Teacher Resources
Introducing ExploraVision | Motivating Your Team | ExploraVision Ambassador ProgramClassroom tips: Elementary | Middle and Junior High | High School
Classroom Tips — Middle/Junior High School
Do your students think science is boring or irrelevant to everyday life? Are you looking for a way to spark their interest? Try ExploraVision!
Let ExploraVision harness your students' imaginations — you'll see the sparks of new interest in other areas as you move through your science curriculum. You can even make the project a major part of the team's science (and perhaps language arts) curriculum for several months.
MIDDLE AND JUNIOR-HIGH SCHOOL KIDS CAN DO IT!
The 1996 first-place-winning team in this category — a team from Inlet View in Anchorage, Alaska — combined its understanding of the life sciences with technological innovation. The students thought of a new lighting system using Genetically Enhanced Bioluminescent Organisms (GEBO). The new lights would be composed of organisms serving as hosts for light-giving bacteria. GEBOs would provide inexpensive, natural lighting inside or outside the home.
Organizing a Middle or Junior-High School ExploraVision Team
Click here for general tips on helping students of all levels.
1. Develop a Team of 2 – 4 StudentsAt this age level, you can select students who show interest — or open the competition up to the entire class and have students create their own teams. While you're describing the program's rewards, you should also explain that the contest requires work outside regular class time. It's a smart idea to have interested students commit up front to the weekly time required.
2. Brainstorm to Select a TopicHelp the team select a topic that is clever and actually in the realm of possibility 20 years from now. This process may take a few weeks or more. Guide students to look at technologies they see every day, as this age group can readily identify with things that are part of their lives. But once they get rolling, stay in the background. The students need to "own" the work, to see that it is theirs and not just another part of the required schoolwork.
3. Research the Technology- First, find an expert. No matter how good your students' research skills, most will find contact with someone in the field they are studying to be the best source of information. This person will probably also be able to suggest other sources for research. You or your mentor may need to set up the initial contact, and go with students to their first meeting. You might even be able to establish an e-mail dialogue that's mutually beneficial.
- Next, hit the library, museums and the Internet.
- During the process, touch base to ensure that every team member is making progress on his/her contribution and will have it ready in time for the entry deadline. Check the students' work to make sure that all the pieces are ready, then have them prepare the Abstract, Description and Web page graphics. Please note: The students should do all of the writing.
- Don't let the team's hard work go to waste because its entry gets disqualified. Make sure that the students actually complete their entries and mail them on time. Go through the checklist with the team members to ensure rules and directions have been followed to the letter.
Content Standard E: Science and Technology
As a result of activities in grades 5 – 8, all students should develop:
- Abilities of technological design
- Identify appropriate problems for technological design
- Design a solution or product
- Implement a proposed design
- Evaluate completed technological designs or products
- Communicate the process of technological design
- Understandings about science and technology