Sustainable Fish Farming

See video here.

Imagine you are a Bluefin Tuna and you just woke up in excitement from your bed hidden behind flakey leaves of coral because you are going to visit a place that you used to always swim when you were little with your parents and before one dreadful night when you were three and your parents had been fished and most of the fish in the seas had been overfished by a few fishermen.

Get a pet other than a fish

See video here.

Do you know how many people have fish?  I do.  Over a dozen.  I do not want to be one of those people.  Why don’t they just realize what other pets can do.  For example this video- (video)- a fish could never do what that cat did.

Eminent Domain

See video here.

Problem: Sometimes the government takes people’s property – homes or businesses – and it tries to claim that the Constitution allows it, but it really doesn’t. The constitution allows taking property for a “public purpose” like public roads, public airports, or public schools, but that’s all.  The Supreme Court misruled on this a few years ago and now allows states to take private property to give to other people for non-public projects like luxury condominiums and fancy shops.

Stop Global Warming

See video here.

Good Afternoon. I am here to persuade you to change the world. Now, you’re probably thinking “well Anaya, I’m nothing. I can’t change the world.” Actually, you can. First, you need a problem. I’ll give it to you.

Be Yourself

See video here.

“If you are like you are so cool, your friends will think you care about yourself more than them, and they won’t be your friends anymore and you will have no friends”    - K Dy

Save the Rainforest

See video here.

Each passing year, billions of acres of trees are cut down, sending many animals to the brink of extinction because of loggers.  Over three million species of the rarest and strangest animals live here.  Some Indian men (loggers) use elephants to log.  The elephants don’t clear out big spaces in the rainforest, they log trees far apart so it does not affect the forest.  This is a great solution, but if everybody started doing this, I’m afraid people would whip and abuse the elephants. 

Save Black-Footed Ferrets

Picture this: it’s winter and it’s snowing.  A black footed ferret peeks out from his hole, cold, hungry, and lonely.  His mom, dad, and friends are all dead because they had no food to eat.  This is what is happening in North America.

Throw Cigarettes in the Trash

Once upon a time there was a man who loved smoking. One day, he decided to smoke, so he went to the cigarette store and bought a cigarette and smoked at a zoo and the zookeeper said, “No smoking in the zoo.” So the man just threw the cigarette on the ground and left it there and the zoo burned.  And then when he came back from the zoo, he decided to not smoke any more.

Don't Litter

Do you want to be this poor sea turtle?  Think, if you were just eating and then you started to choke on a piece of trash and you couldn’t do anything. 

Why do we litter?  When you litter, that can hurt and kill animals.  And, if you get all the trash in the ocean, it’s twice the size of Hawaii. 

So don't litter.  Pick up trash.

Take Down Shark Nets

Take Down Shark Nets!

Who likes dolphins, seals and turtles?  Well they die from shark nets.  33,00 sharks, 2,000 dolphins and 2,000 turtles die each year from shark nets in South Africa.  People need to respect sea life.  Some people are scared of sharks so they kill them or don’t care about them, but sharks are great animals!  Also, sometimes sharks get trapped inside and their only food is humans!

Give a gift, feed the hungry

Imagine you are hungry, walking on the street begging for food.  Now imagine you are looking you are for a Christmas present.  What should you get? Lots of people have this problem, and here’s a solution: this teddy bear. It costs 15 dollars and each teddy bear feeds 32 hungry people. 

Adopt

Once there was a boy who lost his parents when he was very young.  His dad died in a war.  His mom passed away when he was born.  He was all alone growing up without parents. 

Make Puppy Mills Illegal

(Video)  You have to agree, that was sick. That’s a puppy mill.  It’s a place where evil people breed dogs for money. Dogs never go outside, no walks, just breeding. 500,000 dogs are bred in puppy mills a year! That’s a half a million dogs that are being abused and live in filthy cages every year. Then they’re sent to pet stores across the country.

Don't Invest in Stocks

Bob goes to H-E-B.  Inside, Bob goes to the business counter.  Then, Bob asks for a $500 stock, but he looks behind him and sees 10 shopping carts with $10,000 of stock money each, but still buys the stock.  So after that story, you heard that Bob invested in the stock to get what he wants.  The same real people want to make easy and fast money, so there is the problem.

Lower Taxes

Our problem is that taxes are too high!  Imagine yourself walking down a sidewalk and you are thinking that you make 1,000,000 dollars a year and you know that you don’t get all of that money, you only get 500,000 dollars.  You are mad because you earned all of that money, but you don’t get all of it.  You want to do something about it, so you vote differently than you did the last time you voted. 

