E Contest / M Contest

2020 South Carolina Academy of Science MAIL-IN CONTEST Sponsored by the South Carolina Academy of Science

Get Additional Copies of the 2020 “MESAS” Contest at

https://artsandsciences.sc.edu/cse/front-page

Ref: 2020 South Carolina Academy of Science MESAS Mail-in Contest Grades 4 - 8

To: All of South Carolina: Please Share

Principals, Teachers; District Leaders; Parents and Students.

All Regions: Western Region I; Midlands Region II; Upstate Region III, Sandhills Region. IV; Low Country Region.

V; Aiken Savannah River Region and, Sea Island Region VII (To all of South Carolina)

Please find enclosed information about the mail-in contest for the Middle/Elementary School Academy of Science

(MESAS) sponsored by The Center for Science Education (CSE) at USC & South Carolina Academy of Science

(SCAS) and produced by faculty and staff at Universities & Colleges in South Carolina and members of SCAS.

I have attached two MESAS Contests for your students (one for grades 4-6 “E Contest” and one for grades 6-8 “M

Contest”). Please make as many copies as you need and distribute to your students. I hope your students have fun

and learn something by competing in the contest. Each student who participates will be recognized and each school

that participates will have at least one winner. Winners will be announced in the SCJAS and SCAS newsletters and

the SCAS Bulletin. The deadline for entry is Monday, March 2, 2020. The authors of the 2020 contest include

Dr. Don Jordan, Dr. Eran Kilpatrick, USC Salkehatchie, Dr. Oscar Lopes, USC, Isaac Jones, Karsen Barnett, Matt

Gallovitch & Gabrielle Herrin USC Students. In addition, many members of SCAS and support from the Center for

Science Education.

We encourage students to use reference resources of all types, including the internet. However, we strongly

discourage parent’s assistance in finding the answers. This is a competitive contest meant to teach the children

new methods of learning and exploring. We love the parent’s involvement, but require the students find the

answers on their own for this contest. Questions are prepared with respect to the standards for SC.

The South Carolina Academy of Science Annual Meeting will be Saturday March 28. 2020, at Furman University in

Greenville, South Carolina. We hope to announce the winners of the SC Academy of Science MESAS Mail-in Contest

by April 15, 2020

There will be lots of winners, not just one or two. We recognized at least one winner at each school and sometimes at

each grade level. Certificates and prizes will be mailed out to each student’s principal so that the awards can be presented

at the school’s Awards Assembly. We have four levels of winners: School, Region, State, and Grand Winners.

Results will be returned to Teachers/Parents/Principals. (See contest rules next page for more details)

We also encourage MESAS students to participate in their regional science fair in March/April of 2020. Check with

your regional science fair director whose address can be found on the web at Center for Science Education site

Click Here to visit CSE Home, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina Then click programs - then MESAS

If you have questions, please call me at 803-777-7007 or better email djordan@sc.edu

https://artsandsciences.sc.edu/cse/front-page

Sincerely,

Don Jordan, USC

State Executive Director & Founder, MESAS

E & M Contest Rules

South Carolina Academy of Science Rules for E (Grades 4 – 6) & M Contest (Grades 6 – 8)

Mail-In Contest

South Carolina Middle/Elementary School Academy of Science

2020 MAIL-IN CONTEST FOR SOUTH CAROLINA

Contest to be emailed to All Schools in South Carolina that contains a grade 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 in Early January 2020

Contest Rules for E & M Contest :

1. Mail your contest to:

Don Jordan, Executive Director SCAS/MESAS, Science Education Center, College

of Arts & Sciences, Coker Life Science Building, CLS 108, 715 Sumter Street, c/o Biology

Department, 4th Floor CLS, USC, Columbia SC, 29208; Phone (803) 777-7007.

