Odyssey of the Mind
Fact Sheet
We Want You Interested, Involved And Excited About
Odyssey of the Mind!!!
Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Kids apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program
WHO? 5 to 7 students from West University Elementary get together to form a team and recruit a coach or two. Teams may be of mixed grades, but they will compete at the oldest student’s age. There is a “primary” problem recommended for students under 8 years old, which is not judged competitively. We recommend teams be composed of 3rd to 5th graders.
WHAT? To do creative problem-solving by developing a solution to one of six long term problems and by practicing “on the spot” answers to spontaneous problems. The solution may involve preparing a script and designing a set as well as making props and costumes. This prepares the team to present its long-term problem’s solution and to compete by answering a spontaneous problem at a regional competition in late February or early March.
WHERE? Either after school at West U. Elementary or at a Coach’s home, particularly if the team meets in the evening or on the weekend.
WHEN? A team typically meets once a week for two hours on a day and at a time when the Coach(es) schedules the meetings. Teams will form in October and start to meet in November. The “season” runs from November to February, unless you are selected to go to state or world finals which are usually on a Saturday in March and May, respectively.
WHY? Because it is fun!