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I.O. Activity Descriptions
This list includes IO activities that have been offered previously.
Not all activities are available every year. Others may be added or substituted.
Please review the IO schedule as posted on the GOAL teacher’s website.
Actor’s Workshop – (6-8) - Students who registered for the Shakespeare Monologue and Scene
Contest, and have their lines memorized ahead of time, attend this 90-minute coaching session
with Shakespeare Teaching Artists from the O’Reilly Theater to work on characterization,
inflection, blocking and delivery.
America Bowl (6-8) – Students will compete in an interscholastic quiz-bowl style competition
focusing on national, regional, and local historical events.
Archaeology Dig – (6-8) Students will travel to the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Center
to learn about local history by helping to excavate an active archaeology site. Many artifacts
continue to be found from human activity, including frontier settlements and Native American
campsites. Students will get very dirty as they carefully search for and identify artifacts.
Back in Time – (6-8) –History buffs converge to immerse themselves in our nation’s rich
history. Learning centers include buzz questions, artifact discovery, and timeline assembly. A
guest speaker highlights this event.
Battery Car Race – (6) – Student teams will design and build a battery-powered car, and
complete a design document about their engineering process. Students will compete against
other schools from the region.
Battery Car Race – (7/8) – Student teams will design and build a battery-powered car WITH an
additional payload challenge (ie carry a water bottle), and complete a design document about
their engineering process. Students will compete against other schools from the region.
Battery Car Workshop – (6-8) – Students who are signed up to compete in the Battery Car
Race in either division will attend an all-day workshop to learn about race rules, how to prepare
the required Design Documents and to begin designing and building their vehicles.
Battle of the Brains – (7, 8) - Teams of five students compete in “College Bowl” and
“Identification Segment” where all academic areas are fair game. The College Bowl is run using
a buzzer system pitting two teams against each other. The Identification Segment features
questions in such areas as pop music, classical music, art identification, literature, movies,
geography, and current events.
Bog and Watershed Environmental Study – Ligonier (7) – Students will travel by school bus
to Linn Run State Park where they will take part in three workshops focused on understanding
the unique ecological characteristics of the areas such as varieties of carnivorous species that
would otherwise not be found growing in Pennsylvania. In addition, students will visit Saint
Vincent College to learn about the Monastery Run Improvement Project, which was initiated to
help restore the watershed after it was polluted by mine drainage.
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Book Bonanza – (6-8) – Given three book titles in the fall, students will read the books then get
together and use the content/message/themes in different high level thinking activities.
Calcu-Solve (NA) – (6-8) - Students will compete against other NA middle school students as
they work on timed math problems. Top scorers will qualify for the AIU CalcuSolve
competition at Duquesne University.
Calcu-Solve (AIU) – (6-8) - Students will compete against Allegheny County’s best math
students as they work on timed math problems.
Calcu-Solve Superbowl – (6-8) – Top finishers from the AIU CalcuSolve competition can be
invited to a higher level math competition against elite mathletes from the region.
Carnegie International Expo - (6-8) – Students will visit the Carnegie Museum of Art to view
an exposition of pieces from emerging international artists and analyze/evaluate artworks.
Carnegie Museum of Art – (6-8) Students will attend Art Experience workshops which include
visits to exhibits, exploration of selected pieces, and creation of thematic hands-on art projects.
Challenger Mission - (6-8) – Students will practice problem-solving, collaboration and
leadership skills in this full-scale computer simulation.
Chesapeake Bay Trip – (8) - This three-day study takes students to island communities located
in the Chesapeake Bay. The program is conducted by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and
teaches students about the relationship between the environment and the economics of the area.
Computer Fair – (6-8) – Students are able to unleash their creativity, convey information more
dynamically, and collaborate to create innovative projects using the computer.
Creative Convention – (6, 7, 8) – Fluency, flexibility, and originality highlight this stimulating
activity. There is a separate competition for each grade level held this year at the Baierl Center.
DNA Day – (7/8) – CSI enthusiasts will learn more about the field of forensic science as they
hear from experts.
Doodle 4 Google – (6-8) – Artists design a new themed logo for Google following Google’s
contest parameters.
Drama Workshops – (6-8) Students participate in interactive drama activities. This may be
presented by GOAL staff and/or professional actors.
eCybermission - (7/8) – Students will engage in a cyber simulation utilizing digital tools to
solve complex challenges as part of a team.
Edible Architecture – (6-8) – Students will design and create a structure using edible materials
of their choosing and submit their entry for judging.
Equations – (6-8) – Mathletes compete while playing the Equations game using dice to form
challenging equations while strategically puzzling their opponents.
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Fairchild Challenge at Phipps (6-8) Students use art, music, writing and photography skills to
express the way they think about environment. Students investigate and engage with some of the
most controversial contemporary topics in environmental science and devise imaginative
responses.
Faraday Lecture - (6-8) – The Society for Analytical Chemists hosts this annual lecture, and
invites professors and professionals from the fields of Chemistry and Physics to be the guest
speaker as students learn more about science in a lecture/demonstration format.
Federal Court Open House - (7/8) - Students will visit the Federal District Court in Pittsburgh
to learn about the trial process and observe a mock trial, then participate in question/answer
sessions with a federal judge.
Fluid Power Workshop and Challenge (8) - The NFPA Fluid Power Workshop and Challenge
is a two-part competition that challenges eighth grade students to solve an engineering problem
using fluid power. At the workshop, students learn about fluid power engineering, then work in
teams to design and build a fluid power mechanism. Students build an original fluid power
device to compete against other teams in a timed competition.
Globe-Quest (6) – Geography buffs work as team members to solve a variety of geography
contests. Map making, globe trekking, charting courses, and general geography knowledge will
be part of the day.
Globe-Quest (7/8) – Designed as an extension of Globe-quest 6, this competition will challenge
students to stretch their knowledge of world geography, use high level thinking, and cooperative
group skills to be successful in their geo-adventures.
Holocaust Speakers Seminar – (8) – Students will attend a presentation by the Pittsburgh
Holocaust Center speakers to learn more about the historical events and cultural impacts of the
Holocaust on the world and various cultural groups.
Invention Convention – (6-8) – Students will compete in this AIU sponsored event to
demonstrate their own inventions.
Invention Land -- (7,8) – Students will visit a unique working environment composed of 15
departments divided by focus, including automotive, outdoors, juvenile, home and toys. Each
department is designed to increase creativity and to offer an environment where the products
being developed can be used, tested and photographed in-house.
Jennings Environmental Center - (6) – Jennings Environmental Center near Slippery Rock
University hosts this fabulous learning opportunity. Abandoned coal mine drainage is a problem
and students test water and analyze the results to learn about the health of the creek and our
water shed. In addition, students visit and learn about the AMD passive treatment system.
K’nex Challenge- (6, 7/8)—Engineers and architects join together to construct various
challenges using these popular building tools.