Email: djordan@sc.edu (There is a $5.00 entry fee for each contest)

2. Entrants must complete all questions on entry form sign and mail entry and $5.00 fee to:

SCAS MESAS CONTEST c/o Dr. Don Jordan of Arts & Sciences, Coker Life Science Building,

CLS 108, 715 Sumter Street, c/o Biology Department, 4th Floor CLS, USC, Columbia SC, 29208;.

If the entrant AND sponsor do not sign this form, they cannot receive any possible award.

3. Deadline: Entry must be postmarked by Monday, March 2, 2020. (note contest is emailed in early January 2020)

4. There will be lots of winners, not just one or two. Each school will have at least one winner.

5. A student can enter only one contest- either the MESAS E-Contest for grades 4-6 or the MESAS

M-Contest for grades 6-8. (Students in the sixth grade have the option of choosing either the E 4 -

6 or M 6 - 8 contest.)

6. Everyone participating will be recognized. Teachers/Parents will collect the entries and mail as a

package to the above address. Results will be returned to Teachers/Parents/Principals.

7. Prizes will vary in value. All winners at each level will be recognized or awarded prizes.

8. We recognized at least one winner at each school and sometimes at each grade level. In 2018 we had 339

winners out of 542 participants (approx 62. 5% of the total number of participants were winners).

Certificates and prizes were mailed out to each student’s principal so that the awards could be presented

at each school’s Awards Assembly. We congratulate each and every contestant for his or her excellent

effort! Grand and State Winners and sometimes Regional Winners receive cash awards.

9 Winners will be announced on the Arts & Sciences, Center for Science Education web-site. In

addition, results have been published in the SCJAS Newsletter in May/June. Schools will be asked

to announce winners at one of their assemblies for students. Winners will receive honors certificates

from the S.C. Academy of Science.

10. Each student is held to the code of ethics for entry into this contest. The use of resource

materials is encouraged. Each student must work on his/her own except for the group or team

Activities as described in the contest. Group activities can include parents, friends, or classmates.

__________________________________ __________________________________ Student Signature Sponsor (Teacher/Parent) Signature

{Teachers/Parents duplicate any parts of this test as needed. Check Center for Science Education CSE}

https://artsandsciences.sc.edu/cse/ Click on CSE Home – College of Arts and Sciences – University of South Carolina, Then programs - then MESAS

E contest Entry form

E Contest 2020 Entry Form

Official E CONTEST Grades 4 - 6 Entry Form for SCAS MESAS Mail- In Contest

2020

*(Whoever is mailing this form in should be considered the sponsor)*

STUDENT’S HOME INFORMATION SPONSOR’S INFORMATION (see above)

NAME NAME:

ADDRESS

CITY,

STATE, ZIP

WK. PHONE:

AREA

CODE/

PHONE #

GRADE IN

SCHOOL

EMAIL:

SPONSOR

NAME

STUDENT’S

SIGNATURE

(REQ’D)

SCHOOL INFORMATION

NAME of SCHOOL

ADDRESS OF SCHOOL

CITY, STATE ZIP

AREA CODE/ PHONE #

SCHOOL DISTRICT

PRINCIPAL’S NAME

SPONSOR’S SIGNATURE

(REQ’D) *

* If the parent is the sponsor then the parent signs

INSTRUCTIONS: (Failure to follow these instructions properly can lead to disqualification of the entrant’s

contest. However, they will still receive a certificate of recognition for entering.)

1. Print CLEARLY in the boxes above. Have your teacher, parent or legal guardian fill in the sponsor’s information.

Finally, ask your teacher/sponsor to fill in the school/teacher information.

2. {Teachers/Parents duplicate any parts of this contest as needed. Check Center for Science Education CSE}

https://artsandsciences.sc.edu/cse/ Click on CSE Home – College of Arts and Sciences – University of South

Carolina Then programs - then MESAS as well as dates and other important information.

3. Place all answers to MESAS contest questions on the pages of the contest.

4. This contest is for students ONLY. We encourage their use of any and all resources available, including the internet.

Adults supplying the answers take away from the spirit and goals of this contest: to allow children to find new ways

of learning, and encouraging the use of various methods of research, especially the scientific method.

