Help Kids Become a Global Hero
The response to the Global Hero Progam (see post on March 13) has been fabulous. Discovery Toys and NASA have both come on board as sponsors. The Orange County Public School System and the Girl Scouts have both signed up as participants.
As promised here are more details. Keep those ideas coming!!!
Getting Started
1) Determine the number of teams the school will support
2) Identify team and support coaches
3) Review roles of coaches
4) Present Global Heroes Team Challenge concept to students
5) Create teams from student volunteers
6) At initial meeting:
a) Review roles of team and coaches
b) Set ground rules, timeline
c) Discuss and select a challenge
d) Choose an aspect of the question to focus on (*see Helpful Tips section)
Recommended Steps
1) Determine whether an issue or potential issue really exists
2) Create an exact statement of the aspect of the issue the team will address
3) Identify what information is needed to understand the issue
4) Identify resources to be used to gather the information needed
5) Generate possible solutions
6) Analyze the options
7) Select the best solution
Present the solution in creative, concise and clear manner
To Register
All teams must register their intent to accept the Challenge and present their solution at the Green Earth Expo 2008. By registering, a presentation time slot and display space will be reserved for the team. Registration deadline is February 15, 2008. Register by emailing the following information to kathy.ford@globalgreenalliance.com :
School’s name and address
Team’s Name
Team Coach, email and phone number
Team members and ages
Question chosen
Confirmation of Participation
Teams must submit the written portion of their solution via email by Monday April 28, 2008 to confirm their participation in the Challenge. The email, send to the address above, should include all the information requested at registration (to verify all information is current and accurate), attachment of the written report and presentation requirements (display space and/or performance needs).
Instructions for the Expo, including presentation date and time, exhibit location and drop-off and pick-up dates and times, will be emailed to the team coach after receipt of the confirmation documents.
Help
* If your school would like someone to present the program and answer questions, please email kathy.ford@globalgreenalliance.com or call 407-340-4370 to schedule.
* If the team and/or coach has questions about the challenge, please contact Kathy Ford at email kathy.ford@globalgreenalliance.com or call 407-340-4370.
* Suggestions for next year’s Global Heroes Team Challenge? Email them to the address above.
Helpful Tips
1) When brainstorming what aspect of the question to focus on, cluster mapping can be a useful tool. Begin by placing the question in a ‘bubble’ and draw lines radiating from it with all the things that the team thinks of that will be affected by the situation.
- Generate as many ideas as possible
- Encourage wild ideas – helps to break out of traditional thinking
- Piggy back ideas on previous ideas
- Allow no criticism – make is safe for all ideas to be spoken
When there are no more ideas for the basic question, choose just one or two of those ideas, make another bubble and repeat the process. Do this three or four times (as example below suggests).
Allow all the ideas to simmer until the next meeting. Choose which aspect of the problem the team will address (will probably be found in the third or fourth layer of the brainstorm). Have the team clearly state the aspect of the question they will address.
Helpful Tips
2) It is important to clearly state the problem to be solved. How the problem is stated can significantly impact the way in which it is solved.
For example, there is a huge difference between posing the problem of how to
land a man on the moon and Landing a man on the moon and then returning
him safely back to earth again. The approach, the scope, the objectives are
quite different. The more precise the problem is stated, the easier it will be to
solve it.
3) Call a parents meeting to explain the team’s challenge and choice of topic.
Parents appreciate knowing the team’s meeting schedule and the dates of the
Expo. Also, they may know people who can act as support coaches or identify resources for research or presentation.
4) Meeting warm-ups can get the team in a creative mindset. Short activities at the
start of each meeting can help build team cohesiveness, get creative juices
flowing and strengthen problem-solving skills. Some suggestions for these
activities might be to give a short creative writing topic, scribble or doodle and
then tell a story about it, play a round of Pictionary or do 3-D puzzles.
Kids Art Contest
One of the many great features at The Green Earth Expo is the Kids Corner Pavillion. One of the big events will be The Art Contest, open to all area middle and high school students. The Art Contest offers two categories for submission. Category I is Recyclable Art while Category II is Earth as Art.Entries for the art contest will be displayed in the Green Earth Gallery, located in the Kids Corner.
Entries will be judged by leaders in the local art community for: Creative Use of Recyclable Materials, Visual Impact and a Compelling Message About the Earth. Central Florida art teachers and students are encouraged to participate in this contest.or further information about the Art Contest or Global Heroes Team Challenge, please contact Kathy Ford at kathy.ford@globalgreenalliance.com or 407-340-4370.
Kids can be a Global Hero
There are many global issues facing us today without clear-cut or easy solutions. The Global Heroes Team Challenge© program is designed to involve our children, tomorrow’s leaders, in searching for creative, realistic and actionable alternatives and solutions.
