Festival of Scholars

Student Abstracts

Water Heroes

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Water represents life and it is essential to life on earth that we make changes in our every day life to help with conservation. By teaching students the important roles water plays in our everyday lives and our environment, they will in turn be water heroes of there own. By being water heroes they will use the tips taught to them on a daily basis and also teach others about the importance of conserving water. Students will learn about the three different forms of water, the uses of water and the water cycle. After, students will use their knowledge and work together to create a Water Hero poster that they will bring to other classes with them. They will use the poster to help teach others about the importance of water and the importance of saving it. A Water Hero tip sheet will be given to each student. They will take these tip sheets home and will also have extras to pass out to the other classes once they teach them about the important roles water plays in our lives.

Student(s):
Nicola Berry

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Biblical Teachings and Promises as to Youth, Dating, and Worth

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As a Christian youth group leader, I have seen all too much recently the hurt that comes with dating without a clear grasp on self-worth, especially for girls in my youth groups. This project will serve as an opportunity to study the Bible with a group of these girls in order to reveal God's promises to His loved and treasured daughters. My desire is for them to have a firm understanding of their worth in Christ, outside of any other relationship, something that will stay with them no matter what. This will begin with a study in a small group, followed by interviews held by the girls in the study, which are to be filmed. Questions will range from, "What is truly important to you in a relationship you have with any girl?" to "What is it that you would most like treasured about yourself by any guy you have a relationship with?" After the video is complete, they will then be able to share it with whomever. The hope and purpose for this project is to show the girls that they are valuable and cherished and should be treated as such and that there is a relationship worth waiting for!

Student(s):
Ashlee Bowen

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Early Exposure to Science in K-6 Age Groups by College Students at California Lutheran University

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While education in the sciences in the United States are generally assumed to be effective, many students do not maintain interest and continue pursuing careers in the sciences. Some studies have shown earlier exposure to the sciences could reduce attrition, especially in certain underrepresented groups. To increase awareness of this need, students at California Lutheran University, some of whom are also members of a nationally recognized Biological Honors Society, organized myriad science demonstrations at a local elementary school science fair, a pre-school and brought a science education exhibit to campus. Delivery of science education by college students, rather than faculty, was predicted to assist in engagement of young students. Additionally, the project was meant to engage college students in service learning projects related to careers in science education. We hope science outreach by college students to K-6 students will continue to serve both groups in a meaningful way.

Student(s):
Katrina Brown

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber

Piecing Together the Puzzle: How to Recycle Effectively

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Learning how to protect the environment is vital to society in an ever-evolving and changing world. One key factor that contributes greatly in preserving the earth, yet goes easily unnoticed, is recycling. In honor of Earth Day this year, I intend to teach a group of first grade students how to recycle effectively and how to reuse certain items that go to waste easily. The students will become recycling detectives in their own classroom in order to discover the myriad of recyclable items in one room alone. Then, to help spread the message of recycling to their school community, the students will decorate two cardboard boxes to be placed in each classroom with descriptions of items that can be recycled and items that can be reused. Lastly, we will repurpose the reusable paper to make envelopes that can be used in the classroom, as well as used to send thank-you letters to the classrooms that recycled. With this opportunity, I hope that the students learn how to recycle effectively within their community and become curious about the possibility of reusing more than just paper.

Student(s):
Megan Brown

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Helping to Give Man’s Best Friend a Second Chance at a Forever Home

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Many people live in apartments and homes that do not allow animals inhabitants. This lesson shows children and their families how they can help animals in shelters and pounds without having to adopt them. I wanted my students to see that when they think outside the box they can find new ways to contribute to their community. The shelters we are working with rehabilitates abused animals and give them a second chance at life. The Camarillo and Simi Valley animal shelters create forever home care packages for adopted dogs and cats. We are making toys for the dogs and cats to be used while at the shelter and sent home in the care packages. Using fleece the children will measure, cut, knot, and braid the toys. After learning about the shelter and making the toys they will go to the other classes and teach other students how they may help the shelters, and their inhabitants, in their community by making toys or donating other supplies needed listed on their websites. These little things not only benefit the dogs and cats but also their future families by giving the animals a start in their new home with something that is comforting and theirs aids in the transition to their new lives together. When children are given the opportunity to help their community members, even our furry ones, they are given a sense of belonging and purpose which brings meaning to their being part of the community.

