Will Felton

Felton's winning program, "Astronomer Unleashed," will provide more than 300 second- through fourth-grade students at eStem Elementary Public Charter School with the opportunity to explore the field of astronomy and use current technology to study objects in space. Students will join an astronomy class and begin the project by establishing personal learning goals, selecting the information they need to gather, and determining what areas of the sky to observe. They will then document their findings by using observational notes with drawings, student journals, photographs, learning logs, and notes from guest speakers and interviews. In addition, the students will learn to use lab equipment to document and publish their learning, capture discoveries, and share information with other members of their group. The final publication will be a science journal with information, drawings, and research completed by the students. The goal is to have the information published into a student-created book about space for students. Felton hopes that the program will positively impact the students' ownership of their learning and their attitudes toward school. He lives in Little Rock.