Christopher Columbus Awards

Quiz Question:In what month is “Columbus Day”?

Christopher Columbus Awards

• This is a science fair type of competition that rewards problem solving and creative thinking dealing with a problem in our community.

• What do we mean by “Community”?

Christopher Columbus Awards

• Brainstorming…– Work in your table groups to do some brainstorming.

Come up with a list of 9 issues/problems in our community that needed to be addressed.

Brainstorming…..

• Community Issues– What are some issues in your community which

could benefit from a new, creative way of thinking?These could include: environmental issues, health & safety, sports, school, transportation, hobbies, or anything else that could help people if a new approach to a problem were adopted.

- No idea is too outrageous to start with!

Christopher Columbus Awards

9 Community Issues

3 – School / School District Issues3- Rochester / Minnesota Issues3- Personal / Family Issues

Rules…Rules…Rules…

• So…really….what will I have to do for the Christopher Columbus Awards?

Direct Off the Contest Website…

• Team Rules• Each team must have three or four student team

members and a coach. • Team members must be students in good

academic and behavioral standing. • Team members are limited to participating on

one team project per year.

What is Required????????• A completed entry consists of 5 parts- 4 written

sections and one visual.– The written sections are :

• 1. The Issue• 2. Research• 3. Testing• 4. Your Solution

The visual presentation may be:- A Drawing or Diagram,- Photos, or- A Videotape

Step Two……

• Talk about a solution – Come up with an innovative solution to your

community issues using science and technology.– What is currently being done to solve your problem

in your community?– Come up with 3 or 4 solutions that your team could

research and experiment with.

Steps Three and Four :

• Research! Research ! Research!– Identify people or groups in your community who

who could help you with your project.– Select one solution to research in greater depth.– Find out as much as you can about your proposed

solution and what you would have to do to test the effectiveness of your solution.

Step Five…..

• Formulate and Test your Solution– Control your variables (remember science fair?)– Collect data to support or reject your solution– Discuss the results of your tests.– Accept or revise your solution.

***You’re Almost Done***

When is it all due?

• Put together your entry.– The entry deadline is February 6th, 2012, and we need to mail

your entries out AT LEAST 3 days before this deadline. I will have all of the entry materials when you hand in your final drafts.

So ….It’s a national competition…what could we win?

A Trip to Disneyworld!!!!!

• This is with 3 of my 8th graders at the Magic Kingdom

Coronado Springs

• We stayed at one of the Disney resorts while we were in Florida for championship week

Coronado Springs

Some of the Finalist teams from a few years ago….

The Quiet Alarm

The Baby Beeper

Some of the Finalist teams from a few years ago….

Stopping Cart

Ladder Masters

Some of the National Finalists Last year included…..

Pendulum Barking System

This entry won First place!

$5000 saving bonds for each group member

Some of the Finalist teams from a few years ago….

The Red Arroyo project

Plateau Preservation

Project

Some of the Finalist teams from a few years ago….

Gone Buggy

The Christopher Columbus Grant Winner!!!!!

Milfoil Masters

This group received

$25,000 to develop and put their program

in place!!

Remember- This can be you next Summer

• And Finals week is not all work…– We spent a great

deal of time doing fun things.

Like…….

Going behind the scenes at Disney

Visiting Kennedy Space Center

Free time at the Disney parks!

Just Remember…..

• This is not going to be quick or easy!It requires a great deal of hard work, and commitment to your idea. But if you believe in yourself, your dream may just come true

Christopher Columbus Awards

Entries Due: Tuesday, February 1st

2012

Back to Step One……

Find a group of 2 or 3 other students to work with1. Share all the answers from your brainstorming

session2. Decide on 2 community issues that you would want to

work on3. Fill out the “First 5 Questions” worksheet4. We will all share our community issues during the last

10 minutes of class