The Bee!

Last year, McKay's middle school started a Geography Club, sponsored by his Social Studies teacher (one of his favorite teachers). He decided to join the club -- at the time it wasn't yet an "official" school club -- and really enjoyed it. He seems to enjoy Social Studies, especially maps and charts (one of the UIL competitions he has done quite well in the last two years).

One of the things the Geography Club did last year was participate in the National Geographic Bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. McKay decided to participate and while he did okay, he didn't make it to the final round. This year, the Geography Club is official (they get a picture in the yearbook and everything!) and McKay even convinced Hannah to join, since it is open to 4th - 8th graders. They held the National Geographic Bee again a couple of weeks ago and McKay ended up being the school winner!

The competition consists of a variety of oral questions on all aspects of geography -- states, countries, physical features, cultures, maps, etc. The first rounds are easier because they give you a choice of two answers. But in the later rounds, there is no multiple choice. The competition came down to two students and we all kind of laughed later (McKay included) because they went through so many questions where neither McKay nor the other finalist knew the answer. They were pretty hard questions! So they just kept going until they finally came to a question where McKay got it right and the other student missed it, so he was declared the winner.

The next step is a written text that McKay will take this week -- we're told it's 70 questions in 60 minutes. I dont' know if it's all multiple choice or what exactly the format is. The tests are then sent in somewhere to be scored and the top 100 kids in Texas will compete in the state finals held in Austin (and from there the winner goes to a national competition). McKay's been studying, but whether or not he goes to the state finals, we are proud of him!