Recycle

I decided to do my speech on recycling so I wanted to do my presentation on my computer to save paper. I would like for you to imagine that you are in the middle of a forest on a trail. You have been walking for hours trying to find a beautiful river that you have heard about in stories before.

Help the Homeless

Hi, my name is Bella.  My problem is about homelessness.  Imagine you are homeless right now and you are starving to death.  And it was cold out and you had no place to go and you were sad and lonely and it was snowing.  And it was Christmas Eve.  Think about it.  Would you feel very good?  That’s how they feel right now.  So take action now!

Trash on the Beach

Once I saw a piece of trash on the beach.  Trash was everywhere.  That was not good at all.  An animal swallowed a piece of garbage.  It almost got killed. 

Poaching

Do you know what poaching is?  Poaching is a deadly crime against wildlife. 

Stop Smoking

My speech is about smoking and how we should all stop it. Did you know that over 50 people die a year from smoking?  Did you know that over 50,000 cigarettes are being used right now? So that’s why we should all convince people that smoking is wrong.

Support NASA

Do you want to know what is out there?  Here is a small bit of it.  (pictures)

NASA’s probe Kepler has already found a habitable planet (a planet we can live on). 

Pick Up Trash

One time, I went to the park and someone threw their trash on the ground. I asked him to pick up the trash, but he said no. People are littering. The world will be filled with trash. Animals will get sick if we don’t pick up the trash. Pick up trash! If you pick up trash then the world will be beautiful. If you don’t pick up trash, then everyone will be trapped in their homes because there will be so much trash on the ground that you can’t go outside. Next time you are outside and you see trash, pick it up!

Stop Teasing

I think when most of you walked into these doors you thought it would be a teasing free environment.  Myself I have seen it, even a low amount is not okay with me.

Don't go in the jungle without your parents

Once upon a time, a boy named Mack went in the jungle without his parents. He thought there would be no dangerous animals except birds and fish and bugs and then he heard a roar and said, “What’s that?” He saw something orange and black. It was a tiger. The boy was lost in the jungle, but he kept running until he lost the tiger. And then it was silent. The tiger found him again.  Then he was so close to Mack until somebody saved him. It was his dad, and then when Mack got home, his did had punishment for him and said to never go in the jungle again without his parents.  And then he went in the jungle again with his parents.

Save Sea Turtles - Stop Littering

My name is Garrett. You might know me. My problem is that sea turtle are dying every year from people littering trash, plastic, and cans.

Stop Aliens

UFOs and extraterrestrials have been spotted for years, like in the Bermuda Triangle and Roswell, and we have to stop them from coming to earth.  Image this: you’re lying in bed, you see a light outside.  You open the door, the next thing you know you’ve been taken captive by an alien.  Do you want this to happen to you?

Sponsor a Child with World Vision

Will you let people starve, or will you let them live a better life?

Imagine if this were you. (picture) What would that feel like?  It feels like your stomach is caving in, and all you want to do is eat.  Would you want other children being treated like this?

Adopt a Turtle

If you were a turtle would you like to suffocate? Many sea turtles do because of plastic bags, bottles and Coca-Cola rings. So save the life of a sea turtle right now and make a dirty ocean look like a clean ocean.

Speeches: Guiding Your Audience to a Decision

We use the decision chain as a tool to help us make decisions on our own.  You can use these same steps in your speech to guide your audience to make the decision you want them to make.


Decision Chain: Problem?  No Problem With Decision Chain!

Problem: What's the problem you are addressing?  (This is where your story fits in - putting the audience in the shoes of someone facing your problem so that they really understand the problem.)

Need to Know: Present facts about your problem.

Pros/Cons: What are the positive things about making the choice you want your audience to make?  What are the negative things about not making this choice?

Weigh: After weighing the options, tell the audience what you think is the right thing to do.

Decide: Present options for your audience to choose and decide between.

Commit: Ask your audience to commit to one specific action.

Speeches: The Power of Storytelling

Which is more powerful: putting the audience in the shoes of a specific person facing the problem you are addressing, or telling the audience how they should feel about this problem?

• Steve Jobs: "How to live before you die" (from 1:14-5:30, 5:30-9:00, or 9:00-15:00)
• Jamie Oliver: "Teach every child about food" (from 0:20-0:55, 3:50-4:44, 7:50-8:25, and 11:12-12:05)
• Ken Robinson: "Schools kill creativity"(from 3:38-6:17 and 15:12-17:30)

Which speech is the most powerful?  

