
– Still fun!
– Teams do compete, awards in April
• April, Maryland State Tournament
– Spontaneous component
– Long-Term Problem (play)
– Qualifying opportunity for World Finals
42. Important Dates
• In January: “Spontaneous Day!”
– Fun, learning-oriented session
– Like competition, judged, no stress
• March, “Spontaneous Competition”
– Still fun!
– Teams do compete, awards in April
• April, Maryland State Tournament
– Spontaneous component
– Long-Term Problem (play)
– Qualifying opportunity for World Finals
43. What You’ll Hear
• What is Odyssey of the Mind?
• Why being in Odyssey is great!
• What do kids do?
• What do parents do?
• When is it all happening?
• How to join!
44. How to Sign Up
Go visit our web site:
tinyurl.com/bellsmillodyssey
Enroll using our convenient snazzy
online form!
Registration fee of $40 payable by
PayPal for even more convenience!
