Wilson Middle School

Overview: In collaboration between 8th Grade Science, 6th Grade English, 6/7/8 Art, and 6/7/8 Computer Science, students worked on a variety of projects that explored what are biological, physical, ethical, and recreational necessities for life. This included model planets, utopias, inventions, and artifacts.

Project Initiation: All subjects anchored their explorations in reference to the images from the Webb Telescope. Science launched with a reflection about "could there be other life in space?" ELA had a simulation involving making decisions about what they needed to have or a bring to survive in a specific place. Art did a series of table station conversation comparing images from the telescope & artworks similar to their projects, and finally CTE designed some assistive technology needed for someone's life. 

Project Exploration and Development: The science class worked in groups to create model planets that helped provide a basis for 6th grade students to develop their group Utopias. These Utopias then posed questions of what still needed to be fixed or developed in their utopias or society in general to guide the invention making for CTE. In parallel to these projects, Art classes focused on the ways in which art documented, preserved, or created life or space for life to thrive. CTE students were able to speak with a group of women engineers about their inventions & ELA was able to reference videos from professionals about environmental and governmental structures of society. 

Project Revision and Exhibition: The main exhibition for this project is the CCTE showcase. Leading up to this, ELA participated in peer critiques and revisions when presenting their Utopias to each other. CTE actually completed their projects at the beginning of the year, then came back to them in the last couple months after more information and skills were gained throughout the semester. Science and Art had reflections in the middle and at end of their projects to acknowledge what was successful and what could be revised. 

Teachers and Subjects: Khamphet Pease- CCTE, Michelle Calimlim- Visual Art, Rebecca Zauderer- English, Dr. Barbara Armstrong- Science 

Industry Sector: Public Service