5. Attach and return all entry & rule forms with your completed contest and entry fee of $5.00 (see below) by Monday,

March 2, 2020.

6. Mail to: Dr. Don M. Jordan, USC / Center for Science Education / Coker Life Science Building, CLS 108

715 Sumter Street c/o Biol Dept. 4th Floor CLS / USC Columbia, SC 29208.

2020 E CONTEST Grades 4 – 6 Total Points = ______________ Out of a Possible 80 points Page 1

SCIENCE AND HISTORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA {Each Question is worth 5 points} (CIRCLE THE CORRECT ANSWER AND WRITE THE CORRECT ANSWER IN THE SPACE PROVIDED.:

1. Common to South Carolina, which plant provides a bright blue dye color? Ans: __________________

A. Tobacco B. Indigo C. Cotton D. Palmetto

2. The Blue Heron is common in South Carolina: Which of the following is a quantitative observation regarding this organism?

Ans: ___________________

A. It has small feet B. Its blue C. It has a 1.6 m wingspan D. It has long legs

3. The Sandhills that run through the center of South Carolina are ancient beach dunes and evidence of former coastline. In what

epoch were these dunes formed?

A. Miocene B. Holocene C. Paleocene D. Eocene Ans: _______________

4. A new species of shark was discovered off the coast of South Carolina. The Carolina Hammerhead looks identical to the

Scalloped Hammerhead but is genetically different. The main difference between the two organisms is the number of:

A. Fins B. Vertebrate C. Eyes D. Teeth Ans: _______________

5. Found in the Congaree swamp; this is a raised area built to allow livestock to climb to higher grounds during periods of high

precipitation:

A. Hogback B. Esker C. Oxbow D. Cattle Mound Ans: _______________

FILL IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE USING SCIENTIFIC NAMES (USE BINOMAIAL NOMENCLAURE TO FILL IN THE TABLE: EACH QUESTION IS WORTH 5 POINTS)

16. Who invented the scientific naming system used in the table above? _______________________________________

SCIENCTIC NAME ( i.e. Homo sapiens )

6. STATE FLOWER

7. STATE ANIMAL

8. STATE REPTILE

9. STATE AMPHIBIAN

10. STATE BUTTERFLY

11. STATE GAME BIRD

12. STATE BIRD

13. STATE TREE

14. STATE WILDFLOWER

15. STATE DOG

South Carolina

Academy of Science

Founded 1924

2020 Contest for MESAS

E CONTEST Grades 4 - 6

Name: ___________________________________________________

Sponsor: _________________________________________________

Sponsor Email: ___________________________________________

School: __________________________________________________

Score: Total of ______________ points out of 350 points

2020 E CONTEST Grades 4 – 6 Total Points = __________________ Out of a Possible 50 Points. Page 2

GENERAL STEM CIRCLE TRUE OR FALSE AND WRITE THE WORDS TRUE OR FALSE IN THE SPACE PROVIDED.

(EACH QUESTION IS WORTH 5 POINTS)

1. TRUE or FALSE? Yogurt is made from bacterial fermentation __________________

2. Is the compound H3O+ an ACID or a BASE? __________________

3. TRUE or FALSE? Pluto completed a complete trip around the sun as a planet __________________

4. TRUE or FALSE? All radio-activity is man-made. __________________

5. LIDAR measures range by using this: __________________

The Environment: Circle the correct answer and write the correct letter in the space provided. {Each question is worth 5 points}

6. What is TRUE about environmental conditions on earth? Ans: ______________ A. Environmental conditions on earth changed in the past, and they are changing now. B. Environmental conditions on earth changed in the past, but they are not changing now. C. Environmental conditions on earth stayed the same in the past, but they are changing now. D. Environmental conditions on earth have always been the same, except for minor changes from year to year.

