Students Answer Call To Make Community A Better Place

By Larissa Lytwyn

BJ Liberty, a science teacher at Newtown Middle School, loves challenging her students to problem-solve and contribute more actively to their community.

Ms Liberty recently introduced her students The Columbus Fellowship Foundation’s (CFF) awards program. CFF hosts the event in cooperation with The National Science Foundation.

According to CFF, today’s middle school students are the “Innovation Generation,” described as “everyday kids with untapped potential who are creative problem-solvers.”

The CFF awards program seeks to unlock that potential.

With the help of an adult coach, or teacher, teams of students identify an issue they care about and use science and technology to develop an innovative solution. They work with experts, conduct research, and put their ideas to the test, just like adult scientists.

Students’ projects must meet the following six elemental standards: “Unifying Concepts and Processes in Science” challenges students to put the scientific process into practice. They are expected to provide a thorough, well-organized explanation of a program and their proposed solution, exhibit measurable evidence that their hypothesis has been tested, and present a model of their solution would work in the community.

“Science as Inquiry” allows students to “investigate” an actual problem that affects their community, and, upon making a prediction about how to solve the problem, use specific tools and techniques to gather and analyze related data and apply critical thinking skills to interpret and explain how the date support their hypothesis.

“Physical Science/Life Science/Earth and Space Science” allows students to choose a specific project, including an aim to find cleaner sources of power for the community, controlling the local deer population, reproduction and heredity, or dealing with a community’s response to catastrophic natural phenomena (such as the recent tsunami).

“Science and Technology” encourages students to effectively communicate how their solution employs existing or newly developed technologies. “Science in Personal and Social Perspectives” reminds participants to work as a team “for the common good,” while “History and Nature of Science” ensures that students learn that science “is a human endeavor that requires inquisitiveness, creativity, and an open mind, in addition to careful research and documentation.”

One team, comprised of Sarah Shannon, Kristen Whalen, Colleen Lynch, Molly Murtha, and Caleigh Boyle, wanted to help the Teen Center become a more welcoming place.

“There was just not enough people taking advantage of it,” said Shannon. “Not enough kids are attending on a regular basis!”

So the girls decided to paint the walls of the Teen Center in brilliant shades of blue, yellow, and red. In a technologically savvy twist, the team decided to use glow-in-the-dark paint to give the walls an even more eye-opening appearance.

“It looks especially cool with a black light,” said Colleen.

The young teens spent several consecutive Saturdays on the project.

Teen Center director Amy Mangold was delighted with the outcome. “It made a huge difference in the entire feel of the Teen Center,” she said.

Ms Liberty said she was impressed with the girls’ work ethic.

“They have worked very earnestly and conscientiously on this, which is very important,” she said.

Other teams are working on a variety of initiatives, including the construction of fuel-cell model cars and solar car models.

“We’ll be holding an actual race in March!” said Ms Liberty. “It’s very exciting.”

CFF judges are comprised of scientists and science educators.

Every team entering the contest will receive certificates of participation, as well as judges’ comments. Eight finalist teams and their teachers or coaches will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., to attend National Championship Week, as well as a $200 grant to further develop their ideas.

Two Gold Medal winning teams from across the country will receive a $2,000 US savings bond and a plaque for each team member, as well as a plaque for their school.

Finally, one team will receive the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant as seed money to help bring its ideas to life in the community. The grant winners will receive guidance from the CCF staff and continued support from their teacher/coach and community leaders in their endeavor.

“It’s a wonderful project that really shows kids what they are capable, as well as what science is all about!” said Ms Liberty.

For more information, visit www.christophercolumbusawards.com.