What makes a story the most powerful: that it has a character who is faced with a tough choice, that it is a personal story in which the speaker shares his or her emotions, or that it is funny?

Speeches: Power and Corruption

  
When you give a speech, you have power over your audience: they are giving you their attention. Sure, they have the power to decide if they agree with you or not and whether they want to do anything about what you say, but your power could cause them to change their minds and take action. Will you use this power wisely, or will this power corrupt you?

1. Hitler speech (From 1:40-2:08 and 3:35-4:40) 
2. Severn Suzuki speaking at the UN on the issue of the environment (“I’m Only a Child”) 
3. Rachel Sequoia "Share the Air" pitch

Which speech is the most powerful?  Is this power being used for good, or used for evil?  Does the power come from the speaker's words (their message), their voice (tone, volume), or something visual (body gestures, visuals, setting)?

Experiencing History - Signing the Constitution

Here are some websites that may be useful as you decide whether or not YOU will sign the Constitution.

• Google (www.google.com) and Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) 
• Clip from the movie 1776 showing the debate over slavery before signing the Declaration of Independence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_41wDUvai1s or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk5NAeIRY4k (from 4:50 on)
•  Congress for Kids: http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_index.htm
•  The Constitution for Kids (k-3^rd grade): http://www.usconstitution.net/constkidsK.html
•  The Constitution for Kids (4^th-7^th grade): http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids4.html
• Constitution Facts: http://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-constitution-kids/

Mission: Track Your Power Part 2

Your directions for this mission are in your mission folder.  Here is a video that may help if you get stuck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYgh_dI0GiI.

What do I do??

If you're not sure what to do, you've come to the right spot!

First, see if you can find a teammate who can help you or work with you.

You can also check the steps below to figure out what to do next - these are the steps to follow each day during Project Time:

1. Find your team's mission envelope.
2. Look inside at the sheet listing "Today's Missions."
3. Watch the videos or read the instructions for the missions listed.
4. Set to work on your missions with your team!
5. Complete your evidence and write your lesson learned for each mission.
6. Post your evidence and lesson learned and look at other super heroes' work - award power points if you would like.  (If you don't know what this means yet, don't worry - we will talk about this soon.)
7. Find a book in the project book basket to read with any extra time.

Mission: You Are What You Eat

This morning, Ms. Anna will do a demonstration in the kitchen.  In this demonstration, she will light on fire different food items and hold them, burning, under a tube of water.  Before the demonstration, as a team, use the sheet found in your mission folder to record your predictions about which burning food items will make the water’s temperature rise the most.  During the demonstration, you will keep track of how much the temperature of the water rises.  Why does some food burn longer and raise the water temperature more?  Were your predictions correct?  After the demonstration, complete the “What, So What, Now What” Chart.

Mission: Track Your Power

Starting right now, for two days, you will track your personal energy level every hour throughout the day.  In your mission folder you will find one timer and a chart for each of your team members.  Every hour, each of you will pause from the work you are doing to record on your chart your personal energy level at that moment. 

Use the timer to keep track of each time an hour passes.  One of your team members will be responsible for keeping the timer with them throughout the day.  Reset it for 60 minutes after each time you record your energy level. 

(To set the timer, press the button that says “Min,” for minute, until you reach 60.  Then press the big button that says Start/Stop to start the time counting down.  If you need to clear your timer, press both the Minute and Second buttons at the same time.) 

Whoever is responsible for the timer is also in charge of alerting their fellow teammates when an hour has passed.  Take turns with the responsibility of the timer so that each team member who wishes gets a chance to be the timer.

Mission: Stranger in a Strange Land

Read the instructions on the sheet labeled Stranger in a Strange Land in your mission folder.  They will tell you what to do.  Good luck!

Mission: Mind Over Matter

Does your mind have the power to push your own physical limits?  See if you can beat your own record at holding a wall squat.  Inside your mission folder, you will find a timer and a folded sheet with your best time listed.  Take turns timing each other to see if you can beat your own best records.  If you don’t want to share your best times with each other, you don’t have to.  The person who is timing should let the person who is squatting know how much time has passed. 

Later this week, we will complete this mission by all doing wall squats together, so don’t worry about Part 3 for now.

Mission: Listen to Your Heart

Which is more powerful: physical strength or emotional and mental strength?  Sign up for a 15-minute time slot on the sign-up sheet at the “Listen to Your Heart” station.  Keep track of the time to make sure you don’t miss your spot.

