Georgia Science Olympiad: National Science Olympiad Background

Important Notices to all Georgia teams ----- The initial mailing of Coaches Manuals was on September 9, 2004 to all teams registered as of that date.

The initial mailing of Regional Tournament assignment letters was on November 12, 2004 to all teams registered at that time.

Teams progressing to the National Tournament must be prepared to follow the National Event Rules.

Scoring at Georgia Tournaments will be one point for first place, two points for second place, etc. At least half the teams (and never less than ten) will be scored. If the last team to be scored gets "L" points then all other teams actively participating in that event receive "L+1" points, "no-show" teams receive "L+3" points and teams that are disqualified receive "L+5" points for that event.

If a school fields more than one team, each team is expected to have its own "devices" for device events like bridge, tower, etc.

A Georgia interpretation of a National Rule effective 2004-2005

B Division teams may include up to five of its most recent year's graduates. This is a generalization of the existing national rule allowing up to five ninth graders on the team of a school whose highest grade is eighth. Under this new interpretation, if a school's highest grade is sixth then it can use up to five seventh graders who are graduates. If its highest grade is seventh then it can use up to five eighth graders who are its graduates.

The 2004-2005 Georgia Tree List is posted below. There are two nice resource booklets available - "Important Trees of the Eastern U.S." is available free from the Forest Service by e-mailing smccomb@fs.fed.us while "Native Trees of Georgia" is available for $1.50 each plus postage from Kassie Odum / Ga. Forestry Comm./ P.O. Box 819 / Macon 31203 or calling 478-751-3530.

Of possible interest to Georgia teams - Listed below are the masses or times aloft of the top devices at the 2004 State tournaments. Keep in mind that some devices at regional tournaments might have been better. Bridges: 9.47g, 12.31g, 12.75g - B division airplanes: 2:13, 2:03, 2:01 - B division Bottle Rockets (parachutes allowed): 27:45, 26:25, 19:25 - Towers: 8.79g, 9.9g, 11.9g - C division airplanes: 5:14, 4:31, 4:24 - C division Bottle Rockets: 15:53, 15:28, 13:40

Georgia Only Rules for 2004-2005

Multiple teams - In Georgia, one teacher can coach as many teams as a school registers. Also, in the past, we have designated a school's additional teams as "-2", and "-3" but, effective beginning 2004/05, we will allow schools to name their teams such as James HS blue team and James HS gold team. Hopefully this will help students remember which team they are on.

No student can be on more than one school's team - for example, a ninth grader on a HS team cannot also compete on his/her last year's MS team or vice-versa.

Team Members - The students who compete at National need not be the same as those at State who, in-turn, need not be those who competed at Regional.

Device Events - In Georgia, the device builders do not have to be the device testers. This includes naked egg drop. The device builders should receive any medals or ribbons earned.

Scoring - We will use a modified "national" scoring system where low score wins. First place gets one point, second place gets two points, etc. Each site will score at least the top ten placesnt). If a site has, for example, 24 teams, it may score the top eleven or twelve places. If a team scores the top ten, then participation is worth eleven points, a no-show earns twelve points and a DQ gets 13 points.

Resources - In events that specify that participants may bring limited resources to the event, the limit described is PER TEAM, not per participant.

Bottle Rocket - All Georgia tournament sites will continue to use the "pin type" launcher. Such launchers may not accept nozzles and fin designs accepted by some newer style launchers. Fins must not extend beyond the bottle's open end. The "pin type" launcher used at most (not all) Georgia tournaments is shown on the national web page. It is also listed on this web page as a PDF file.

Bridge Building - Since there are many sizes of wing nuts, all Georgia tournament sites will use a hex nut, as necessary, to secure the loading device.

GEORGIA TREE LIST FOR THE 2004-2005 SCIENCE OLYMPIAD FORESTRY EVENT (The only change from last year is the deletion of Western Serviceberry and Bebb Willow)
This has been set up by plant families for the students and coaches convenience. Participants are not expected to know family names for the actual event. Classification follows that of the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees. This list is not as extensive as the official National Science Olympiad tree list that can be found at NSO we site. This list emphasizes trees native to Georgia but does include a few widely recognized species, which have key characteristics with which the students should be familiar. Many universities have extensive herbariums which students can use to test their skills. Please make arrangements in advance as some collections have restricted, or appointment only, public hours. Other sources of information are the state forestry commission, the US Forest Service and some of the private timber companies.