7. An isolated wetland ecosystem is best defined as: Ans: ______________

A. Only the animals that live in the wetland. B. Both the living and the non-living things in and around the wetland. C. Only the plants that live in the wetland. D. Both the animals and the plants that live in and around the wetland. E. Only the water in the wetland.

8. In the 1980s, the Flathead Catfish was introduced into the Edisto River. A single female can reproduce and release thousands of

offspring each year. Sunfish, the primary prey item of mature Flathead Catfish, will eat the catfish eggs, but cannot keep pace with the rate at which the Flathead Catfish reproduce. The introduction of the Flathead Catfish into the Edisto River is:

Ans: ______________ A. Positive, because it adds to the diversity of the ecosystem B. Positive, because the sunfish would otherwise not have food C. Negative, because it decreases water pollution in the river D. Negative, because it competes with native fish species and reduces stability

9. While visiting a national park, a student encounters an unfamiliar organism in a damp area near a body of water. The student notes that the organism is about 10 cm long, has four legs, and has a tail. The organism is black with small white spots on its smooth, moist skin. It also appears to have an internal skeletal system. To which class does the organism most likely belong? Ans: _______________

A. Reptilia B. Amphibia C. Mammalia D. Insecta

10. Which of the following is most likely to cause the greatest disruption to an ecosystem? Ans: _______________

A. Emptying an aquarium containing non-native species into a local waterway B. Cutting down a small cedar tree to make holiday decorations C. Cleaning the windshield of a car with an alcohol-based glass cleaner D. Mowing the lawn in a city park

2020 E CONTEST Grades 4 – 6 Total Points = __________________ out of a Possible 70 Points. PAGE 3

Just for Fun! (EACH QUESTION IS WORTH 10 POINTS)

RING RING 1. Use the letters and numbers on a rotary phone as a kind of code in which each number stands for one of its three corresponding letters. Find out who would answer the phone when you dial the number! Counts 20 points

Answer: _____________________________

2. IT ALL ADDS UP What non-zero number does each letter represent? Answer: X = ________; Y = _______; Z = ______

3. Growing Pains:

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WORD Delete one letter from the word GROWING so the remaining letters spell a new word. Repeat the process each time making a new word, until you’re left with a one-letter word. Write out all six words below

6 letter word: 5 letter word:

4 letter word: 3 letter word:

2 letter word: 1 letter word:

ECOLOGY (CIRCLE THE CORRECT ANSWER & WRITE THE ANSWER IN SPACE PROVIDED: EACH QUESTION IS WORTH 10 POINTS)

4. An interacting group of the same species is called a: Ans: ___________________

A. Community B. Population C. Niche D. Habitat E. Biome

5. The single most important factor contributing to loss or creating endangered species is: Ans: ___________

A. Pollution B. Logging C. Habitat Loss D. Grazing E. Hunting

6 The process in which elements, chemical compounds and matter, pass from one organism to another is:

Ans: ___________________

A. Krebs Cycle B. Calvin Cycle C. Biogeochemical Cycle D. Nutrient Cycle E. Water Cycle

7. On one stormy evening you are watching the rain by your window when you see a faraway lighting. As a good scientist, you

measure the time that takes for you to hear the thunder. If it takes 5 seconds for you to hear it, how faraway occurred the lighting?

You can take the speed (v) of sound in the air to be 340 m/s. In this situation the speed of light in the air can be considered to be infinite.

Answer: _______________________________ (answer in meters or kilometers)

328-4624

2020 E CONTEST Grades 4 – 6 Total Points = __________ out of a possible 150 points. Page 4

TEST YOUR METRIC KNOWLEDGE! (ANSWER THE FOLLOWING MULTIPLE CHOICE/ FILLIN IN THE BLANK QUESTIONS. EACH QUESTION IS WORTH 5 POINTS.

