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Science Giants

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The team members participate in a eight-hour training program where they learn the scientific history and facts about the exhibit and how to interpret that information for the public. Then, they serve a minimum of 12 hours as exhibit facilitators—leading tours, answering questions, and running interactive programs. They also complete a one-hour written and oral evaluation of the program.

Science Giants has partnered with Museum of Science and Industry for The Science of SuperCroc exhibit, Garfield Park Conservatory for GIANTS: African Dinosaurs, Navy Pier for Science Giants, The Field Museum for Evolving Planet, and Chicago Children’s Museum for Dinosaur Expedition.

The goals of the Science Giants program are to:

• Recruit and train high school students to serve as Science Giants each year
  
  
• Showcase students’ work to the public and improve their communication skills
  
  
• Provide students with meaningful, content-rich science service learning opportunities

How does the Science Giants program work?
Students, teachers, or community service coordinators contact Project Exploration and request a Science Giants team application to complete and return to Project Exploration.  Space is limited and training sessions are filled on a first come, first served basis.  Each training session can accommodate 25 students.  Students will be notified of their acceptance two weeks before their preferred training date. 
Students are responsible for getting themselves to and from the training and exhibit sites. 

Project Exploration provides a team member handbook, a team member t-shirt, museum ID badge, certificate of program completion, and snacks during the training.

Training—Eight Hours
Students are required to participate in a eight-hour training program, which takes place on-site at the location of the exhibit.  The training familiarizes participants with the exhibition components and the specific activities and programs that they will be presenting to visitors.  In addition, students learn skills necessary for working with the public and how to facilitate the visitor's learning experience. Students are trained on the story of the evolving world, how fossils are formed, key dinosaur features, and landmark events throughout geologic time.

Exhibit Facilitation—Twelve Hours
Following the training program, students act as exhibit facilitators.  They complete a minimum of twelve hours on the exhibit floor during which they answer questions about exhibit components and facilitate interactive and educational programs.  The twelve hours are completed in three shifts of four hours each.  At the end of each shift, team members write a one-page written reflection about the day’s experiences.

Exhibit and Program Evaluation
Upon completion of twelve hours of service as a Science Giants team member, all students participate in written evaluation of the exhibit and the Science Giants program. 

Certification
Once students have completed the training, facilitation hours, and their evaluation, they receive a certificate of recognition as a trained exhibit facilitator.  The students' school also receives a letter confirming completion of twenty hours of community service towards graduation requirements.

Participating Chicago Public High Schools in 2011 include:

• Amundsen High School
• DuSable Leadership Charter School
• Dyett High School
• Gary Comer College Prep
• Golder College Prep
• Illinois Math and Sciences Academy
• Jones College High School
• Kenwood Academy High School
• King College Prep
• Lake View High School
• Lane Tech College Prep
• Lincoln Park High School
• Lindblom Math and Science Academy
• Madero Middle School
• Morgan Park High School
• Noble Street College Prep
• North Lawndale College Prep
• Perspectives - Joslin
• Perspectives Calumet High School
• Perspectives Calumet High School of Tech
• Perspectives Calumet Middle School
• Perspectives Charter IIT-Math and Science
• Pritzker College Prep
• Rauner College Preparatory
• Reavis Elementary
• Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy
• Skinner West Classical
• Taft High School
• TEAM Englewood
• Thornton Fractional North
• UIC College Preparatory
• University of Chicago Charter School - Woodlawn
• Whitney M. Young High School
• William E. Dever School
• Young Women's Leadership Charter School
  

Science Giants team member Jameisha explains the difference between dinosaurs and reptiles that only look like dinosaurs. Photo R. Pudzisz

“One thing I am proud of is that I made one family happy that they came to the museum when they found out they were holding something even older than a dinosaur. I was very happy.”
-Michael, Noble Street Charter School—Pritzker College Prep

“Everyone was really interested in the “Fossils in the Floor” activity. One boy even came to me and said, ‘Hey! There are fossils in the floor!’ Then I was like, ‘Yeah! There are! Do you want to know about them?!’”
-Jacklyn, Lane Tech High School

“It’s interesting to teach people something new. I got to teach kids as well as adults and that was cool. I also got to learn from my peers as well as from my coordinators. Working on the floor is always a great experience because you always get to learn something.”
-Sade, Perspectives Charter School—Calumet Campus

“We talked to people from all over the world—from Texas, England, Florida, Afghanistan, Indiana, and Missouri. Everyone who stopped by learned about fossils and was very amazed.”
-Lynesse, Hyde Park Career Academy High School