CTOM 8-Unit Curriculum
CTOM is proud to offer our 8-Unit curriculum to guide coaches in running meetings and support teams as they create their long-term solutions.
Please use these as a guide. Units can be completed in a single meeting, or over a series of team events. Units do not need to be completed in numeric order.
Unit 1: Intro – Teamwork, Creativity and Starting the Journey Together
Odyssey of the Mind and teamwork take a lot of practice and getting to know each other. Unit 1 includes team building exercises and introduces the concept of Journaling to help drive the creative process as your team begins to work on its long-term problem solution.
Unit 2: Long-Term – Embracing the Problem
Each OM team is made up of a unique group of children who bring different talents to the table. Choosing a long-term problem that complements their unique talents can sometimes be a challenge. Unit 2 will help guide you through the process.
Unit 3: Spontaneous – Teach, Develop and Demonstrate Creativity
Spontaneous problems and the thinking behind them are at the core of Odyssey of the Mind. Practicing these types of problems will influence a child’s thinking and problem-solving skills for the future. Many people believe creativity is an innate skill, but creativity is like a muscle and needs to be flexed to get stronger. Unit 3 provides an overview of Spontaneous Problems and secret tips for success.
Unit 4: Brainstorming – Theme, Characters and Storyline
Every good OM long-term solution involves a good story – a plot that leads the judges and audience through the solution while introducing interesting characters and evoking emotions like humor. Unit 4 will guide your team through developing a theme, plot and ultimately starting to write a script.
Unit 5: Channeling Creativity in the Long-term Problem
Long-term solutions require costumes, sets and props. Unit 5 offers hands-on activities to help channel creativity and inspire the team to focus on various scored elements of their long-term solution.
Unit 6: Simple Machines
Regardless of the long-term problem that the team decides on, understanding simple machines and how they work can help develop the storyline or enhance props in the long-term solution. Knowledge of simple machines also helps with solving hands-on spontaneous problems. Unit 6 includes videos and spontaneous challenges to help teams understand these engineering principles.
Unit 7: Bring on the Theater – Public Speaking and Developing Characters!
Public speaking is an important skill for OMers. Use the acting/theater activities in Unit 7 to get your team comfortable with each other and to build confidence performing in front of an audience.
Unit 8: Identifying Team STYLE!
Style is any talent, interest or activity that makes you unique and memorable! Officially, Style scores are based on “Elaboration of the problem solution”. Unit 8 will help your team find their “style” and then use it to make their problem solution uniquely memorable!
If you have questions, or need additional support, please contact the CTOM Coaches’ Coach at AssnDir@ctom.org.