Rules

A DC-VA-MD Area Challenge for 7-8^th Grade Students

Winning Entries will be showcased during the Big Bones Bash at the Smithsonian's NMNH Museum on November 14, 2009.

The dairy farmers who own Cabot, makers of the World's Best Cheddar, want your ideas - teens talking to teens about calcium and why it is important to your health.

OVERVIEW

The Challenge is easy:

What can you do to make a difference?

You can enter to take the Calcium Challenge! The Calcium Challenge is an educational, fun competition designed by students, teachers and health professionals. You figure out a way to encourage your peers to learn more about calcium intake and why it matters. A team of judges, including youth, will look for original, creative and meaningful messages, crafted by youth who understand the critical need to communicate why calcium matters to their friends. After you enter, we will help you in two ways:

• We will keep you updated on new facts and resources.
• We will give you the support of the Calcium Coach ( coach@bigbonesbash.com).

Judging Criteria

Judging will be completed at the Big Bones Bash on November 14, 2009. The judging panel will be made up of youth, teachers, scientists, and nutrition, health and fitness experts.

Judging will be based on a point system. A total of 50 points in general will be awarded, as follows:

1. Entry represents original and creative work
2. Entry demonstrates why calcium is important to teen health
3. Entry has a presentation that is persuasive.

Types of Entry

• Art (posters, paintings, murals, sculpture, etc.)
• Computer Technology (web site, powerpoint, etc.- 5 minute limit)
• Essays (500 word limit)
• Experiments (science fair type experiments using principles of scientific inquiry, observation and documentation)
• Media projects (i.e. videos, etc.) (5 minute limit)
• Models (motorized, still, etc.)
• Music (5 minute limit)
• Performances (skits , dances, poetry slams, fitness/sports demonstrations, etc. - 5 minute limit)
• Photography (8x10 photos - minimum 5 - maximum 10)
• Results and Documentation of community or school service projects (3 page limit)
• Stories (500 word limit)

Selected finalists must present to win.

Examples of Exhibits

Science fair exhibit

• Foam board exhibit outlining your method, data collection, findings, and recommendations. Start a daily meal/snack audit and find out how much calcium you actually take in for a week. Report the findings and propose three ways you can change your daily eating habits to include more calcium.
• Plan an experiment based on a hypothesis relating calcium to bone strength, record your observations, and present your findings and conclusions.

Drama Skit

• Take the role of a dietician or nutritionist working with a youth who has experienced bone fractures, plan and describe the best diet and exercise to help improve bone strength.

Display models illustrating the route calcium takes to the bone.

• Do a lab experiment with the nutrient calcium to show how it gets absorbed in the body.

Copies of your magazine, blow up photos of articles.

• Create a teen magazine about the value of calcium in health, diet, exercise, etc. Interview scientists, famous teens and others about what they know about calcium and how that knowledge affects their diet.

Sing and dance your creation, show video when not performing.

• Write a rap song, design a dance to go with it about cheese, calcium, bones, and exercise.

Drawing of exercises linked to model of skeleton.

• Design a teen gym class that highlights different weight bearing exercises, each building up different parts of the skeleton.

Prizes

Judges will determine the grand prize winners from those presenting their persuasive peer-to-peer message on calcium to the public at the Big Bones Bash on November 14, 2009.

All Finalists will receive a Big Bones Bash T-Shirt and an official Certificate of Participation.

Grand Prize Winners will receive cash awards made payable to the sponsoring organization or school. A total of 17 cash awards will be made.

Cash Awards Two - $1000 Five - $500 Ten - $100

Rules of Participation

• No purchase necessary. This is a competition of skill, insight and the power of persuasion to deliver a message.
• The challenge is open to all youth in 7th - 8th grades in the MD-DC-VA Metropolitan area. This includes all area clubs, organizations and youth programs serving youth in this age range.
• All entries must be Received on or before October 14, 2009 using our entry form.
• Exhibits must be the youth's original work.
• A release form, by law, must include the signature of a parent or legal guardian before selected exhibit is showcased at the event.
• Employees of Cabot Creamery and the Smithsonian Institution's NMNH and their Big Bones Bash partners and their immediate families, household members and dependents may participate, but are not eligible for publication or prizes.
• Each sponsored individual or designated team leader entry must agree to work with the Big Bones Bash Coach to facilitate presentation requirements at the Smithsonian Institution's NMNH.
• Exhibit Entries chosen for presentation at the Smithsonian Institution's NMNH will be announced no later than October 19, 2009.
• Judging will take place at the Big Bones Bash on November 14, 2009, Smithsonian Institution's NMNH.
• Guidelines for types of entry are listed above - (see resources for ideas, facts and more calcium information).
• You must be present to win.