Introducing the Challenge

Ready Set Go!

Before beginning, you can introduce the topic and Challenge by using the steps below.

Introducing the Topic

• Talk with students about the current state of the global environment and their hopes for the future. How could they contribute to making those hopes a reality?
• Introduce the term “steward.” Ask students how they are stewards of the environment. What do students think that their responsibility is? What do they want their responsibility to be? In what ways can their generation make a difference? How does it benefit them, their families and the community as a whole?
• Ask students why it’s important to get involved in community issues, even at their age.
• Have students take the Environmental IQ Quiz to see what they already know about the environment.
• Introduce the concept of an environmental footprint to students. Challenge them to measure their Ecological Footprint. Discuss the results.

Introducing the Challenge

• Download and distribute the Student Resources and review the information.
• Explain the Challenge to students, giving them an overview of each step in the process, the challenge rules and requirements and the prizes. Specific information can be found in the Getting Started section of the site.
• Give students time to navigate the site including the interactive features and Web links.
• Review the Teamwork Tips and divide students into teams.
• To give teams practice in working together, have them work through the Virtual Lab.
• Talk with students about the importance of scientific inquiry.
• Review research techniques and resources.