Karre Nevarez

The "Science Investigations Team" program proposed by Nevarez at Westfield Elementary School will allow sixth-graders to teach science to third-graders. The project not only allows all students to be positively impacted by science, but it will give them an opportunity to teach and take ownership of their learning. To start the program, the sixth-graders will learn the Utah Science Core Curriculum at the beginning of the school year. From there, they will create an experiment, activity or demonstration to teach to the third-graders. During the second half of the school year, the sixth-graders will begin their weekly "Science Investigations" with the third-graders. The topics covered will include the scientific process; light, heat and sound; microorganisms; and Earth, moon, sun and gravity. The investigations will culminate with final presentations at the end of the school year. Throughout the project, the third-graders will not only learn the topics, but also the appropriate scientific vocabulary, research methods, technology and presentation skills necessary for everyday science. Nevarez lives in Pleasant Grove.