Chris McAuliffe
Oxbow Elementary School, White Lake

Making boats from VCRs only the tip of the iceberg

Bridging the gap between science and technology has been my mission for the last 10 years. Many teachers do not feel comfortable teaching these areas, so they resort to worksheets, videos or textbooks. I find that the only way some people can grasp something is to do it. I now start every science and technology unit by looking at how I can make it a real-life activity. These days it is not easy. District budget cuts have all but eliminated science funding, and our parents group can no longer supplement the science program. I am at a point where all of the programs described are paid for out of my pocket.

During the summer, I sat down with my team teaching partner and mapped out the year. For these projects to work, we have found that we must make them cross curricular. With a plan in place, we started by focusing on the LEGO Robotics Competition. We raised money to run 22 teams. First, you build a robot and program it to do missions with a computer. The second part of this competition is a research project. Our research involved ways to save the coral reef. To help with our research, we started a coral reef tank in our room. The students completely ran the tank, from coral selection, water testing and cleaning, to problem solving. The students have created a reef of which even the pet store, where we buy our supplies, is envious. Our LEGO research has been Regional Champions the last two years, and was State Champion last year.

Next is Extreme Recycling Makeover. We collect old broken VCRs throughout the year. Students are put into groups and given a VCR. This year, the students have to make a boat or submarine that can travel three feet in water using only the parts from their VCR. They open up the VCR and look for motors, switches, lights, gears, pulleys and anything else they think will help them with the plan they created for their boats. I have a retired gentlemen who comes in to help cut the metal. I train a group of mothers to do the soldering. I am amazed at what the students come up with every year. It is never what I imagined, but it is always incredible.

The next project involved plant and animal ecosystems. We started a vegetable garden in the room. We built a 4x8 frame and filled it with 500 lbs. of topsoil. Our goal is to grow enough vegetables to make a salad at one of our 5th grade cookouts. Presently this seemingly impossible project is coming along well.

Five years ago, I started several school-wide projects to spark interest in science, including a Science Fair and our Rocket Launch day. I feel that my classes have been on the cutting edge for many years. Seven years ago, when I left the Detroit Public Schools, I started a Video Pen Pal project through a MACUL Technology Grant. We used three schools: the school where I used to teach in Detroit, a school in Troy where one of my previous students teaches, and the school where I presently teach. Our district is now starting to do things like this on a bigger scale. When I go to the trainings, I laugh and tell them we did this project seven years ago.

I have seen incredible success from making science and technology real for the students. MEAP Science scores have risen from 18% to 90% passing. I see a love of science that follows students throughout their school years. I have middle school teachers tell me the difference in understanding they see in students who come from my class, and a willingness to try things. I see a confidence in my students who have always struggled. I love to watch the students experience excitement, frustration, failure and success. They learn to work with anybody, and learn that things seldom go as planned in science and technology and that you have to be willing to make changes and compromises. The way I teach has allowed me to create a generation of students who are not scared of science and technology. Although I feel I have only touched the tip of the iceberg, through this snapshot of my room, I hope you see that I have truly made bridging the gap in science and technology my personal mission. This award would allow me to take this mission to another level.