Student+Audience

This project is designed for students who attend grades 3 and 5 at Parkview Intermediate School in my hometown of Bedford in Lawrence County, Indiana. Although I do not teach at this school, I am familiar with it as my sons attended grades K-6 in the Parkview district and I served in multiple volunteer positions during their time at this school. The average class size reported in 2008-09 was 22 students. However, this number has risen since the last figures were reported due to budget cuts in this area's school corporation. The setting is a rural environment and low income. In fact, the school secretary informed me that nearly 50% are qualified for the free or reduced price in the lunch program. I researched some basic performance statistics at the Indiana Department of Education, I found that last year 249 students attended the Intermediate building. ISTEP performance indicators show that only 68% of 3rd graders pass the Math standard and for Grade 5 students the rate rises to 79%. However, testing for the Science standard in the fifth grade (not tested in Grade 3) is a low 57%.
 * Student Audience**

It would seem most unlikely that students in the third grade were having much exposure to science in the classroom and most likely their information skills are low too. The low indicator in the 5th grade is evidence of this. Because of this, my approach to the subject matter will use the Super3 model for the younger students and the Big6 model for the older students.

Because of the above statistics, I would surmise that these students do not possess many skills in terms of information literacy. Their interactions and experience in the world are most likely few outside the confines of Lawrence County. Most students in this county at this age level participate in low-cost youth sport programs found at the local Boys and Girls Clubs or neighborhood church leagues. The secretary confirmed that they were interested in sports and also enjoy earning points for items through the Accelerated Reading program at the school.

In our county, we are privileged to claim multiple astronauts as our own! I will connect this learning experience to the real world through the introduction of the Gus Grissom, a NASA pioneer and a Lawrence County native.