SMILE CLUBS: PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

SMILE Clubs function as a pathway from elementary school, through middle and high schools, and on to college. Seven of our eighteen SMILE communities have clubs at all levels. Below is a brief summary of how we want our pathway to help students progress through SMILE Club activities.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: "BECOMING SCIENTISTS"

In becoming scientists, fourth and fifth grade students demonstrate skills and attributes that enable them to:

  • Make careful observations
  • Use tools to enhance their observations and improve their accuracy
  • Connect their understanding of relevant content to predictions about results and/or changes in the system
  • Work as a member of a team
  • Share what they learned with others

MIDDLE SCHOOL: "GROWING INTO PROBLEM SOLVERS"

    To grow as problem solvers, sixth through eighth grade students demonstrate additional skills and attributes that enable them to:

    • Identify a need or define a challenge/concern within a community
    • Frame the above problem and then break it into smaller components that foster learning and investigation
    • Connect their understanding of relevant content to the problem and its possible solutions
    • Experience the role of teams in generating a variety of options or ideas to address the identified problem

    HIGH SCHOOL: "SERVING AS INFORMED COMMUNITY VOICES"

      To serve as informed voices in the community, ninth through twelfth grade students demonstrate additional skills and attributes enabling them to:

      • Understand the nature of their community and its needs, define broader problems and identify potential solutions
      • Use evidence and science content to enhance their observations and improve their accuracy
      • Connect their understanding relevant science content to the needs of and possibilities for a community
      • Formulate and deliver persuasive presentations; share with interested stakeholder related science content and possible solutions