Overview
Global issues represent threats to the status quo, but also provide opportunities to correct situations that are potentially harmful to the planet, to humanity and/or
to all life on the planet. Global Heroes Team Challenge© promotes active, positive involvement of our youth to find new, creative solutions to these problems. The Challenge is open to middle and high school students.
Global Heroes Team Challenge© is intended to:
➢ Bring awareness of potential issues facing us and the planet
➢ Encourage research to understand the causes of the issues
➢ Consider the downstream implications of the issues
➢ Propose creative, realistic and actionable alternatives or solutions
➢ Present the team’s conclusions in a creative format
Global Heroes Team Challenge© gives students an opportunity to apply classroom learning and research skills to a real world issue. As a self-directed student activity it promotes self-esteem, cooperation and creative problem solving. Creativity is encouraged in considering potential solutions as well as presenting the team’s findings and conclusions in an interesting, informative and potentially entertaining way.
The Teams
Students volunteer to be on a team, as self-motivation is a key factor for success in self-directed team projects. The team, composed of 4-6 students, will work cooperatively and in a self-guided manner. They will select the question to be addressed, set the ground rules for the team (how often to meet, code of conduct, etc.) and determine a timeline for completion. They also will design, execute and present the team’s conclusion, which can be in written, visual (art, display boards, etc.) and/or dramatic (skit, music, video) form.
The Coaches
The Team Coach, typically a teacher, keeps the team moving forward, resolves issues and answers any specific questions posed to him or her, but does not offer suggestions, ask leading questions or solve the problem for the team. Coaches offer encouragement and helps keep the team stay on its timeline.
Support coaches are teachers or other adults in various disciplines that act as resources for the team, answering specific questions posed by the team. For example, a science coach could assist in explaining a particular scientific concept. An English coach, and possibly an art or music coach, could provide guidance in crafting the final presentation. Support coaches, like the team coach, cannot influence the content or direction of the team’s project.
The Schools
Schools are encouraged to have their teams present their project and findings to the student body in an assembly or other format. All teams are welcomed and encouraged to present and display their findings at the Green Earth Expo 2008, held at the Orange County Convention Center on May 16, 17 or 18. Teams will be given a specific day and time to make their presentation.
The Questions
Global Heroes Team Challenge© presents intentionally vague questions that relate to current or potential global issues for teams to work on. Each question has many implications and areas of impact. Each team will select just one aspect of one question to research, analyze and discuss. Determining which aspect to focus on, and which potential solution is the most realistic and actionable will require debate, decision making and consensus of all team members. Addressing these questions in a team challenge format not only helps students build awareness of, and expertise on, these issues, but also develops skills such as positive collaboration, creative problem solving, and persuasive presentation.
The Solutions
The team’s recommended solution must be realistic, implemented with current technologies, safe for the earth and all life forms, sustainable and economically feasible. Recommended solutions are to be prepared both in written and presentation form. The written report must be typed, single space 12 point, and 5 to 10 pages long, including attachments. The presentation should be creative, persuasive, clear and concise. Presentations can be physical displays, works of art, dance or music, skits, videos or other creative expression. Physical presentations must not exceed 3 feet wide, 3 feet deep and 6 feet high. Performance presentations must not exceed 4 minutes. Teams may not spend more than $ 25 on props or supplies.
The Reward
We believe that every team that works together to find new solutions to the questions posed is a winner. Therefore, there is no competition or awarding of medals in this challenge. All teams and coaches are recognized for their effort and willingness to look for ways to help the Earth and all life upon it.
Stay tuned for more details or contact Kathy at kathy.ford@globalgreenalliance.com 407-340-4370.
Kids Corner at Green Earth Expo
Green Earth Expo 2008, presented by Global Green Alliance, is expected to draw over 600 exhibitors, 50,000 attendees, environmental leaders, and a one-of-a-kind Kids Corner area.
In celebration of children, our key to a truly a sustainable future, the Green Earth Expo is proud to feature Kids Corner. Kids Corner is an inspirational and interactive fun area including Eco-educational activities and Eco-entertainment for children and adults alike. Activities will commence on Friday, and will continue for the duration of the show on Saturday and Sunday. Kids Corner is also inviting area schools to participate in this Expo through an art contest and a creative problem solving program.
Green Earth Expo 2008 encourages area schools to expose students to the information and programs at the Expo. Students, teachers and chaperones may attend the Expo as a school sponsored field trip free of charge.
For further information about the Art Contest or Global Heroes Team Challenge, please contact Kathy Ford at kathy.ford@globalgreenalliance.com or 407-340-4370.
The Green Earth Expo 2008 will be held from May 14-18, 2008, and will be held annually for the next ten years in Orlando, FL. The Orange County Convention Center is the second largest convention center in the U.S., and is the only one to earn ISO 14001-2004 certification for environmental management due their successful recycling program. Additionally, OCCC recently announced a major solar energy project to provide power to the convention center.
