2019-2020 Challenge Previews

Download the 2019-2020 Challenge Previews (two page PDF with brief descriptions of the Challenges)
Download the 2019-2020 Team Challenges First Look (PDF containing a one page overview and scoring summary for each of the Challenges)

Technical Challenge: The Big Fix

[Video Summary] [Clarifications]

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Technical Engineering & Design, Product Development,
Theatrical Set Design, Effective Storytelling

Design and build an invention.
Create and present a story about how a problem is solved with the use of the invention.
Integrate an invention artifact to highlight the development process.
Design and build scenery that shows the impact of solving the problem.
Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas
of strength, and talents.

Scientific Challenge: First Encounter

[Video Summary] [Clarifications]

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Ecology, Technical Engineering & Design, Theater Arts Skills,
Effective Storytelling

Research a real species and a real habitat.
Create and present a story about the first encounter between the species and the habitat.
Show how the species and the habitat change as a result of the encounter.
Present the story in theater in the round.
Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.

Engineering Challenge: In The Cards

[Video Summary] [Clarifications]

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Construction Management, Structural Engineering, Technical Design, Effective Storytelling

Design and build a bridge that will be assembled during the Presentation.
Move weight across the bridge to test its strength.
Create and present a story about an unexpected connection and its outcome.
Design and create a set piece that transitions between settings.
Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off your team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.

Fine Arts Challenge: Picture This

[Video Summary] [Clarifications]

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Photography, Visual Arts Skills, Theater Arts Skills,
Effective Storytelling

Create and present a story that features an unseen character and its impact on a
team-selected photograph.
Theatrically recreate the photograph during the Presentation.
Create and present a visual effect that includes a photographic technique.
Show how the visual effect changes the perspective of one or more characters.
Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas.

Improvisational Challenge: To The Rescue

[Video Summary] [Clarifications]

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Character Development, Improvisational Acting, Sound Design,
Effective Storytelling

Research superpowers and how they are portrayed in comic books, literature, film, and other media.
Create and present an improvisational skit about a villain who uses a superpower to cause an unexpected situation.
Include a hero who uses an underwhelming power to try to overcome the unexpected situation.
Enhance the skit with sounds effects.

Service Learning Challenge: It’s About Time

[Video Summary] [Clarifications]

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Social Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Technical Design, Effective Storytelling

Identify, design, carry out, and evaluate a project that addresses a need in a real community.
Create and present a story that shows at least one character in a race against time.
Integrate information about the project into the story.
Design and build a device that represents time and highlights milestones from the project.
Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off your team’s interests, skills, areas
of strength, and talents.

Rising Stars! Challenge: Blast Off!

[Video Summary]

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Engineering & Design, Puppetry, Theater Arts Skills,
Effective Storytelling

Create and present a play about characters who travel from one planet to another.
Include something surprising that happens during the trip.
Design and create a puppet to use in the play.
Launch team-created rockets during the play.
Create costumes, props, and scenery to help tell the story.

Instant Challenge

Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick, creative, and critical thinking. At a tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. The team members must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes. Instant Challenges are performance-based, task-based, or a combination of the two. Although each Instant Challenge has different requirements, all Instant Challenges reward teams for their teamwork. Instant Challenges are kept confidential until the day of the tournament.