FOR MULTIPLE CHOICE, CIRCLE YOUR ANSWER AND WRITE YOUR ANSWER IN THE SPACE PROVIDED)

1. A gram has the mass (weight) of ________________________

A. an apple B. a dime C. a pineapple D. a baseball

2. A meter is about the height of __________________________

A. a door B. a doorknob or the top of a kitchen counter

C. The seat of a chair D. a newborn baby

3. Water freezes and boils at ______________________________

A. 32 C and 212 C B. 100 C and 200 C C. 0 C and 100 C D. 0 C and 37 C

4. A regular table size coffee cup holds about ___________________________

A. 2 mL B. 20 mL C. 250 mL D. 500 mL

5. A newborn baby has a mass (weighs) about __________________________

A. 3 kg B. 30 kg C. 300 kg D. 0.01 kg

6. Normal body temperature is ____________________________

A. 25 C B. 37 C C. 45 C D. 98.6 C

7. A liter of milk is the same capacity as _______________________ of milk.

A. 500 mL B. 250 mL C. 1 000 mL D. 2 000 mL

8. A liter of water has a mass (weights) of ________________________

A. 1 000 g B. 20 g C. 100 g D. 1 000 mg

9. The approximate Maximum Takeoff Weight of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is 245 tons (metric tons)

Given that one metric ton (t) is 1 000 kg, what is the Maximum takeoff Weight of the Boeing 787-9 in kilograms.

Answer: ___________________________kg

10. Suppose you have a circle with circumference approximately 355 cm. You cut the circle out and fold in half.

Approximately how long is the crease? Answer: ___________________________ cm

PREMIER QUESTION (WORTH 100 POINTS) Make Decimeter Cube (10 cm cube), take a picture and attach to this page (page 4 of E contest) See next page for

Instructions. Points for constructing a 10 cm cube = 100 points. Must show picture with Name, School, & Grade on one face

of Liter Box (10 cm cube)

No. of points out of 100 = ________________________

Page 1 of 2 E & M contest 2020 Grades 4 - 8 Instructions for page 4

Decimeter Cube (10 cm cube) Construction. Directions / Signatures:

Before Starting Read all of the Instructions listed here. Especially note * below

There are two templates (each having ½ of the cube page 1 & page 2) to place together and trace onto poster paper. You can use the pdf copy of the templates provided or down load a copy at

http://www.artsandsciences.sc.edu/cse click on Programs then MESAS

Print out the two templates provided. After you print out each template, use a metric ruler to make sure each square is 10 cm by 10 cm. Some printers will downsize the actual image. {To prevent the template from being down sized, select “None” under page scaling options when printing.} Note page 1 template

has a solo flap in the top left corner to be cut out and attached. Line up ⎯⎯⎯ at the side

designated and tape. (See * below) • Carefully cut both templates following the instructions on each. •

Place the two cut out templates side by side using the connectors that look like this “⎯⎯⎯” to

match the two templates. • Tape the two templates together to form one template. • Lay out a piece of white poster paper (or color if you prefer) on a table and place your template on top of the poster

paper. (See ** below) • Carefully trace the template onto the poster paper. Mark somehow where the

folds will take place. • Following the lines you constructed and cut out the plane figure or net (see ***)

• Now you are ready to fold and tape or glue. • A solid tipped tool such as a Phillips head screwdriver

can be used follow along the fold lines on the net or template (see *****). Use a sturdy ruler to make

your folds precise. • Tape the Flap from page 1 (goes inside) in the appropriate place. Note this is the only place where you have to tape or glue. No tape or glue is used on the outside of the Liter Box. • You should end up with a dm3 (10 cm cube) or Liter. A good box with a top and bottom lid which should open and close.

Next write or paste metric facts on the six faces (each a square decimeter dm2). • You can download metric

pictures from the internet and paste on sides as well. • After you have written or pasted metric facts to the six

faces of your cube, have your sponsor and/or parent sign below in the space provided; take a picture (See ****) of the completed cubic decimeter and attach to page 4 of your contest. Also see page 2 for sample picture. Be sure your name can be seen on the Cube in the picture.