Distribution indicated by letters following scientific names:
E=Eastern distribution
W=Western
MW= Midwestern
SE= Southeastern
NE= Northeastern
N= Northern
SW=Southwestern

FAMILY Aceraceae- Maple Family
Boxelder- Acer negundo-E&MW
Maple, Red- Acer rubrum-E (RI STATE TREE)
Maple, Sugar-Acer saccharum-E (NY, VT, WI, WV STATE TREE)
FAMILY Anacardiaceae- Cashew Family
Sumac, Smooth- Rhus glabra- E&MW
FAMILY Aquifoliaceae- Holly Family
Holly, American- Ilex opaca-E ( DE STATE TREE)
Yaupon- Ilex vomitoria- SE
FAMILY Betulaceae- Birch Family
Hornbeam, American- Carpinus caroliniana-E
Birch, Sweet- Betula lenta-E
Hophornbeam, Eastern-Ostrya virginiana- E&MW
FAMILY Bignoniaceae- Bignonia Family
Southern Catalpa- Catalpa bignonioides-E &SE
FAMILY Caprifoliaceae- Honeysuckle Family
Elderberry (American Elder)-Sambucus canadensis- E & MW
FAMILY Cornaceae- Dogwood Family
Blackgum- Nyssa sylvatica-E
Dogwood, Flowering- Cornus florida-E (MO, VA STATE TREE)
FAMILY Cupressaceae- Cypress Family
Cedar, Eastern Red- Juniperus virginiana-E
FAMILY Ebenaceae- Ebony Family
Persimmon- Diosypros virginiana-E
FAMILY Fagaceae- Beech Family
Beech, American- Fagus grandifolia-E
Oak, Black- Quercus velutina-E
Oak, Chestnut- Quercus prinus-E
Oak, Chinquapin- Quercus muhlenbergii-E&MW
Oak, Live- Quercus virginiana-E (GA STATE TREE)
Oak, Northern Red- Quercus rubra-E (NJ, Prince Edward Island STATE/Provincial TREE)
Oak, Southern Red- Quercus falcata-E
Oak, Pin- Quercus palustris-E
Oak, White- Quercus alba-E ( CT, IL, MD STATE TREE) ,(IA, oak is state tree but no species designated)
FAMILY Ginkgoaceae- Ginkgo Family
Ginkgo- Ginkgo biloba- (Introduced widely E & W)
FAMILY Hamamelidaceae- Witch-hazel Family
Sweetgum- Liquidambar styraciflua-E
Witchhazel- Hamamelis virginiana- E
FAMILY Hippocastanaceae- Buckeye Family
Chestnut, American- Castanea dentata- E
FAMILY Juglandaceae- Walnut Family
Butternut- Juglans cinerea-E &MW
Hickory, Bitternut- Carya cordiformis-E&MW
Hickory, Pignut- Carya glabra-E&MW
Hickory, Shagbark- Carya ovata-E& MW
Hickory, Mockernut- Carya tomentosa- E
Pecan- Carya illinoensis- MW (TEXAS STATE TREE)
Walnut, Black- Juglans nigra- E
FAMILY Lauraceae- Laurel Family
Sassafras- Sassafras albidum- E
FAMILY Leguminosae (Fabaceae)- Legume or bean family
Locust, Black-Robinia pseudoacacia-E
Locust, Honey- Gleditsia triacanthos- E&MW
Redbud- Cercis canadensis-E (OK STATE TREE)
FAMILY Magnoliaceae- Magnolia Family
Magnolia, Southern- Magnolia grandiflora E (MS STATE TREE)
Magnolia, Bigleaf- Magnolia macrophylla-SE
Yellow-Poplar- Liriodendron tulipifera- E (IN, KY, TN STATE TREE)
FAMILY Moraceae- Mulberry Family
Mulberry, Red- Morus rubra-E
Mulberry, White- Morus alba- E
Osage-Orange- Maclura pomifera-W & E
FAMILY Myrtaceae- Myrtle Family
Eucalyptus, Bluegum- Eucalyptus globulus- (Introduced widely in W)
FAMILY Oleaceae- Olive Family
Ash, White- Fraxinus americana-E
FAMILY Palmae- Palm Family
Palmetto, Cabbage- Sabal palmetto-SE (FL,SC STATE TREE)
FAMILY Pinaceae- Pine Family
Hemlock, Eastern- Tsuga canadensis-N & E (PA STATE TREE)
Larch,Tamarack- Larix laricina-N
Pine, Bristlecone- Pinus aristata- W
Pine, Loblolly- Pinus taeda-SE (AR STATE TREE)
Pine, Longleaf- Pinus palustris-E (AL,NC STATE TREE)
Pine, Pitch- Pinus rigida-NE
Pine, Shortleaf- Pinus echinata- E & SE
Pine, Virginia- Pinus virginiana-E
Pine, White- Pinus strobus-E (ME, MI, Ontario STATE/Provincial TREE)
Spruce, Blue- Picea pungens-W ( CO, UT STATE TREE)
FAMILY Platanaceae- Sycamore Family
Sycamore-Platanus occidentalis-E
FAMILY Rosaceae- Rose Family
Mountain Ash, American- Sorbus americana-E
Cherry, Black- Prunus serotina-E
Hawthorn, Biltmore- Crataegus intricata-E (corrected 2/14/05)
FAMILY Rutaceae- Rue Family
Hercules-club (Toothache Tree)- Zanthonylum clava-herculis-E FAMILY Salicaceae- Willow Family
Cottonwood, Black- Populus trichocarpa-W
Cottonwood, Eastern- Populus deltoides- E (KS, NE, WY STATE TREE)
Willow, Black- Salix nigra- E
FAMILY Simaroubaceae- Quassia Family
Ailanthus (Tree-of-heaven)- Ailanthus altissima (Introduced)
FAMILY Taxodiaceae- Redwood Family
Baldcypress- Taxodium distichum-E (LA STATE TREE)
Redwood-Sequoia sempervirens- W ( CA STATE TREE)
Sequoia, Giant- Sequoiadendron giganteum-W
FAMILY Tiliaceae- Basswood Family
Basswood, American- Tilia americana-E
FAMILY Ulmaceae- Elm Family
Elm, American- Ulmus americana E & MW (MA, ND STATE TREE)
Elm, Slippery- Ulmus rubra- E
Hackberry- Celtis occidentalis-E

