2014-2015 B Division Events
Please Note – Events may change each year and are not finalized usually until September.
Event start-up costs may be shared with other team families. Team families often have books and building
materials you can borrow. Your actual costs may be more or less.
$ = Under $50. You’ll use printer ink, need a binder, and some books (used or library usually books work).
$$ = $50 to $100. You might have to purchase a kit, wood, or some chemicals.
$$$ = Over $100. Requires expensive materials. Consider borrowing or finding used.
K = knowledge event (you’ll take a written test, possibly identify specimens)
L = lab event (you’ll conduct labs or run an experiment related to a topic)
B = building event (you’ll build a device to perform a certain task)
All events are for two students, unless marked with “3.” These are brief descriptions and subject to change!
Anatomy $ K: Learn about two different body systems. You will need to know how the organs in these systems work
and what diseases could affect them.
Bio Process Lab $ KL: Perform a lab similar to those offered in a middle school biology class. You’ll need to know how to
use lab equipment including microscopes and probes, form a hypothesis, observe, make inferences, and communicate.
Bottle Rockets $ B: Create a rocket from a 2 liter soda bottle that remains aloft longest. You’ll have to figure out the
right balance between water and air in your rocket and design a nosecone and fins. One of the less expensive, yet more
challenging, building events.
Bridges $$$ B: Can your lightweight balsawood bridge hold the largest mass? Design and test wood bridges and test
them to the limit. Analyze where it broke, how to make a better bridge, and try it again! Try different designs,
adhesives, and sizes of wood beams.
Can’t Judge a Powder $ KL: Learn to observe and observe powders by using reagents and then accurately communicate
your findings. You’ll need to follow safety rules and acquire some basic chemicals to practice at home.
Crave the Wave $ K: What do earthquakes and your favorite music have in common? Waves! Learn about the different
types of waves and the equations that explain them.
Crime Busters $ K: Crime detectives look for evidence and you will too. Learn how to tell whodunit in this event. You’ll
need to practice identifying fibers, hairs, and fingerprints.
Disease Detectives $ K: Was there something in the tuna salad that made everyone sick? In this event, you’ll learn
about diseases and other health conditions, calculate attack rates and figure out if it really was the tuna!
Dynamic Planet $ K: This event changes its focus every two years and 2014’s focus will be oceanography.
Elastic-Launched Glider B $$: Can your lightweight glider stay aloft longer than the rest. Build a glider and launcher,
test it, and refine it to have the longest flight. Kits are available for about $50. If you use a kit, expect to tweak and test
it to make your aircraft the best. You’ll need to find a testing venue such as the City Auditorium to test your plane.
Entomology K $: Learn about insects in general and how to identify many 3insects found in the USA. You’ll want to get
a field book or two as you prepare for this event.
Experimental Design L $$ 3: On competition day, you are presented with random items such as a few rubber bands,
some tape and a bouncy ball. Your job is to design, carry out, graph, and document your experiment. Keep it simple and
include lots of details!
Fossils K $$: Learn general facts about fossils and how to identify certain ones. You’ll want to obtain samples to work
with and learn where in the world fossils are found. You’ll create a big binder of info.
Green Generation $ K: Study the impact people have on our planet. What are our energy sources? How do we deal
with our trash? How many fruit flies might this pair generate in a year? Are we disrupting ecosystems? These are some
of the questions you might encounter.
Meteorology $ K: Learn about weather patterns, storms, wind, and their impacts. You’ll work with maps and learn to
identify clouds.
Picture This $ L 3: Can you draw “heredity” or “cobalt?” You and your two partners will take turns drawing the scientific
terms. How many can you get right in four minutes? You’ll need a broad scientific vocabulary and artistic ability for this
event. Be ready to practice a lot with your partners as that’s the key to success.
Road Scholar $$ K: You’ll learn map symbols and map types and how to measure distances on maps. Be ready to create
maps and interpret maps. You’ll buy special maps, but will want to borrow from our past Road Scholar students.
Robocross $$$ B: Create a remote controlled vehicle capable of picking up different items. Can you pick them all up
faster than the competition? Learn to communicate with your partner to improve your score.
Simple Machines $$ K: Learn to identify and build the six simple machines and read up on their histories. Grab your
calculator and find the efficiencies of machine systems. Make your own scale balance to quickly and accurately measure
the mystery mass at competition.
Solar System $ K: Study how our solar system works and be ready to identify bodies in our solar system as you focus on
certain subtopics which take you well beyond planet identification. It is often hard to find the right books, so you’ll likely
use online journals for your research.
Trajectory $$ B: Build a device that will hurl a mass to a certain target. Start building early in the year so you can
calibrate and refine your device so that you can hit the bulls-eye.
Wheeled Vehicle $$ B: Create a wheeled vehicle that will move down a straight line to a target mark. Keep testing and
adjusting it until it consistently reaches the target.
Write It Do It $ L: One student writes a description of how to build a structure made of foam balls, Legos, stickers, or
other materials. The other student, who cannot see the structure, attempts to make the same structure, given the
materials and the first student’s instructions.