Student(s):
Jody Brzezinski

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Not a Waste of Time: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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This project was constructed to impress upon students the value of reducing, reusing, and recycling to encourage them to be good stewards of Earth’s resources. The goal of this project is to teach students about the value of decreasing waste through a variety of efforts including reducing, reusing, and recycling. The students will be taught about the difference between types of items that can be broken down naturally (biodegradable) and ones that can be only be recycled. The project itself will demonstrate alternative ways to reuse both biodegradable and recyclable objects. Thirty-three students from Grade 3 at Saint Rose of Lima School in Simi Valley will participate in this project. The class will be broken into smaller groups. The first group will be taught about waste reduction and will be instructed to reuse two types of plant containers, one biodegradable (cardboard egg carton) and one non-biodegradable (plastic bottle). After completion of this process, the first group will then teach another group using the information they learned. This will continue with all groups until all students have been taught the information. Once the entire class has completed their projects, each group will create a short presentation to be given to other classes, as well as the plants. After all the groups have completed their presentations, students will be given a prompt to write how they can reduce their waste and what they learned about recycling and reusing.

Student(s):
Marissa Casanova

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Champions Baseball League Official Handbook

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I have been a mentor in this league for the past 13 years. Now, managing this program, I would like to use my skills with special needs, and the different strategies I have learned thus far to provide a more constructed program for all to participate in. This handbook will provide structure and proper direction to a very special league that’s goal is to help special education athletes grow and progress in a team environment. I will be composing a tangible handbook that will provide future managers with all of the information/ forms/ directions to run this program.

Student(s):
Jessica Corsello

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Two Cents

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The concept behind my “Two Cents” project is to encourage students to share their point-of-view. Students have different ways of learning, different ways of looking at things, different “points-of-view”. This occurs because of the difference in culture, and experiences. The purpose if to show each student in the classroom that having a different point-of-view is not only common, but encouraged. It allows for learning. I will achieve this purpose by having the students look at a piece of art and interpret it. This will introduce the idea of how people see things differently at first. After a whole-class discussion I will introduce the term “point-of-view”. Then I will have the students break into small groups and role play being different characters. I will have two students role play for the classroom first, and then help small groups do the same. I will stop the groups at certain times during the role-play to ask what their feeling. I would close the lesson by having students write about a time their point-of-view was changed and why. I would conclude that the students have all had an option change at some point, either in the lesson or in their life. Students will enjoy the acting part of this lesson, and have learned that it is encouraged to share their point-of-view, and the tools to do that productively.

Student(s):
Jamie Davis

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Micheal McCambridge

Solve It Day (SPONT Day) 2016

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The importance of this event is that it is a great way to challenge the minds of the youth in our surrounding community. The purpose of this experience is to provide GATE students an opportunity to practice and apply their problem solving skills. It can often be very timely and challenging for schools and parents to create activities that work with problem solving and creativity. So, what I have done is take this program to compile a database of SPONTaneous problems to be used for these events in years to come. This saves the time of planning the event, searching for problems, and finding materials for the problems. Overall this was a wonderful experience for the students. For the first event, besides helping with the creative and set up portion, I also chose two students from different teams and gave them the pom pom launcher challenge ahead of time. The idea was for them to apply their learned knowledge about this challenge to instruct and score their teammates in doing this problem. This was important because as the students go to compete in these events they must know how to communicate with their teammates in order to get a better score. I will also be doing a final event in April where I will be leaving this event established and ready to be done in future years.

Student(s):
Lauren Flanigan

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Schoolwide Book Swap: The Importance of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, are three words that students are constantly hearing from peers, society, and perhaps at home as well. But what do these three words truly mean? In order to give students a higher sense of understanding and the impact a single individual can have on their community, I will be organizing a school wide book swap. Through this event the class that will primarily be helping me run this program will be Mrs. White’s class in that each student will contribute a book that they will be swapping for a different book. In Mrs. White’s class we will be discussing environmental issues that are current in today’s society and preventative methods that will greatly help the planet. Our students will become confident in their ability to apply reduce, reuse, recycle to their own lives. Through this project I hope to inspire students to see that these three words do not simply refer to recycling a plastic bottle but that there are other methods in which a student can help their community improve to become more eco friendly. The purpose of this event will be not only to encourage school participation but to also bring some fun into the joys of reading and encourage students to share well loved books and knowledge with each other. It will bring a stronger sense of community and allow for laughs to be shared over books students have grown to love!

