-Biology
-Earth Science
-Physics
-Chemistry
-Problem Solving

Usually, the stations have events that use logic, construction, and knowledge of basic scientific principles.  In order for teams to be successful, they must demonstrate cooperative teamwork, use good time management skills, and record information accurately. 

***Location-Carnegie Science Center
Grades 6-7-8

Battery Car Race

The 18th Annual Battery Car Race will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at the Baierl Center on the North Allegheny High School campus.  This activity is an engineering design activity for 6th grade students from our area. 

***Location—Baierl Center on the North Allegheny High School campus
Grade 6

English Festival

The competition is an effort to promote quality reading among students.  The goal of the festival is to communicate to students the value of literature in the enrichment of life.  Students are required to read books from a predetermined list.  The team activities involve super trivia questions (submitted by the teams before 4/1/2010), a videos response due by 4/1/2010, insights (an oral presentation judged by a rubric which discusses ideas from the novels read), Trivia (very specific questions in reference to the readings), Talk Show (each team is assigned a character as the host and other members will assume roles of others characters form each of the different books to create a talk show), Super Trivia/Answers (answer in writing 40 trivia questions in 15 minutes).
Students may enter individual activities, too.  Art portfolios which would be 3-6 illustrations based on any one or more of their readings to be submitted by  4/1/2010.  Writing Portfolio will be a writing competition based on their reading of Many Ly’s Roots and Wings in which they write about a time in their life when they felt that another person, a friend, a member of their family, a teacher or even a total stranger misunderstood or misinterpreted what they were doing due by 4/1/2010.

Book to be read are:  Titles will be released in October.

***Location—Duquesne University
Grades 7-8

Young Playwrights Contest

The annual contest encourages western Pennsylvania students to make their voices heard by writing and submitting original one-act plays. Every script received is read and evaluated by our Literary Committee, and each student receives a written summary of the evaluator's comments, constructive criticism, and encouraging suggestions for continued revisions. Selected plays from the contest are represented each year in our annual Young Playwrights Festival.

2011 YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS INC.
NATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

DEADLINE: JANUARY 3, 2011

DO THE WRITE THING. Pick up a pencil and write a play. Young Playwrights Inc. will give you a place to be heard. Your play will be read and evaluated in writing by a theater professional; selected writers will come to New York for our Young Playwrights Conference to work with some of this country's most exciting theater artists. Who knows, your play might even be produced Off Broadway in the Young Playwrights Festival! So, do the write thing: write a play and make yourself heard. The power is in your hands.
Mail plays, postmarked on or before January to: 
Young Playwrights Inc. YPC
Post Office Box 5134
New York NY 10185

• You must be 18 years old or younger by January  - in other words, all writers born on or after January 1993 are eligible to submit their work. 
• Style, subject, and length are up to you, but collaborations of more than three writers will NOT be accepted. 
• Original plays only. 
• No screenplays, musicals or adaptations. 
• You may submit more than one play. 
• Scripts must be typed and stapled, with numbered pages. 
• No email submissions! 
• Scripts must be submitted by the author, not by a teacher or parent. 
• The title page must list your name, date of birth, home address (including zip code and apartment #), email, and phone number.  Click here for a title page template we encourage you to use. 
• Please keep your original script and submit a copy. Scripts will not be returned.

***Location---Pleasant Hills Middle School
Grades 7-8 In-class presentation optional

Future Problem Solving

The Future Problem Solving Program is a nation-wide academic activity designed to train students in the creative problem solving process through a study of futuristic problems.  The objectives of the Future Problem Solving Program are to:

• Develop creative and analytical thinking skills
• Expand communication and research skills
• Generate interest in the future

Team will complete a packet involving a six-step process during the two-hour competition.  The packets will be collected and judged on a scale of 1-10 in the following categories:

• Understanding of Basic Problem
• Use of Research
• Originality of Alternate Solution
• Criteria correctly used
• Relevance of Solution
• Impact of Solution

The first place winner will advance to the state level competition.  The teacher/coach will receive the team results in the mail. 

The action plan (step-six) devised will then be presented to those in attendance in a one-minute creative skit.  A panel of judges will judge the solution and presentation and award a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner based on a scale of 1-12 in the following categories:

• Meets Theme
• Presentation Parallels the Solution
• Use of Materials
• Use of Team Members
• Creativity

The topic for the 2010-2011 county level competition is TBA.

Reading Festival

The students will read four novels, which will be determined by December of the school year.  On the day of the competition, students will be involved in a variety of activities dealing with the novels read. 

***Location-Allegheny Intermediate Unit-475 Waterfront Drive-Homestead

Grades 4-5-6

Other Competitions

MATHCOUNTS

MATHCOUNTS is an accelerated mathematics teaching program that culminates in a series of local, state, and national competitions similar to spelling bees.  The program is designed to stimulate interest in mathematics.  This is a competition sponsored by the Pittsburgh Chapter, Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) with donations from other corporations and companies.  Students are asked to problem solve questions in a variety of formats starting with a thirty point written test, next the students are given individual and group problems to solve using scientific calculators, and the competition finishes with a lightning round between individuals for the top places.  All phases of the competition have time limitations.  Awards are given for both individual and team accomplishments.  The first place team advances to the state level competition and the top three students advance.  The competition is highly competitive and demands a high level of mathematical skill.

February 
Chapter Competitions 

March 
State Competitions