2014-2015 C Division Events
Please Note – Events may change each year and are not finalized usually until September.
Event start-up costs may be shared with other team families. Team families often have books and building
materials you can borrow. Your actual costs may be more or less.
$ = Under $50. You’ll use printer ink, need a binder, and some books (used or library usually books work).
$$ = $50 to $100. You might have to purchase a kit, wood, or some chemicals.
$$$ = Over $100. Requires expensive materials. Consider borrowing or finding used.
K = knowledge event (you’ll take a written test, possibly identify specimens)
L = lab event (you’ll conduct labs or run an experiment related to a topic)
B = building event (you’ll build a device to perform a certain task)
All events are for two students, unless marked with “3.” These are brief descriptions and subject to change!
Anatomy and Physiology $ K: Learn about three different body systems. You will need to know how the organs in these
systems work and what diseases could affect them.
Astronomy $ K: Nebulas, black holes, and constellations are only a few of the deep space objects you learn about. Be
ready to identify them by sight and describe them. Be ready for some tough math equations too!
Bridges $$$ B: Can your lightweight balsawood bridge hold the largest mass? Design and test wood bridges and test
them to the limit. Analyze where it broke, how to make a better bridge, and try it again! Try different designs,
adhesives, and sizes of wood beams.
Bungee Drop $ B: Create a bungee device based on rubber tubing. At competition, you’ll have to adjust your device so
that when released from a certain height will come close to the floor without touching it.
Cell Biology $$ LK: This event covers eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. You’ll learn cell structure, respiration, protein
synthesis, reproduction, DNA and RNA. Be ready to identify specimens and use lab equipment.
Chem Lab $$$ LK: What you learned in high school chemistry will come in handy on this event. Make sure you are
comfortable performing chemistry labs on this year’s topic. Start-up costs vary widely depending on what you already
have, as you’ll likely be stocking a home lab.
Compound Machines $$ K: Link together simple machines to make compound machines. Be ready to use trigonometry
to measure ramps. Design and build a two-lever scale to measure the mystery mass on competition day.
Disease Detectives $ K: Was there something in the tuna salad that made everyone sick? In this event, you’ll learn
about diseases and other health conditions, calculate attack rates and figure out if it really was the tuna! Dust off your
statistics book for this event.
Dynamic Planet $ K: This event changes its focus every two years and 2014’s focus will be oceanography.
Entomology K $: Learn about insects in general and how to identify many 3insects found in the USA. You’ll want to get
a field book or two as you prepare for this event.
Experimental Design L $$ 3: On competition day, you are presented with random items such as a few rubber bands,
some tape and a bouncy ball. Your job is to design, carry out, graph, analyze, and document your experiment. Keep it
simple and include lots of details!
Forensics KL $$: Step into the crime lab as you analyze fibers, tire treads, fingerprints, and chemicals. You’ll need lots of
practice at home to be comfortable with the lab equipment, probes, and other supplies. You’ll create your own
forensics kit as you study forensics.
Fossils K $$: Learn general facts about fossils and how to identify certain ones. You’ll want to obtain samples to work
with and learn where in the world fossils are found. You’ll create a big binder of info.
GeoMapping K $$: You’ll need map reading and math skills. You’ll work with topographic maps, learn about the earth’s
substructure, and make interpretations and predictions.
Green Generation $ K: Study the impact people have on our planet. What are our energy sources? How do we deal
with our trash? How many fruit flies might this pair generate in a year? Are we disrupting ecosystems? These are some
of the questions you might encounter.
It’s About Time $$ KB: Build a non-electric timepiece that can accurately measure time intervals and learn the science
behind time measurement.
Mission Possible $$$ B: Accurately transfer energy from one task to another in this complicated building event. String
together about ten tasks, each which perform a different energy transfer. Get bonus points if your device is smaller
than the competition’s.
Protein Modelling $$ LK 3: Learn about protein shapes as you create a model of a protein at home out of building
materials such as Toobers. On competition day, see if your team can quickly and accurately model a protein.
Scrambler $$ B: Your vehicle has to move straight down a line towards a wall. Will it stop before it cracks the egg
mounted on its front? The closest vehicle to the wall without breaking the egg wins. Start early so you can refine your
vehicle to make it the most accurate.
Technical Problem Solving $$ KL: Each year, this event features two topics from your high school chemistry and physics
classes. Be ready to answer questions, remember equations, and perform labs on these topics.
Trajectory $$ B: Build a device that will hurl a mass to a certain target. Start building early in the year so you can
calibrate and refine your device so that you can hit the bulls-eye.
Write It Do It $ L: One student writes a description of how to build a structure made of foam balls, Legos, stickers, or
other materials. The other student, who cannot see the structure, attempts to make the same structure, given the
materials and the first student’s instructions.
Wright Stuff $$ B: Design, build, and test a lightweight glider to stay aloft for an extended time. You’ll need to find a
testing venue such as the City Auditorium for testing.