Student(s):
Crystal Guzman, Madrona Elementary School

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Global Awareness Award: A Test Across Ages

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This project was undertaken to teach individuals what it means to grow up as a girl without access to education in different countries. The goal of is to equip Girls Scout Troops with new knowledge and have them educate another group of individuals, one younger and one older than themselves. By working closely with Girl Scout Troop leaders, I am creating a lesson plan and activity to get the Girl Scout troop interested and engaged in the material (the reasons why girls are not able to attend school in different countries). Their follow-up activity will collect their new information and transmit it to another group (one group being their parents, and hopefully another group being another Girl Scout troop younger in age). The sharing of information will not only test their understanding of the topic, but will also imbed the importance of this topic by having them relay its importance to an audience. Working with this Girl Scout troop, I will create a lesson plan, activity, and guided instruction so they can I can present the information in a format that accommodates their age. In creating a second lesson plan for a younger Girl Scout troop, I will have to accommodate the new group’s age. My ability and the troop’s ability to effectively relay information to different groups of individuals will show the benefits to both the teachers and the students of teaching information to more than one group of individuals.

Student(s):
Alexis Hahn

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Emergency Preparedness and First Aid

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While many adults are trained in the techniques of First Aid, many children and adolescents have not had the opportunity to learn these lifesaving skills. These skills could help save not only their own lives, but the lives of others. The purpose of this project was to teach older girl scouts various techniques in first aid and the precautions to take in an earthquake, which they would then be able to teach to younger girl scouts. For this service-learning project, the older girl scouts were first taught a lesson in first aid. Topics discussed included what to do in an earthquake and the various types of injuries and conditions and their corresponding causes and treatments. The older girls also had the opportunity to demonstrate the various treatments, using the first aid materials that were supplied. The older girls then gave a presentation to a younger girl scout troop, sharing their knowledge on first aid techniques. Both groups of girl scouts have the knowledge of first aid techniques and will be able to not only share what they have learned with others, but be able to use these techniques in the event of injury or emergency.

Student(s):
Laura Hansen

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Banner for Big Brothers and Big Sisters

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One of the many topics of discussion in the principle to marketing course includes understanding the differences and challenges that non-profit organizations face in marketing. Non-profit organization exists to achieve some goal other than the usual business goals of profit, market share or return on investments (i.e. government, museums, theaters, schools and churches). The students in this course participated in a Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2016 non-profit event with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters. The event took place on March 12, 2016 at Harley’s Camarillo Bowl, 305 Arneill Rd, Camarillo, CA 93010. Student participation includes development of marketing fliers and banner for the event as well as participation at the event. As part of developing understanding of these differences faced by non-profits companies we were able to engage in community service to get hands on experience and assist community members that do not have resources to thorough produce marketing programs.

Student(s):
Brandi Ingrassi

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Sarah Fischbach

Dancing and Planting make the Earth Go Round

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The importance of this service is to teach children and make them understand the importance about Earth Day and our planet. The purpose/goal for this project is for students to be more involved in their community and be able to help our planet in the simplest way. I will stress the importance of preserving the environment as well as understanding nature. Students will learn an Earth song that I will teach and then they will perform it to another group of students; as well as teach them what Earth day is all about. The last thing they will do is plant a flower in a pot that they will be able to keep and show their parents.

Student(s):
Marbella Jimenez

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Making Good Decisions

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Character building is vital for individuals as well as society, and we can begin building strong morals as educators in elementary schools. The purpose of this project is to promote making good decisions as part of an anti-bullying program for kindergarteners at Santa Susana Elementary. As a class, we will first define bullying then read a related book (Stop Picking on Me or The Juice Box Bully). We will then analyze the characters in the story as far as who was the bully, the bullied, how each character felt, how the problem was solved and what kinds of good decisions could have been made in place of bullying. Students will then write a sentence and draw a picture of what good decisions look like. They will then share with the kindergarten class next door the definition of bullying and what kinds of feeling it brings. Students will then share their examples of what good decisions look like (in pairs then a few to the whole group) to promote making good decisions.

