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Overview
Through the NAIS Challenge 20/20 project students at Bright School in Tennessee and Colegio Cristobal Colon in Mexico City were able to problem solve utilizing the linear method described in High Noon by J.F. Rischard. Fifth graders in Chattanooga, Tennessee, worked collaboratively with peers in Mexico City, government officials in both countries, and many experts in various water related occupations to gain insight into the problem of the water deficit and the causes behind it. Through this project 10-year olds researched, hypothesized, theorized, and generated extremely creative solutions. Students worked together to create real solutions to the global problem of a shortage of water that will become ever more prevalent as the population continues to increase. The students creative problem solving was impressive! Based upon their research, students came to the consensus that agriculture was the main cause of the water deficit. They researched using a multitude of sources; however, the book entitled When the Rivers Run Dry: Water - the Defining Crisis of the Twenty-First Century by Fred Pearce proved invaluable as did the web site www.usgs.gov. Through these two sources students discovered specific amounts of water needed to produce certain foods, and frankly, the amounts were astonishing. Armed with this information, students decided to incorporate the importance of not wasting food into their awareness campaign. The awareness campaign included tips read on the school announcements, posters in the school cafeteria, school news letters (Tuesday Topics and Colomundo), stickers, brochures, posters in area businesses, and a public service announcement aired on PBS affiliate WTCI.
Perhaps most valuable was that through the Challenge 20/20 project, both groups of students gained a sense of global responsibility and brotherhood that would not be obtained had we continued to teach using the more traditional methods. The friendships gained through the blog conversations and video conferences have resulted in an invitation extended and accepted for our friends in
The following information is a very brief overview of World Bank vice-president for Europe,J.F. Rischard's book entitled High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them. This book served as the guide to students and teachers throughout the Challenge 20/20 Project.
Demographic Explosion The Solutions High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them in more detail follows... Demographic Explosion
Rischard, J.F., High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them, Basic Books,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read below for even more information regarding the Challenge 20/20 project. The Challenge 20/20 project is highlighted onthe Colegio Cristobal Colon web site. I invite you take a look. Click on the link below. Then click on Challenge 20/20 to view the information. http://www.ccc.edu.mx/noticias/000noticias.htm Challenge 20/20 Challenge 20/20 is an opportunity for Bright School fifth graders to be a part of an interdisciplinary project. Students will beincorporating technology, Spanish, research, history, geography, chemistry, and ecology in an effort to resolve real issues facing our world. The project is based on the Jean Francois Rischards book, High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them. The book describes changes in our world including the problems and opportunities that will accompany these changes. One change isthe predicted population increase from 6 billion in 2002 to approximately 8 billion in2020. Otherchanges include technologicaland economic advancements. Students will be utilizing the linear model Rischard describes as they work withexperts,government officials, business people,educators,and their partner school in Mexico City.I encourage parents to read the book as it is very enlightening.We would be glad to lend you a copy.See Kim Brown if you would like to borrow a copy. Through Challenge 20/20students will engage in a multitude of educational opportunities. Some of the activities we have already experienced include research, exploring sources of water, testing water quality, interviewing Mayor Littlefield, and launching a campaign to promote water conservation. Future plans include field trips, video conferences, guest speakers, expansion of our campaign, and stream ecology experiments. I encourageparents to engage your children in conversations regarding water deficit, pollution, and conservation. I have been impressed with their insightful remarks and observations. Please fell free to contact me with your questions and comments regarding the Challenge 20/20 project. Sra. Laura Goetz
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