Mini-Grant Application for School Year 2017

Submitted by: Thomas Westly Email: westlyt@flaglerschools.com Grade Level: K-6 Subject: STEM
Co-Applicant: Email: Grade level: Subject:

School: Bunnell Elementary School Type: Public Grade Levels:VPK - 6 County:Flagler

Approx. Enrollment: 1250 Number of teachers:100

School Address:

Bunnell, Florida 32110

Phone: (386) 437-7533 Principal:Marcus Sanfilippo Email: sanfilippom@flaglerschools.com

Project Title: Bullpup Space Agency: Mission to Mars
Project Dates: September -May 01 Grade Levels:

Focus Area(s) :STEM- Space Science- Language Arts - Collaboration

Abstract:
This year, Bunnell Elementary students in grades K-6 will have the opportunity to take the ultimate trip...a Mission to Mars. Students will prepare for their “trip” by conducting research, gathering supplies, and learning about space travel and life on mars. After this, depending on their grade level, students will build rockets and robot arms, attempt to build a rover that can land safely, as well as building models for a planet mars habitation module. Sixth grade students will take this a step further by creating a habitation module from 3-D printed materials, and later a larger model made out of pvc pipe. The habitation module will contain a hydroponic garden, as well as other supplies necessary for survival on Mars. Sixth grades students will use programs such as CoSpaces and Metaverse to create 3-D Virtual Tours of their modules for students in younger grades to view using Virtual Reality headsets. For this grant, we are seeking supplies to build the rockets and robot arms, as well as 3-D printer filament and materials to build the larger habitation module and hydroponic garden.

Proposal:

How is your project innovative?   (25 points)
What could be more innovative than encouraging students to design tools and models for an environment that is completely unfamiliar to them. Creating for a habitat on planet Mars requires students to conduct research, use their imagination, and think outside the box while engaging in problem solving. Castro, (2015) discusses how living on mars has been a dream and source for science fiction books and movies since the 19th century. However, until recently it wasn’t considered to be a realistic possibility. This article explains that scientists are currently planning a manned mission to mars for the 2030s, detailing what this life would be like and what challenges people will face while living on this planet. Elementary students today, will be entering or finishing college, and beginning their careers and families during the 2030s. This project provides students with an opportunity to consider the possibilities of life on Mars, while also attempting to solve potential and already known problems with this endeavor. After learning about the many challenges humans would face living on Mars, they will learn ways to protect our own planet. Castro, J. (2015). What Would It Be Like to Live on Mars?. Space.com. Retrieved 19 August 2017, from https://www.space.com/28557-how-to-live-on-mars.html

