Starting a Ripple Effect

  

The New Zealand science curriculum encourages students to think about how the environment shapes us and how we shape our environment. One of the challenges this leaves our  gifted students facing is the question of how one person can make a difference in the world to change from how it is currently perceived to how he or she would like it to be for the future and there are many questions that need to be addressed.
Research shows that the ripple effect resulting from small actions can have a significant  impact on on others and create big changes over time. 
'The Dragonfly Effect' is a book by Jennifer Aaker and Andy Smith.(ISBN 978-0-470-61415-0)  I highly recommend it. It is about harnessing the power of social media to make positive difference. There are a number of stories about how people found ways to move from awareness to action, and I believe that there are some powerful ideas that gifted students could use to create a ripple effect for causes that they have concerns about. 
The following is an outline of a possible study about water conservation that allows students to make decisions of their own. Despite the layout it is not  linear but is designed to give structure for planning.

WATER CONSERVATION GATE CHALLENGE :

One person CAN make a difference to water conservation and the problems associated with pollution of water. Your challenge is to choose a way to start a ripple effect designed to make others think about water as a precious resource that needs to be carefully managed for future generations. You will need to take into account such things as the cost of implementing your idea, whether or not it is viable (do-able), whether it can be sustained over time and what both the short and long term consequences might be if your idea is taken up. 

 Question Prompts 

Questions that require technical information in order to proceed with an investigation, analysis or  explanation	How does our body use water ? How do plants absorb water ? How do hydroponics work ? How does a scientist test water to find out if it is safe to drink ? How can salt water be made drinkable ?
Questions that require certain Conceptual or factual Information	How does a water cycle work ? How does water flow affect the environment ? What uses do we put water to ? How are different organisms adapted to the need for water ?
Questions that require research from external sources	How much water does a human need to survive? What do people do to conserve water ? How does the water get into our taps ? How is water ‘cleaned’ for recycling ?
Questions that can lead to observational studies	What happens to water when we heat it up ? What happens to water when it freezes? How could we utilize this information ? How could we ensure that is is a fair test ?
Questions that can lead to an experiment related to the topic	How much water do you drink each day ? How much water does your family use each day? How much rain has occurred this week? Which plants use the most water ? Which home activities use the most water ?
Questions that ask for explanation building	How does a water pump work ? Why do living things need water ?
Questions that can lead to an authentic community problem solving approach	What might we do to encourage people to take responsibility for our local waterway to reduce pollution ?
Questions that can lead to theorising	What might happen if we don’t practice water conservation / look after our waterways – lakes, rivers, sea ?
Questions that can lead to philosophising	Who should have the responsibility for water management ? Should this response be a duty or a choice ?
Questions that can lead to problem solving or logical thinking	What could you recommend as things that your fellow students could do to promote the idea that water is a precious resource ? How will you tell if your ideas are successful ?

SAMPLE STUDENT QUESTION REFLECTION SHEET

What is your question ?

 Checklist :

·       Does it spark your interest ?                            Yes             No

·       Does it encourage you to find out

    something new ?                                                Yes             No

·       Does it increase your understanding

     about the topic ?                                               Yes             No

·       Does it lead to other questions to

    think about ?                                                      Yes             No

·       Does it give you an opportunity to                       Yes             No

    create an experiment related to the

     topic ?

·       Will the answer help you to succeed

     with the challenge ?                                          Yes             No

If you have responded No to any of the items on this checklist, what will you do to change that ?

What is your next step ?

   

Some ideas for sharing your new knowledge.

Who owns water ? Take a stand on this and be prepared to defend or change your view after discussion with others.	Make a collection of photos/ pictures and create a photographic essay to show ways that water shapes our environment
Make a free-standing display to show two important things about water that your investigations have discovered.	Analyse the results of your research into the amount of water that your family uses daily. What recommendations will you make as a result ?
Make a list of the ways that water is used. Ask your classmates to rank them in order of importance to their lives, graph the results, and report back on your findings.	Based on your research, what are your predictions for the long-term management of water resources – locally, nationally and globally ?
Find out how the water in your area is ‘cleaned’ for recycling and share this information in an interesting way.	Use a visual organizer to show what you know already. Use a different colour each day to add new information as you learn more. Use this graphic to reflect on how we are affected by water and how water affects us in turn.

Don't forget to tune in again tomorrow to the NZ Gifted Awareness blog tour!
ka kite ano.