Student(s):
Jordan Martinez

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Learning to Work with What we Have: Water Conservation in California

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Student learning is often best facilitated through experiential learning. This service learning project focused strongly on experiential learning, as well a topic that is currently of vital importance to California: water conservation. During this project, about twenty students from the age of 4 to 11 were taught about the importance of water in California’s environment and how each student can make an significant impact with water conservation at a local childcare center. Students brainstormed different ways that they could help conserve water. Also during the lesson, students specifically focused on plants that were “drought resistant.” They completed an experiment that led to understanding of how much water several different types of plants require. They then planted drought resistant plants in decorated flowerpots and then attached note that explained water conservation. Students then brought the drought resistant class home to give to their families or to give to their school classrooms where they shared what they had learned. The students' teachers or parents/ guardians wrote additional information that they had learned on the note that was attached to the plant. The note was then returned the facilitator of this service learning project. Once all of the notes were collected back, they were combined into a poster that now hangs on the wall of the student’s childcare center.

Student(s):
Erin Morningred

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Spreading Happiness

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For my project I will be presenting a lesson to a first grade classroom where the students will create "Happiness Cards" that will be distributed to a center for Senior Care. The purpose is to promote a sense of community and to promote the concepts of sharing and caring. I will be presenting a twenty-thirty minute lesson to first graders. They will be instructed to make "happy" cards that will be shared with members of the community. I will then take the cards and distribute them and return to the classroom with the results of the cards (how the cards seemed to impact the recipients).

Student(s):
Angelina Palumbo

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

Domestic Violence and the Importance of Community-based Organizations

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Domestic violence continues to be a persisting problem that impacts our society. Community-based organizations play a critical role in educating the public on domestic violence issues, providing protection for victims, and rehabilitation for families. Through our Family Violence service-learning course, not only did we learn about the negative impacts of domestic violence, but also partnered with local agencies that combat the problem. Our class partnered with The Coalition of Family Harmony and Homeboy Industry, to learn about the services they offer and how they are raising greater awareness in combatting the problem of domestic violence. Through this poster presentation, I discuss how our services to these agencies deepened our learning on domestic violence issues.

Student(s):
Ariana Sanchez

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Helen Lim and Dr. Schannae Lucas

Service-learning and Improving Human Trafficking Awareness on College Campuses

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Human trafficking is a global problem. The Polaris Project estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of human-trafficking. Human trafficking is also a problem in the United States—it is affecting every state, every town, and every city. Zoe International, is a nonprofit, anti-child trafficking organization, and is fighting to end child-trafficking. Zoe’s mission is to reach every child through the love of God, and to save children who are being trafficked or at risk of being trafficked. As part of their awareness campaign, they are launching myGen myFight on college campuses across the nation. Our Criminology service-learning course evaluated their myGen myFight campaign. This presentation represents our research on college campus human trafficking awareness, and our evaluation and recommendations to ZOE in making improvements to their campaign. We hope that our research will help Zoe ignite the fight against child-trafficking across college campuses.

Student(s):
Olivia Steinfeld

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Helen Lim

Public Health in the Classroom

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Health is important to student success. The more time spent in the classroom rather than absent, the greater the opportunities to learn. However, many display various improper health etiquette. The objective of this service learning project is to promote basic illness prevention techniques for students to develop and introduce to other students. Students will be instructed in various healthful behaviors such as hand washing, cough and sneeze spread-prevention, when and what not to share, and minimizing hand to face contact. Students will then have their own “public health seminar” to teach their peers in another third grade classroom what they have learned. The hope is that students will adopt these healthy behaviors in their daily lives and become public-health advocates in the classroom as well as their community.

Student(s):
Melissa Walker, Mrs. Turner and Ms. Klingerman

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael McCambridge

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Schedule of Events

Center for Academic Service Learning: Service Learning Across Disciplines

Student Abstracts

Water Heroes

Biblical Teachings and Promises as to Youth, Dating, and Worth

Early Exposure to Science in K-6 Age Groups by College Students at California Lutheran University

Piecing Together the Puzzle: How to Recycle Effectively

Helping to Give Man’s Best Friend a Second Chance at a Forever Home

Not a Waste of Time: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Champions Baseball League Official Handbook

Two Cents

Solve It Day (SPONT Day) 2016

Schoolwide Book Swap: The Importance of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Global Awareness Award: A Test Across Ages

Emergency Preparedness and First Aid

Banner for Big Brothers and Big Sisters

Dancing and Planting make the Earth Go Round

Making Good Decisions

Learning to Work with What we Have: Water Conservation in California

Spreading Happiness

Domestic Violence and the Importance of Community-based Organizations

Service-learning and Improving Human Trafficking Awareness on College Campuses

Public Health in the Classroom