Fermilab LInC Project Examples
The following projects were created as homework during a Leadership Institute Integrating Internet, Curriculum, and Instruction course.
Elementary School Projects - Grades K-2
Here A Bug, There A Bug: Elementary School (Kindergarten), Science - Math - Language Arts
Students unearth insects on schoolgrounds; use various sources including the Internet to research information about the insects; record the information and share this with classmates. The students also share information with students in other geographical areas via e-mail. This learning model was designed for kindergarten students but is appropriate for all elementary students.
Montgomery County to the Rescue!: Elementary (Grade 2), Investigating Ethnic/Cultural Diversity in the Community
The hometown of the Power Rangers, popular TV and movie action characters, has been destroyed by evil forces. The Rangers post an Internet plea for help in locating a new home base that is ethnically and culturally diverse. In order to convince the Rangers to adopt Montgomery County as their new home base, second-grade students must find out specific facts about different ethnic and cultural groups in the community, and present these facts in a persuasive case to the Rangers. Students use the Internet and e-mail to obtain current facts about Montgomery County, and send their invitation back to the Rangers.
The Seed Connection: Elementary (Grade 2), Math - Science - Social Studies - MSTe
The purpose of this three-month project is to find the best conditions for growing plants. Students create a problem statement, develop a study plan, test their ideas and use construction technology and computer technology as tools for research, planning, recording data and communicating. Students develop an understanding of how math, science and technology are interrelated and can be used to solve real-life problems. Note that this Web site was professionally edited after the end of the course.
Elementary School Projects - Grades 3-5
Adopting an Endangered Species in Our Area: Elementary (Grade 5), Science - Mathematics - Language Arts - Technology
This project involves groups of students in an investigation of endangered species at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Students are asked to take a field trip (either virutal or actual) to discover what species are in jeopardy and what resources are in place to save the population. Students use technology to communicate with experts and research the most current statistics. The ultimate goal of the mission is to adopt an endangered species and disseminate relevant information about the species to the neighboring community. The project can be used as a model to investigate any community's endangered species and provide the community with information.
I Want to be an American Citizen: Elementary School (Grades 4, 5 & 6), Social Studies - Language Arts
The bilingual students at Turner Elementary School are creating Web pages to help their parents and friends study for the U.S. Citizenship Test. These Web pages contain information about immigrations issues that will help the users to become American citizens.
Wetlands in Danger: Elementary School (Grade 5), Science - Language Arts
Students gather information and write an essay to persuade the park district not to sell a wetland area. Students will be able to identify the characteristics of wetlands, as well as the issues and problems surrounding them. The students will spend much of their time researching using a variety of sources including the Internet. The students will also be exposed to a variety of teacher-instructed activities based on information gained during a KWL process. The remainder of their time is spent creating their final product (persuasive essay).
Middle School Projects
Children's Health on the Decline: Middle School, Health - Science
Sixth-grade students study food and nutrition. Based on information gathered through research and personal lifestyles, the students will develop a realistic and obtainable one-week health and fitness plan, which they will carry out and share with other interested students.
EMO Weather Watchers: Middle School, Science
The sixth-grade class at East Moriches School learns about weather and weather prediction in science class and how to research information using the Internet in computer class. They use charts and graphs to record and display their data. The students set up a school weather station to collect data on local weather conditions, disseminate local weather conditions to the school and surrounding community, and do a research study to see what they can learn by collecting weather data over a period of time. This Web site could also serve as a model for other regional school weather networks. Note that this Web site was professionally edited after the end of the course.
100% Recyclable: Middle School, Social Studies - Science - Healthy - Communications
Seventh-grade students will be challenged to develop a school-wide recycling program. The challenge will be for everyone; students, teachers, administrators and especially the cafeteria and lunch program to recycle waste products. Students will form teams to investigate waste and waste management. They will also contact other schools throughout the country (via e-mail) and collect data on school recycling programs. Do they exist? How are they managed? What percentage of waste has to be hauled away? What are the costs for running such a program? The teams will be encouraged to develop a Total School Recycle Program to either internally handle waste, or to find resources that will productively utilize waste products. This will involve investigating the means of disposing or recycling all the waste generated from their school building. Can it be done?
High School Projects
Careers in Mathematics Project: High School, Math - Careers
High-school students will use technology (Internet, e-mail) to research mathematics in nonacademic careers in order to increase their awareness and appreciation of mathematics in the "real world." Students will use established criteria to create a portfolio on a chosen career.
Global Symposium: High School, English - Biology - Algebra - Geography
Ninth-grade students will improve their problem-solving and communication skills using a scenario where they are part of a group of concerned countries interested in exploring, studying, and solving the many problems that face all world citizens.
Roller Coaster Design: High School, Physics and Industrial Technology
This is an interdisciplinary project that involves industrial technology classes and physics classes in designing, building and critiquing roller coasters and other amusement park rides. The first-semester physics class will research the safety standards and the components of a ride that make it "fun" via Web sites and e-mailing experts and post these results on this Web site. The CAD (computer-assisted drafting) classes will research ride designs on the Internet, contact ride engineers by e-mail, and design their own based on the safety and "fun" criteria set up by the first physics class. The material processing classes will build the design after researching structural properties of materials on the Internet. The second-semester physics class will critique these models by comparing them to the standards determined by the first physics class. The final designs will be posted on the Web.
Student Page 1, Student Page 2, Student Page 3, Student Page 4