Science Blast Off

Teachers and Mentors who attended the August 13th event contributed the following information and tips

Utilizing Community Resources: T. Aragon TEMS

• Use High School Science students to serve as judges or mentors
• Use Middle School students to serve as mentors
• Use former students to serve as judges and role models
• Hold a community meeting to identify resources – develop a mentor list
• Meet with parents early in the school year and help them identify a mentor for their child
• Teach students to document and keep track of their work
• Identify website resources and list them for students
• Kids need to see projects – walk them through the process
• Discovery Zone (k-4) – provides information about electricity and its safety
• NM Mesa Groups – student tutors in math & science, contact your local high school for participation
• Use science as a summer program – work with high school or college students
• Consider a K-3 Science “Share Fair”

Suggested Timeline for Science Fair Projects

September: Research

September/October: meet with parents/identify a mentor

November: School Science Fair

January: CENAC Science Fair

February/March: National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair (NAISEF)

Teachers: Need innovative ideas for Science Fair Projects? Here are some helpful ideas generated by teachers who attended the Science Blast Off

Group #1 - A. Dorame – TOS, J. Grimley – SFIS, G. Willink – JDS

• Make science folders for each individual student
• Have an open house/potluck in the evening, opportunity for teachers to tell parents about science fair
• Elementary teachers start out with teaching small portions of the science fairs to the children. The children will then see the relation between each portion and how each portion comes together to create a science project. The display board is the last thing that is done not the first thing. Research should be the first thing that is taught. Start to make students feel comfortable with the process. Work with students hands on.
• Use pueblo/community environmental departments as a resource
• Make it unique just for the community
• Use LANL – they serve Santa Clara, Jemez, Zia, Tesuque, Cochiti, and San Ildefonso. Possible topics: Contamination? Mutants?

Group #2 - D. Smith – SFIS, T. Aragon – TEMS, M. Bacca - JDS

• What is a mentor? Want this defined with responsibilities outlined
• Judging forms – should be developmentally appropriate, i.e., K-1, 2-3, 4, 5-8
• Interdisciplinary projects for upper grades
• Public speaking is very important – students need to practice skills
• Have a share fair for elementary grades K-3 rd

Group #3 – L. Mitchell – LES, B. Romero – JDS, M. Martinez – TDS

• Teach a science program using the scientific method
• Build a community resource list:
  • -Early intervention programs
  • -School to school mentoring w/science etc.
  • -NM Tribal Coalition – CENAC
  • -High School/Middle School students
  • -Tribal Governments/Tribal resources: grandparents, parents, uncles, brothers, aunts, sisters, etc.
• Calendar - create a timeline for projects
• Make a list – brainstorm – Wall of Ideas
  • -What do we want to learn about?
  • -What are our interests?
  • -It’s a way our community thinks
  • -Share with other classes even the whole school
  • -Turn wall of ideas into a class activity
• Parents can add to the wall of ideas at an open house

Group #4 – M. Toya – JDS, M. Huys – LES, D. Moore

• Have a Periodic Table in every classroom
  • -Think in terms of how the elements behave
  • -Elements cycling
  • -Have Science buddies with older/younger students
  • -Have a science problem of the day as homework
• Draw a picture of a scientist on one side of paper, then turn paper over and draw a researcher (catch the stereotype)
• Invite Tribal council, political groups, and elected officials to judge and mentor – even just to walk through the science fair and observe the projects and students (gallery walk)