Riverview Elementary Students Have an Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving program for students K-12 and college. It provides teams with the opportunity to learn creative problem solving, teamwork, brainstorming, self-reliance, and respect for individual strengths. Teams of five to seven students attempt to solve long-term problems.

One team (pictured on top) from Riverview Elementary will work on the Odd Pod Problem which requires them to design and build a structure of balsa wood and glue that will rest on an odd number of team-made pods while holding as much weight as possible.

The other team (pictured on bottom) will 'put a spin on it' where the problem is to create and present an original performance about the creation of a work of great human achievement, chosen from a given list. The performance will include a scene showing an original reason for the creation of the work. During the performance the team will hold a "spin session" to devise a more acceptable reason for the creation of the work.

According to Riverview Elementary's Robin Johnson, the two teams have been working on their problems three times per week since November.

The regional tournament for the Tampa Bay area will be held on March 8.