Orchard Odyssey of the Mind Team

This year’s team was made of second through fifth graders, Aland, Alex, Audrey, Avery, Damien, Kailei, and Kieran.  They had met every week and sometimes twice a week since December, to put together a solution to a Long Term problem called Superstition.  With the facilitation of coaches Nancy Pollack and Pam Cyr, they worked together to create a skit which included two well known superstitions and one invented by the team. The team also had to create a two-person costume. Their solution was titled The Dog, Dad and the Nail.

The three superstitions were the brother, Alex, who steps on a nail which sends the dad, Damien, to jail.  A Dog, Avery and Kieran in the two person costume, that follows the sister and brother home, which brings them good luck.  The brother, Alex, is mean to his sister, Kailei, causing him to get a blister.  Audrey, the funny narrator, helped tell this humorous story.  Kieran also played a judge who let the dog stay with the brother and sister, good luck!

The team also practiced spontaneous problems, which takes quick thinking while trying to come up with creative and unusual answers.  

The team members spoke enthusiastically about their Odyssey of the Mind experience.  Aland said, “It was fun seeing my whole team work together.”  Kieran learned, “It doesn’t matter who you are with, you can still work together as a team.”  Kailie commented, “Fun is what it’s all about!  Our team is a star!” adding, “It was awesome performing at the tournament.” 

Audrey explained, “The more you do it (Odyssey of the Mind) the better you get at it.”  She thought that out of all their practices, their performance at the tournament was the best.

“The spontaneous practices were really fun, it helped the team be more creative,” said Alex.    Damien added, “I liked my role as the Dad and making the Nail (a prop) was fun.”  Alex and Damien both shared that they enjoyed watching other teams at the tournament.  “I thought it was fun and I am glad for the teams that came in first and second,” commented Avery, adding, “I recommend OM to anyone who wants to have a good time!”

	Thank you to the Orchard PTO for supporting this program.