Frequently Asked Questions
 

 

What is the Fairchild Challenge?

How do I get my school involved?

How can I get more booklets?

I would like to participate. How do I get started?

How can I get more teachers involved at my school?

How do I submit a Challenge entry?

What happens to the option entries?

Can we see the judges' evaluation sheets?

Can we see other schools scores?

What is your goal?

How will I benefit from participating in the Fairchild Challenge?

Does Fairchild pay for transportation for Challenge events?

Can we submit more than the maximum number of entries?

Where should I send the forms?

Can I receive additional booklets to share with others?

How can I stay informed about important events, deadlines and other information for the Fairchild Challenge?

QUESTIONS ABOUT 2010 OPTIONS

 

 

What is the Fairchild Challenge?
Designed for students of diverse interests, abilities, talents and backgrounds, the Fairchild Challenge is Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's environmental education outreach program. With separate but parallel programs for different grade levels 6 to 8 and 9 to 12, the Fairchild Challenge is composed of multidisciplinary competitions aligned with Sunshine State Standards.

The annual Fairchild Challenge options are intended to appeal to students' sense of play and creativity, to encourage them to experiment with ideas, projects and skills and to empower them to seek information and voice opinions. This free program is open to all schools in the greater Miami area. Last year over 45,000 students from 116 schools participated. Other sites are replicating the Fairchild Challenge model nationally and abroad.

How do I get my school involved?
A team of Fairchild Challenge coordinators at your school (consisting of at least 3 teachers in diverse disciplines plus a media center representative) submits one registration form. All administrators and faculty should be notified that your school is registered. Schools are encouraged to include as many students as possible in the various Challenge options and may accomplish this by entering any number of the Challenge options.

How can I get more booklets? 
The program booklets can be downloaded from the middle school and high school websites or you can request copies of the booklets to be mailed to your school by filling out the online application and submitting it by email, fax, or mail.

I would like to participate. How do I get started?
Find out if your school is registered on the middle school and high school sites. Registered schools will receive a teacher participation sign-up sheet to hang in a common area. The teacher option sign-up sheet is a chart we are providing schools with that can help teachers find out who else is participating in the Fairchild Challenge. Any student or teacher at a school is eligible to participate. Teachers should use the sign up sheet to coordinate the judging of the entries at their school in order to send the best entry.

How can I get more teachers involved at my school?
Fairchild Challenge staff is available to visit schools to introduce the program at faculty meetings or student assemblies. School faculty can also request additional copies of the booklet to give to other teachers or administrators and/or a program DVD to show to other interested parties. A teacher option sign-up sheet will be provided at the information luncheon or upon request. This should be placed in a faculty common area to increase Fairchild Challenge communication among faculty.

How do I submit a Fairchild Challenge entry?
Following the stated policies and requirements, teachers submit the best entries with a completed entry form downloaded from the high school or middle school Fairchild Challenge websites. Each entry form contains a check list of required items for entry submission. Entries with the completed option entry form can be mailed or dropped off at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden between 9am and 5pm, or by appointment. Please make sure all items mailed or dropped off are clearly labeled with Attn: Challenge6-8 or Attn: Challenge9-12 and your school name.

What happens to the option entries?
Each student entry is judged by a panel of experts at Fairchild according to predetermined evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria can be downloaded from the high school or middle school Challenge websites. Scores are emailed to all teachers on each school's contact list. You will only receive your own school's scores and we will not disclose schools' standing in the competition. Along with the points your school earns for each option you will be notified by e-mail of any first-place or honorable mention entries. Final results will be announced and prizes will be awarded at the awards ceremonies in May.

Can we see the judges' evaluation sheets?
Schools will be provided with their point value but the score sheets are not released.

Can we see other schools scores?
Schools are provided with their individual scores throughout the year, but the competition standings are not released until the awards ceremonies.

What is your goal?
All schools that earn the designated point totals for each year will be presented with the Fairchild Challenge Award at the awards ceremony in May. Schools receiving the Fairchild Challenge Award for five consecutive years will be honored as a Fairchild Challenge School of Excellence and will receive a banner for their school. 