The Student ______________________ has completed the 10 dm Cube as shown in the picture attached.

(Name of student) +++_______________________________________+++

Sponsor or Parent

* Notice on page 1 that one of the approximately 2 cm by 10 cm flaps is not attached. Cut out the

solo Flap on Page 1, along with the page 1 net and then line up ⎯⎯⎯ at the side designate and

tape. ** You can purchase from Dollar Store white poster paper for 0.50 per sheet, and one sheet

will make two 10 cm cubes *** Definition of net: A net is a plane figure which when folded gives a

solid figure in three dimensions. **** Attach (staple) a picture to page 4 or add a page.

***** A solid tipped tool such as a Phillips head screwdriver or Popsicle stick can be used to follow along a straight line to score the paper. Follow along the edge of a ruler down the drawn line with the tip applying a small amount of pressure but not enough pressure to damage the paper. The paper should fold easily and precisely along the drawn folding line.

The following information will take you to the video (YouTube) showing how to make a dm3 (10 cm Cube or Liter container) Go To YouTube https://www.youtube.com, then type in How to make a 10 cm Cube.

Page 2 of 2 E & M contest 2020 Grades 4 - 8 Instructions for page 4

Add metric facts to the faces of your cubic decimeter. Some of the facts are: Consider the following headings for each of the six faces of your cubic decimeter (Liter)

LENGTH; MASS; VOLUME; TEMPERTATURE; HISTORY; THE SEVEN BASIC UNITS;

A cubic dm (dm3) filled with water at 4 C will have a mass of 1 000 g or 1 kg.

A cubic dm (dm3) filled with water at 4 C will have a capacity of 1000 mL (milliliter) A name for the dm3 is liter (L). A named for the cm3 is milliliter (mL) The basic unit of length is the meter (m). Short lengths use millimeters (mm) Clothing and body measurements use centimeters (cm) Long distances use Kilometers (km)

10 mm = 1 cm; 1 dm (decimeter) = 10 cm; 100 cm = 1 m; 1000 m = 1 km

Foods and packaged goods are measured in grams (g) and kilograms (kg)

1 000 mg (milligram) = 1 g (gram); 1 000 g = 1 kg (kilogram); 1 000 kg = 1 t (metric ton) The 10 cm Cube has a volume of 1 000 cm3 (cubic centimeters)

If you fill the 10 cm Cube full of water, we have 1 L (liter) of water or 1 000 mL of water. And the 10 cm Cube full of water would have a mass of 1 kg (kilogram)

Definition: a cm3 (centimeter cube) filled brim full of water at 4 C has a mass of 1 g. Thus a liter or dm3 full of water has a mass of 1 000 g or 1 kg and a m3 (about the size of the box your washing machine would be packed in) has a mass of 1 000 kg or 1 t (1 t = 1 000 kg a metric ton)

“Water” cm3 1 g; dm3 1 kg; m3 1 t “Beautiful!!”

100 C water boils; 37 C is normal body temperature; 21 C is room temperature;

28 C is beach weather! 0 C water freezes The unit of Volume I the cubic meter (m3) The liter (L) is a special unit for the measurements of liquids. A solid the size of this 10 cm Cube would have a volume of 1000 cm3, but liquid filling this 10 cm Cube would have a volume of 1 L (or 1 000 mL). The Cubic meter (m3) is preferred for larger volumes such as fluids in large storage tanks. 1 L (liter) = 1 000 mL (millimeter) = 1 dm3 (cubic decimeter) SPEED will be in km/h (kilometers per hour)

The four Main Reason “Why Metric is preferred “ 1. The SI Metric System Was Scientifically Developed 2. Ease of Computation 3. Economic & Trade Reasons 4. This is a METRIC WORLD (Universal language of measurement)

This is a sample picture to include with your contest

John Doe

Logan Elem

Grade 5