How will it fit into your curriculum (include standards)? (10 points)
Students in grades K-6 will learn how scientists work individually or in groups to solve problems. These students will engage in a video conference with scientists to learn about communication tools and strategies they use. Students will then formulate a communication plan for how they will collaborate while working on their habitation module. SC.K2.CS-CC.1.3 Collaborate and cooperate with peers, teachers, and others using technology to solve problems. SC.K2.CS-CC.1.4 Provide and accept constructive criticism on a collaborative project. SC.2.N.1.6 Explain how scientists alone or in groups are always investigating new ways to solve problems. SC.3.N.1.4 Recognize the importance of communication among scientists. SC.35.CS-CC.1.3 Identify ways that technology can foster teamwork, and collaboration can support problem solving and innovation. SC.68.CS-CC.1.2 Apply productivity and or multimedia tools for local and global group collaboration Students in grades K-6 will learn more about their own planet by comparing life on earth with life on mars. This will assist them with determining things they need to modify in the model for their Mars Habitation Module. SC.K.E.5.1 Explore the Law of Gravity by investigating how objects are pulled toward the ground unless something holds them up. SC.K.E.5.2 Recognize the repeating pattern of day and night. SC.K.E.5.4 Observe that sometimes the Moon can be seen at night and sometimes during the day.. SC.1.E.5.4 Identify the beneficial and harmful properties of the Sun. SC.1.E.6.1Recognize that water, rocks, soil, and living organisms are found on Earth's surface. SC.2.E.6.1 Recognize that Earth is made up of rocks. Rocks come in many sizes and shapes. SC.2.E.7.1 Compare and describe changing patterns in nature that repeat themselves, such as weather conditions including temperature and precipitation, day to day and season to season. SC.2.E.7.2 Investigate by observing and measuring, that the Sun's energy directly and indirectly warms the water, land, and air. SC.3.E.5.1 Explain that stars can be different; some are smaller, some are larger, and some appear brighter than others; all except the Sun are so far away that they look like points of light. SC.3.E.5.2 Identify the Sun as a star that emits energy; some of it in the form of light. SC.3.E.5.3 Recognize that the Sun appears large and bright because it is the closest star to Earth. SC.4.E.6.3 Recognize that humans need resources found on Earth and that these are either renewable or nonrenewable. SC.3.E.6.1 Demonstrate that radiant energy from the Sun can heat objects and when the Sun is not present, heat may be lost. SC.5.E.5.2 Recognize the major common characteristics of all planets and compare/contrast the properties of inner and outer planets. SC.5.E.5.3 Distinguish among the following objects of the Solar System -- Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets -- and identify Earth's position in it. SC.5.E.7.3 Recognize how air temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, and precipitation determine the weather in a particular place and time. SC.5.P.13.3 Investigate and describe that the more mass an object has, the less effect a given force will have on the object's motion. SC.6.E.7.9 Describe how the composition and structure of the atmosphere protects life and insulates the planet. SC.6.P.13.2 Explore the Law of Gravity by recognizing that every object exerts gravitational force on every other object and that the force depends on how much mass the objects have and how far apart they are. Students in grades K-5 will create a presentation to explain their Mars Habitation Module model. SC.K.N.1.4 Observe and create a visual representation of an object which includes its major features. SC.K2.CS-CP.3.1 Create developmentally appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners. SC.K2.CS-CS.1.2 Describe how models and simulations can be used to solve real-world issues in science and engineering. SC.3.N.3.2 Recognize that scientists use models to help understand and explain how things work. SC.3.N.3.3 Recognize that all models are approximations of natural phenomena; as such, they do not perfectly account for all observations. SC.35.CS-CS.1.2 Describe how models and simulations can be used to solve real-world issues in science and engineering. SC.35.CS-CS.3.1 Manipulate and publish multimedia artifacts using digital tools (local and online). SC.4.N.3.1Explain that models can be three dimensional, two dimensional, an explanation in your mind, or a computer model. LAFS.K12.W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. LAFS.K12.W.2.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others. 6th grade students will use CoSpaces and/or Metaverse to create a 3-D tour of their Mars Habitation Module. SC.68.CS-CC.1.2 Apply productivity and or multimedia tools for local and global group collaboration SC.68.CS-CP.3.2 Create online content (e.g., webpage, blog, digital portfolio, multimedia), using advanced design tools. SC.68.CS-CS.1.3 Evaluate what kinds of real-world problems can be solved using modeling and simulation. LAFS.K12.W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. LAFS.K12.W.2.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

How will it encourage long-lasting change in your classroom, school or community? (20 points)
Through this project, students will learn valuable problem-solving and collaboration skills that can be applied to real-world challenges. Students will also learn about the importance of taking care of our planet, along with ways they can conserve and protect our resources. Students will learn and apply the engineering and design process, as well as have the opportunity to practice public-speaking skills. All of these skills will benefit students and the community for many years to come.

How will technology be utilized?  (20 points)
Technology will be utilized throughout this project. To begin with, the STEM teacher will engage students and build anticipation by sharing videos with the students to help visualize the problems they are solving. Two examples of these videos can be found at https://youtu.be/cIpLMyuHJ_0 and at https://youtu.be/r0MNSAw1_rc. Later students will utilize technology to collaborate and plan their designs, 3D print their designs, and create virtual tours using CoSpaces and MetaVerse. Finally, students in younger grades will view the 3D tours using Virtual Reality Headsets.

What evidence will you collect to show student gain?   (10 points)
STEM Class End of Course Exams will be evaluated to determine proficiency in the standards taught during this project. 5th and 6th grade FSA Science Assessment data will also be collected and monitored to determine student proficiency in the standards taught.

How will participants share your project results with the community?  (15 points)
Students will share this project with our community and business partners at our annual Flagler County Flagship Showcase being held Saturday, February 24th 2018. Although students will not have completed the project yet, they will share updates and plans for their Mars Habitation Modules. This project will also be shared at the Bunnell Elementary STEM Night next Spring. Various news sources will be contacted about this project.

Budget:

I, Thomas Westly, certify that the application is complete and final, AND I verify that I have received permission to apply for these funds from Marcus Sanfilippo,the Principal of Bunnell Elementary School and any other individuals required by my school district.

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