Oak Knoll Elementary School

Two event leaders are needed to measure and record for this event.

Two teams can compete at one time.  Each will have their own set of coordinates written on a card, and each will end up at different locations.  
NO TIES are allowed, and no help can be provided to teams.

ACTIVITY: 

20 minutes maximum time to place their marker. Teams will follow a set of directions to get to the “treasure” (first place) using only a compass and their ability to pace off distances in “meters.”  If time permits, they may double check (do over, etc.). 

In the unlikely event that there is a tie, they will be called back to the field for a tiebreaker competition, with one simple measurement straight forward from the edge (example... 12 meters).

Note:  Each Coordinate Cards will contain 7 turns, and 60 meters total distance traveled.

POINTS:

800 points to actual “treasure spot”.  The “Treasure” is first place.  

Deduct 25 points per meter off (1 point for every 4 cm), measured in the most direct line from team marker, to the actual ‘treasure spot’.   Scores will not go lower than 100 points (no team will earn fewer than 100 points).

How to:

• Two Coordinate Cards need to be made up, each with 7 turns, and 60 meters total distance traveled.
• The night before the event, or before children start arriving at school, starting locations need to be marked (stakes pounded into the ground labeled “A” and “B”).
• End locations need to be noted in some way... No litter or rocks should be used as a marker, since this has been easily guessed by the children in the past.  You might consider, instead,  making the endpoint a certain distance and direction from the starting stake.   Look at the 5^th bullet in this list.  You can easily measure out distance using this “cheater’s strategy.” 
• Understand how you are going to measure the correct location accurately (talk to Caryl Brewbaker if you have any questions).
• Children may have figured out how to “cheat” in a clever way, making only one turn and many fewer steps by adding and subtracting opposite directions to create one distance North or South, and one distance for West & East.  Do not allow this.  Teams MUST measure out each step and each direction.  Please don’t mention this strategy to them at beginning or end, and simply stop them from using that strategy if you see it happening. 

Role of the Challenge Leader:

• This activity takes a little more preparation than the other events.  Before the children arrive at school, you will need to find the exact location of treasure for both coordinate cards. 
• Make this as fun and exciting for the students as you can make it. 
• Briefly explain the event and its point system. 
• Most children will have already practiced, but show the students the meter stick and explain to them that metric is what the event is measured in.  Have meter stick available for them to look at and check against before the competition.  They may not bring it with them into the competition area.
• Each team is given a flag marker, to mark where they think the ‘treasure’ should be.
• Give them their coordinate cards and explain to them that both cards are different, and that teams should end up in different locations.  
• Both teams have the same number of turns and distances to pace off.
• They may not use any tools except for compasses.  If they have brought a compass from home, that’s okay, as long as it is a floating compass (not digital).
• Event Leader keeps track of the official event time, letting them know if time is running out.
• Once a team’s flag has been placed in the ground, measure the difference with the children right there (if there is time). 
• Measure error distance quickly, before the next class arrives and can see results.
• Record how many cm they are off from the actual location.  Mark distance “off” on Score Card, and if you have time, figure out the total score... using the “distance off” formula. 
• Don’t tell children how their score compares with other teams.
• In the event of a tie, you will be notified by the Score Table of a rematch between the two (only for first place) teams.  At end of competition, teams will conduct a tiebreaker competition with a simple measurement straightforward from the edge of the grass. (example... 12 meters). Whoever is closest, wins.
• Whatever their score ... make all of them feel successful.  Shake their hands when students are leaving the field.
• Please clean up area and “repackage” the event in readiness for next year.  Please leave coordinates cards in the box, and any other information you can provide for next year, or upcoming years.