How will I benefit from participating in the Fairchild Challenge?
The Fairchild Challenge is designed to increase student's awareness, scholarship and stewardship. Ninety percent of students surveyed indicated that they enjoyed the program and would recommend it to other students. Ninety-seven percent of teachers surveyed indicated that they benefited from the Fairchild Challenge and will participate in the future.

In order to encourage students to be active members of the community, all students receive a family pass for four to Fairchild along with a program T-shirt or drawstring backpack. The top sixteen schools receive monetary awards of $250 (10 schools), $500 (5 schools), or $1000 (1 school) to be used towards their environmental programs.

Fairchild also offers grants and resources throughout the school year for participating schools.

Does Fairchild pay for transportation for Fairchild Challenge events?
Fairchild will accept applications for transportation from title 1 schools for Challenge events and/or field trips. Applications will be available on the website.

Can we submit more than the maximum number of entries?
In order to make the program available to all schools, the number of entries that can be submitted from each school must be limited. We cannot accept additional entries. Holding school events, such as your own school wide performance, can help teachers and students decide which entries to send to Fairchild for judging.

Where should I send the forms?
All forms must be mailed, faxed or delivered to:

FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE 6-8 or FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE 9-12
FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN
10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156-4296
Fax 305.661.8953

Can I receive additional booklets to share with others?
We will be happy to mail additional booklets to you - applications are available on the website.

How can I stay informed about important events, deadlines and other information for the Fairchild Challenge?
Please see the calendar for important dates and information. Fairchild Challenge staff primarily maintains contact with participating teachers by email. This is why it is critical that we have a current email address on file for each lead teacher coordinating the school's Challenge activities. Monthly, we will be producing an e-update that will provide important information about deadlines, grant applications, workshops and other Fairchild Challenge related information.

 

Questions About 2010 Options 

MS Option 6: Interpretive sign: Research poster on invasive species

What is the word limit for each sign?
There is a 250 word limit for each invasive species explained in the poster for a total of 500 words. This does not include the reference section.

Are students to present both plant and animal species on the same poster?
Yes. Students are to present both plant and animal species on the same poster. Schools can submit up to two posters.

Where should students put their names on the poster?
We would prefer (not require) for students to write their names and the school name on the back of the posters.

Is there a specific layout for the research posters?
There is no specific layout for the research posters (either landscape or portrait orientation); although portrait orientation was suggested as it may be easier to layout the information, it is not required.

Can the poster be presented on foamboard instead of posterboard?
Yes. The poster can be presented on a flat foamboard using the same size specifications (22" x 28").

Can my students use in-text citations as stated in the "How-to guide for proper citation?"
Students can use in-text citations provided that they explain the citation used and cite it properly.

Can my students use pictures from the internet?
Yes, you may use pictures from the internet. Please give credit to the websites from where the pictures were downloaded.


 

MS Option 7: Green Treasures: Intergenerational Interviews

What is the size requirement for the summary booklet?
While there is no stated size restriction for the booklet, please make sure that there are ten student summaries (each taking up no more than two pages). There should be 11 double sided or 22 single sided sheets (or the equivalent). The booklet must include a title page and a table of contents.

HS Option 8: Research Projects

What are the requirements for the Research Projects (Option 8)?

Here are the general requirements for all research projects, as noted on page 21 of the high school Fairchild Challenge 2009-2010 booklet. Specific requirements for each of the four topics are given below this listing. Please note that all students must present their projects at the Fairchild Challenge Research Projects Showcase on Saturday, April 10 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Fairchild. Students must be prepared to give a two-minute presentation and respond to judges’ questions.

  • Select one research project from the list of four provided above and described on page 20.
  • Projects must be presented by students for judging at the Fairchild Challenge Research Projects Showcase on Saturday, April 10, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., at Fairchild.
  • Students must provide a two-minute presentation in which they explain their projects, as well as answer any questions posed by judges.
  • Projects will be judged on research, accuracy, technical ability, creativity, clarity of explanation, impact, and presentation.
  • School submits: Option 8 entry form; up to four projects, one project per topic, to be presented by students for judging on Saturday, April 10
  • Due at Fairchild: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 17 (Only the completed entry form and supporting materials (if applicable) are due on this date. Student presenters and actual projects must arrive by 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 10, at Fairchild. Event start time is 1:30 p.m.)
  • Maximum possible points: 400 (100/project)

HS Option 8A: Research Projects: LEED-Certified Science Classroom research project

What are the requirements for the LEED-Certified Science Classroom research project?

