See if you can make contact with a high school drama teacher or community theater person and ask them to give the team some tips about speaking on stage and other stagecraft. (This is not outside assistance as long as the information is general–nothing specific to the problem or to the team’s ideas!)
http://www.bbbpress.com/dramagames/

Thanksgiving Day is a great time to watch your favorite movie as a family. What is it about this movie that makes it memorable? (Were they humorous, emotional, surprising, action-packed, etc.?) Have the team talk about how to harness these elements to capture their audience.

Put some time and energy into the Style portion of your problem, starting now! Read your problem (section F) for the two required Style elements. What ideas does the team have for the two Free Choice elements? How will these four elements come together to create an Overall Effect that enhances the presentation? Style is just as critical as any element in the Long-Term scoring.For example the image shows a variety of items yet the overall effect is ocean or beach.

It’s never too early for the team to think about the types of skills they might need to put together their set, costumes, and props, as well as the sound elements of the presentation. Does the team know how to create what they envision? If not, what parents can teach them how to sew, build, record, play, etc. and make it happen! Any skill they learn can be useful in Odyssey of the Mind–and in life!

Remember that whatever talents and skills team members have will help in solving any problem–kids who like Theater/Arts/Style-type activities can bring enhancements to a technical solutions that budding engineers may not think of, and builders can make some pretty spectacular things happen in a performance problem!

http://www.kidactivities.net/post/Drama-Games-and-Activities.aspx

Happy Halloween! Encourage your team to bring in their costumes and create an improv using the different characters. Then check out these Out of the Box cardboard costumes: http://bit.ly/1h4b75U Encourage your team to research and brainstorm lots of different costume ideas (remember: no outside assistance–let your team drive the process).

Whether your team chooses a technical/engineering problem or a performance problem, it’s worth thinking about how theater and arts skills can help enrich the presentation. Style is essential for all problems–required elements are necessary for a complete solution, and each team’s unique expression of Style will enhance their overall presentation. Watch this space on Thursdays for hints in all of these areas