The “High Hopes” Are Coming In From Around The World – Share Yours!

Re-posted from the High Hopes Project blog.

Steve Spangler of Steve Spangler Science Tweeted out that he shared a “High Hope” – what about you!

One aspect of the “High Hopes Project” is to demonstrate that when done well, STEM is as powerful a language arts and math learning strategy as any – maybe the best. In addition it not only includes, but relies on the arts and other parts of the curriculum that have been narrowed out recently to convey what has been learned.

We will be collecting and sharing data during the flights (probably 3 to 5 flights total) on temperature, air pressure and water pressure from deep in Lake Tahoe for example. But it is up to you, well mainly your students to do the research about the atmosphere and other science and engineering problems we will explore and predict what will happen. We will share the data we will collect so you and your students can analyze it and come to conclusions about what happened and if your predictions were correct and/or why they weren’t. That’s a powerful piece … even if their predictions prove inaccurate, the learning will still come in figuring out why. So we won’t share what we think will happen, we’ll just explain all the ways we’ll collect data (some in very engaging ways) and the specific data – it’s up to you as the guide and your students as the inquirers to figure out what should and did happen.

Adam Savage from the “Mythbusters” Re-Tweeted” about submitting your “High Hopes” too:

When we first designed the “High Hopes Project” years ago, we went about making sure it stressed not just the powerful content writing experiences about the science and engineering, but the creative writing we knew it would motivate students to engage in. We’ll share more of those along the way, but having students brainstorm, discuss, and share what their “high hopes” for their school, community and the world are turned out to be gold. Most students (maybe adults too) just don’t think about what can and could be.

Originally we had out students write those three “hopes” … school, community … world. We posted general steps. But we have no strict rules about how you submit your “Hopes.” They can be just be one “hope” per student … a “class” hope that the class develops … it is up to you. “Hopes” could also be written as a poem or short story. Once done you submit them here.

Below find some example “High Hopes” that have been submitted already from around the globe. You’ll see different kinds and approaches. Remember that we will print them out on special paper that will decompose quickly … then we will release them from 100,000 feet (33,000 meters) or higher where they will spread around and settle back to the Earth and then become part of the Earth again. Here are some examples:

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1. I hope that I will continue getting good grades.
2. I hope that there will be no more racism.
3. I hope that war and terror will stop.

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I want to be a author when I grow up. My biggest dream is to be like J.K. Rowling, and write books like the Harry Potter books.

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I hope that one day my Mom realizes how much my sisters and I care for, and appreciate her.

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My high hope for this school year is to not be afraid to work with decimals and fractions. Another of my high hopes is to not be afraid to be myself. Also my hope is to throw more strikes whenever I am pitching softball. In conclusion, I want to appreciate life each day.

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My “High Hope” is for our friend NAME WITHHELD to recover from brain damage and regain the ability to have a normal life.

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I hope to go visit my Mom in prison. I haven’t seen her in 3 years.

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My High Hope is to get Destiny on Xbox 360 and to get a 20 Microsoft points gift card.

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For bullying to STOP! We need to see a day when kids can wake up in the morning and not be scared to go to school. Where kids can BE THEMSELVES without being judged. That is my High Hope.

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My High Hope is to keep studying astronomy, and become a NASA engineer, to help my family during hard times.

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Some of these are from as far away as Norway and Canada. In the past we have received them from many countries. The age of students is from 2nd grade through high school. Hope these examples help you get a feel for how “High Hopes” can look. But remember, no hard and fast rules.

Send yours soon!

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