Research and model requirements:

  • Research the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating SystemTM.
  • Design and construct a LEED-certified “green” model for a 30-seat, 1,800 square foot high school science lab/classroom.
  • The design must incorporate a living, natural botanical component.
  • The classroom design must include, but not be limited to, the following features: (a) classroom furniture, teacher demonstration table, long-term project area, and preparation and storage space; (b) deep sinks and rinse-away station; (c) gas, power, and ventilation; (d) attention to safety issues; (e) means of egress; and (f) ADA accessibility.
  • Models must be constructed using a scale of 1 inch: 4 feet; model base must not exceed 3’ x 4’.

Written requirements:

  • Include a one-page narrative explaining the design choices and why the design qualifies as a green lab/classroom.

Can the 'living, natural botanical component' of the LEED-Certified Science Classroom be outside the 1,800 square foot limit for the high school science/lab classroom?
It is acceptable for the living component to be outside the classroom but must serve as a function of the classroom. For example, the 'living, natural botanical component' must be utilized in the curricula. So, for intance, it CANNOT be just landscape plants.

HS Option 8B: Research Projects: Green Cuisine based on a traditional recipe from a cultural background

What are the requirements for the Green Cuisine research project?

Research and main course requirements:

  • Prepare a nutritious vegan or vegetarian main course, based on a traditional dish from any cultural background. Bring enough of the prepared dish for 15 people to taste a small sample.
  • For your dish provide the following information: (a) name of the dish; (b) detailed recipe; (c) approximate nutritional values, provided as the Percent Daily Values (%DV) of key nutrients found on a Nutrition Facts label; (d) list of all the ingredients used
    and (e) the original, traditional cultural recipe upon which your dish was based.
  • Additionally, for each plant ingredient, research and provide the following information about the plant: (a) common and scientific names; (b) country/region of origin and (c) the plant parts used.

Written requirements:

  • In a typed narrative not to exceed 450 words describe how you transformed the traditional recipe to a vegan or vegetarian recipe, as well as the significance of this dish in one’s culture.
  • The written report must be submitted to Fairchild by Wednesday, March 17 with the option entry form.

HS Option 8C: Solar Inventions Research Project

What are the requirements for the Solar Inventions research project?

Research and invention requirements:

  • Design and construct a functional solar invention useful for an emergency, using exactly one solar panel and one electric motor.
  • The solar device must be designed to operate exclusively on sunlight (no batteries or energy storage devices may be used). If mirrors or energy-enhancing devices are used they must be attached and included in the overall size dimensions, not to exceed 3’ x 3’ x3’. Fairchild will provide, on loan, one solar panel and one electric motor to each school, by request.
  • The solar panel and motor must be used, and must be used as is.
  • In a typed narrative, not to exceed 450 words, explain the most important features taken into consideration when designing the invention and explain how it may be of use in an emergency situation.

Written requirements:

  • In a typed narrative, not to exceed 450 words, explain the most important features taken into consideration when designing the invention and explain how it may be of use in an emergency situation.

Option 8D – Seed Germination research project

What are the requirements for the Seed Germination research project?

Research and summary explanation requirements:

  • Using the scientific method, design and conduct controlled experiments to compare germination and growth rates using at least two different seed treatments. Fairchild will provide packets of seeds from a native species to participating schools.
  • Based on those findings and supporting research, explain how one or more environmental factors (dispersal methods, environmental parameters, etc.) affect the germination and growth of the species in its native habitat.
  • Summarize the experimental design and findings on a stand-alone tri-fold project display board.
  • Include timeline photos illustrating the actual experiment and the students conducting the experiment.

Please note that your written findings should be incorporated into the tri-fold project display - see the 3rd bullet above for further clarification.

MS & HS School Garden / Habitat Restoration

How do we participate in the pine rockland school garden opportunity?
Schools can create a pine rockland garden on their own by using the online resources available or schools have the option to participate in a larger countywide effort to reestablish pine rocklands. Schools interested in participating in the countywide initiative should contact awalker@fairchildgarden.org for more information.

last updated: 02/24/10