Skokie School District 73.5 PTA Teacher Grant Application 1. Project Title: Science Olympiad Team: Description: Every year 20-25 students join a Science Team at McCracken that explores and competes in 20 or more science based events. The projects and events require problem solving, technical skills, creativity, inventiveness, and cooperation. We build catapults, wheeled vehicles, Rube Goldberg devices, airplanes, and rockets. Students leam the process of scientific investigation through the scientific method in life, earth, physical and environmental science. All the events are correlated with National Science ‘Teacher Association standards. Eight out of the last nine years, MeCracken’s team has earned a State Tournament bid to the University of Illinois. 2. Impact: The lessons learned in teamwork, perseverance, and creativity transfer to life lessons beyond the field of science. Technical skills and knowledge improve the student's technological literacy. Students who participated in Science Olympiad have studied and graduated in the fields of engineering, biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Several are now employed as scientists and engineers. Students who watch at April Showers and school assemblies are inspired by the accomplishments of their peers in science. 3. Enrichment: Many, though certainly not all, of the Science Olympiad members are among our District's most gifted students. The events in the Olympiad challenge these students to problem solve and to push their knowledge beyond the regular science curriculum. The diverse students of many different abilities learn to work with each other and to be tolerant of their differences. They all are exposed to and have to over come technical hurdles while they master new scientific content. 4. Project Timeline: Fall 2010 — Buy equipment and materials. Winter/Spring 2010 — Build projects. Spring 2011 ~ Compete at Regional, Invitational, and State Tournaments. 5. Budget: Total: $450.00 Tools: power and hand including batteries (rechargeable) — $100.00 Materials: Balsa wood — bridge building, airplane - $50.00 Construction lumber and hardware - $150.00 Study Materials: Books, Field Guides, DVDs, digital scale: $150 Note: The District’s budget support for Science Olympiad has been cut for next year. 6. Evaluation and Public Relations: Thank you so much for your past support of Science Olympiad. We strive to publicize the PTA’s support in the District and School newsletters. We also get coverage on the District Website and in the local newspapers if we do a press release. We would be very willing to visit and demonstrate our projects at Middleton and Meyer to inspire and instruct our younger students.