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:
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Make careful observations
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Use tools to enhance their observations and improve their accuracy
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Connect their understanding of relevant content to predictions about results and/or changes in the system
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Work as a member of a team
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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:
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Identify a need or define a challenge/concern within a community
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Frame the above problem and then break it into smaller components that foster learning and investigation
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Connect their understanding of relevant content to the problem and its possible solutions
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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:
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Understand the nature of their community and its needs, define broader problems and identify potential solutions
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Use evidence and science content to enhance their observations and improve their accuracy
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Connect their understanding relevant science content to the needs of and possibilities for a community
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Formulate and deliver persuasive presentations; share with interested stakeholder related science content and possible solutions