schedule

VERBAL SPONTANEOUS PROBLEM: OIL AND WATER

JUDGE READS TO STUDENTS: (Do not read numbers or phrases in parenthesis.)

1. You will have two minutes to think and three minutes to respond. Questions count against your thinking time.

2. You will receive one point for each common response. Highly creative or humorous responses will receive three points. This will be a subjective opinion of the judge and the judge's decision is final.

3. Your team is to take turns in sequence. You may not skip your turn, nor repeat nor pass. If one member of the team is stuck, the team is stuck.

4. Your team has been given a die. On your turn, you must roll the die. If the resulting number is even – a 2, 4, or 6 – you must give one type of answer; if the resulting number is odd – a 1,3, or 5 – you must give another type of answer. The person who will roll the die first is (indicate one team member) and then you will continue in order, going clockwise.

5. Once the time begins, it will not be stopped. If the judge asks you to repeat or to clarify your answer, it counts against your time. Speak loudly and clearly.

THE PROBLEM IS:

6. We often say things seem “made for each other,” and also often say that things don’t mix at all, like oil and water. You are to roll the die. If the resulting number is even – a 2,4, or 6, you must say two things that go well together. For example, you could say “ham and eggs.” If the resulting number is odd – a 1,3, or 5 – you must say two things that do not mix at all. For example, you could say “cats and dogs.”

(Repeat #5, THE PROBLEM IS: )

7. You have two minutes to think. “BEGIN” (Judge starts timer).

FOR JUDGES ONLY:

Be sure to give exactly two minutes to think and three minutes to respond. Timing is critical. Students responding at the buzzer can finish and be scored.

You should repeat the problem for each team. You may answer questions during the two minutes thinking period, but time continues. After thinking time is over, reset the stopwatch for three minutes.

Examples of common answers:

Mix well: pen and paper, hat and coat, soup and sandwich, love and marriage, etc.

Don’t mix well: oil and water, two people getting divorced, drinking and driving, wind & umbrellas, etc.

Examples of creative answers:
Mix well: Julia Roberts and romantic comedies, Odyssey teams and creative thinking, Sesame Street and pre-schoolers, Domino’s pizza and doorbells

Don’t mix well: Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner, prom and a bad hair day, homework and school holidays, Republicans and Democrats, me and poison ivy