Eastern Bird List 2002- 2003

* indicates that vocalization is also required

Loons: (Family Gaviidae)
*Common Loon Gavia immer

Grebes (Family Podicipedidae)
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

Pelicans (Family Pelecanidae)
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Cormorants (Family Phalacrocoracidae)
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus

Herons, Bitterns (Family Ardeidae)
*Green Heron Butorides virescens
Great Egret Ardea alba
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Snowy Egret Egretta thula

New World Vultures (Family Cathartidae)
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Ducks, Geese, Swans (Family Anatidae)
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus

Hawks, Eagles (Family Accipitridae)
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
*Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
*Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
*Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Falcons (Family Falconidae)
*American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Grouse, Turkeys (Family Phasianidae)
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus

Quail-Family: Odontophoridae
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus

Rails and Coots (Family Rallidae)
*Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
American Coot Fulica americana

Cranes (Family Gruidae)
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis

Plovers (Family Charadriidae)
*Killdeer Charadrius vociferus

Sandpipers (Family Scolopacidae)
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina
*Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Family Laridae)
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri

Pigeons, Doves (Family Columbidae)
Rock Dove Columba livia
*Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

Cuckoos (Family Cuculidae)
*Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus

Owls (Families Tytonidae and Strigidae)
Barn Owl Tyto alba
*Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
*Barred Owl Strix varia
*Eastern Screech-Owl Otus asio

Nighthawks, Nightjars (Family Caprimulgidae)
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
*Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis

Swifts (Family Apodidae)
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

Hummingbirds (Family Trochilidae)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris

Kingfishers (Family Alcedinidae)
*Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers (Family Picidae)
*Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
*Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
*Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
*Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

Tyrant Flycatchers (Family Tyrannidae)
*Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
*Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe

Shrikes (Family Laniidae)
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus

Vireos (Family Vireonidae)
*Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
*Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus

Crows, Jays (Family Corvidae)
*Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
*American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos

Swallows (Family Hirundinidae)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Chickadees, Titmice (Family Paridae)
*Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
*Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis

Creepers (Family Certhiidae)
*Brown Creeper Certhia americana

Nuthatches (Family Sittidae)
*White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis

Wrens (Family Troglodytidae)
*Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus

Kinglets (Family Regulidae)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula

Gnatcatchers (Family Sylviidae)
*Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea

Thrushes (Family Turdidae)
*Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
*Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
*American Robin Turdus migratorius

Mockingbirds, Thrashers (F. Mimidae)
*Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
*Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum

Waxwings (Family Bombycillidae)
*Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Wood-Warblers (Family Parulidae)
*Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
*Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas

Tanagers (Family Thraupidae)
*Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea

Towhees and Sparrows (Family Emberizidae)
*Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
*Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
*Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
*White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

Cardinals (Family Cardinalidae)
*Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
*Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Blackbirds (Family Icteridae)
*Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
*Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

Finches (Family Fringillidae)
*House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
*American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis