Last year's Omonauts crulse through the course
picking up objects with thelr “Land Rover” they
designed and bulit themselves.

pete may enter. As a result of this local com-
petition, even students who fail to make the
tearn get practice in creative problem solving.

Said Micklus, “Sorne school districts utilize
the program only for their so-called gitted
students — those with high test scores, the
high 1Q kids. The high !Q score is not necessar-
ity an indicator of creativity.

“You overlook a lot of potentially creative
kids tf you don't cffer the competition to eve-
ryone.” she said.

Sam Micklus added, “I've seen sorne medi-
oge students be really good thinkers on
these problems."

Students must first win their local compe-
tition. From these OM-sanctioned competi-
tions, first place tearns are eligible to partici-

TOO NEWS AMER A/SPOING 1

pate in the national championships.

The events in the varicus levels of competi-
tion are designed tn challenge the students’
creativity, their teamwork and their flair for
the theatrical. In addition to the points
awarded fer sclutions to long term and spon-
taneous problerns, students are scored on
their style.

The five challenges offered each year are-
geared to different age groups. Participants
range age five to 18. .

Said Micklus, “some of the mest creative
sotutions come from the kindergarteners. No
one has told them it Is impossible todo some-
thing.”

CRUPPETS, EARTHQUAKES
AND OMONAUTS

Last yez* the problems for the younger
particpants included the Cruppets. Children
were asked to write and perform a short olay

oo 5

Left: Students use their ingenutty 2s they part!-
pate in the Olympics of the Mind.

with five cruppets, or pupoets. one of which
hac to be modeiec atter a celacrizy.

Another problem was caiied Strike It Rich.
each team had to coliect gold nuggets (poo-
com kernels}. hand them to a bdlindfoided
member and direct hirn or her through an
obstacie course to the assay office without
speaking to him. The seven minute time limit
required the students to develop a workabie
communications system to guide the runner
aiong.

The older students were offered challenges
like Earthquake Structure. They were zsked
te construct a building of balsa wood within
specific size guidelines. The Ouilding had to be
strong enough to support barbell weiahts in
S0 pound increments. To make matters more
difficult, a five pound shotput wes dropped
nearty to simulata the eartnquake. Tne more
aarthquakes the structure survived, the mere
points awarded the team.

Points are awarded not onty for the ability
to perform the required tasks, but’also for
their flair for the theatrical, Tearn members
dress in lavish, homemade costumes which
enhance their presentazon.

Last year during the Omonaut Cnaiiengs. in
which students represented aliens from dis-
“ant planets exploring Earth, the suxients
developed 2 self-powered land rover for gacher-
ing different kinds of materiais. One particu-
lar team scored high on style by dressing in
sweatpants, long tailed tuxedo coats and
orange shirts. .

7
LEARNING FROM DA VINC!

Even now students are working toward the
national competition scheduled for May 25
and 27 at Central Michigan Unrversity.

Among the five questions from wnich they
will select are two rather difficut protierns.

One of these challenges is based upon Leon-
ardo da Vina's concept for a spring crivan
vehicle. The Renaissance artist and inventor
once designed a car propelled by sprincs. OM
participants are asked to complete his inven-
don.

The vehide must maneuver through an ob-
stacle course and then be transformed in
app2arance into a twentieth century sering-
powered vehide.

In addition, students will be asked to de
sign and construct a balsa wood structure
which wil! be able to hold increasing arnounts
of weight and also withstand periodical lat-
eral strikes by a wrecking ball (an ordinary
billard ball).

The world of the future will pase problems
for our sodety we have yet to comprehend.
As our schools teach children the fundamen-
tal knowledge they will need to survive, they
must also teach them to adjust to new situa-
tons.

If the innovativeness of these young men
and women participants of the Olympics of
the Mind can be fostered, creative solutions
to tomerrow’s problems are virtually assured.