Learning and Teaching

Tournament of Minds

Tournament of Minds is returning to St John’s as a part of our Extension Education opportunities in 2026. Tournament of Minds is a problem solving programme for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. Groups are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines:

Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM)
The Arts
Social Sciences
Language and Literature

Tournament of Minds is an opportunity for students with a passion for learning and problem solving to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant and public way.

Teams of 7 students (from Years 5 - 6) are required to work together on a Long Term Challenge for six weeks at school, without assistance from teachers, parents or peers. They are encouraged to explore possibilities and experiment with ideas as they endeavour to produce their best possible solution. They develop a creative and original way to communicate this solution to others, working within predefined parameters such as limited materials, complex challenge criteria and the deadline of Tournament Day.

Students present the product of their ideas - their challenge solution - to a panel of judges and an audience on Tournament Day. They have ten minutes in which to present and must do so within a 3 metre by 3 metre performance area.

The teams must also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on Tournament Day. This challenge requires rapid interchange of ideas, the ability to think creatively and well developed group cooperation skills. Tournament Day is either 15th or 16th August at Deakin University in Burwood.

In the coming weeks, we will meet with students to explain the programme and ask them to complete an application form if they are interested.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. More information can be found at www.tom.edu.au

Ange Crowe Learning Diversity and Learning Enhancement leader acrowe@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

Mel Kerwin Learning Enhancement Officer