When it is your time, add yourself as a user by:

1.      Clicking on the arrow next to the text box on the upper left of the computer screen.

2.      Scrolling down all the way and select “Add user.”

3.      Filling in the User Information (you can leave the Email space blank).

4.      Clicking on the arrow button that says “All Games” at the top of the screen.

5.      Clicking on “Coherence Coach.”

6.      Attaching the HeartMath clip to your earlobe.

7.      Clicking the start button.

8.      Following the directions of the Coherence Coach.

After you have finished the Coherence Coach activity, if you still have time, select a different activity by clicking on the button at the top left corner of the screen that says “All Games.” Then select your choice.

Mission: Think Above the Box

Can you make a ball move just by thinking about it?

Find the MindFlex station.  For this mission, you will need to take turns with your teammates.  Follow the directions in the Mindflex Instruction Manual to see if you have the power of focus and concentration.

 

·         Page 6: How to put on the headset                

·         Page 7: How to turn on the console               

·         Page 8-10: How to control the ball                            

If you are able to move the ball all the way around the console and still have time, try creating obstacles to move the ball through with your brain power!  (See pages 11 and on.)

Mission: Don't Eat the Marshmallow

Part 1: Find one of the paper cups labeled with your name in the kitchen.  Don’t eat any of the candy!  Find one of the specially designated “marshmallow” chairs set up in the classroom.  Can you sit on your own for 5 minutes staring at one of your favorite candies without eating it?  One of your group members can use the timer to time your group as you all sit on your own, smelling the sweet smells of your delicious candies.  If you don’t eat the candy for 5 minutes and have the candy to prove it, Ms. Anna will give you twice as much.   

(To set the timer, press the button that says “Min,” for minute, until you reach 5.  Then press the big button that says Start/Stop to start the time counting down.  If you need to clear your timer, press both the Minute and Second buttons at the same time.) 

Part 2: Now, find the second paper cup labeled with your name in the kitchen.  Then find the designated “marshmallow” table.  Sit around the table with your group members for 5 minutes, each with your favorite candies in front of you.  Again, time yourself for 5 minutes.  If you are able to resist eating the candy for 5 minutes and have the candy to prove it, Ms. Anna will give you twice as much candy.

Your Quest: Change the World

You are a super hero with the power to change the world.  On this quest, your final mission will be to use your powers to write a speech that will persuade your audience to take action about a cause you believe in, and, as a result, change the world.

Before you can get started, however, you must discover where you get your powers: physical, mental, and emotional.  Just as every other super hero you have heard about has an origin story revealing how they came to be a super hero, so, too, do you.

Once you complete the mission of discovering your powers, you will seek to find what gives others power.  In order to persuade others, you must first understand them.

Finally, you will choose your cause and use your powers to persuade others to take action.

Good luck!

Missions

Every morning, you will receive your mission in your team’s mission envelope.  These brown envelopes will be delivered to the file holder located under the Hero’s Journey map.  Instructions and all supporting materials necessary will be included in this envelope.  Teams may or may not be tackling the same missions on the same days, so make sure you take the right envelope and follow your team’s instructions.


Your Team

Your team members are your allies on this quest.  On some missions, you may need to work alone, and on others, you will need to work together as a team to achieve your goal.  Regardless of whether you are completing an individual or group activity, your team members are always there for you.  They your first line of defense against uncertainty and doubt; if you have any questions about what to do, use your team members as a resource.  They are also your support network; they will celebrate your successes, and they will hold you accountable for contributing to the group with your listening, leadership, flexibility, and focus.  At the end of every week, each member of the team will anonymously rate another member of the team on these four teamwork skills.  If you are rated with a 5 for one of these skills two weeks in a row, you will get a Power Point for that skill.  Your goal is to build not only your personal super hero powers, but your team work super powers, as well.  After all, if you are a super hero on your own, just imagine what we can accomplish if we work together!


Evidence and Power Points

After you complete each mission, you will need to provide evidence of your accomplishments.  For each mission, this means submitting:

1. Your greatest lesson learned, and 
2. One other piece of evidence (this will depend on the mission and will be described for you within the mission's directions).

Once you submit your evidence, other Acton Academy Super Heroes can award you Power Points to you for your work based on what they feel your work demonstrates.  Every hero may give an unlimited number of power points, but each hero may only reward one power point per piece of evidence.
The Power Points that may be awarded are as follows:

• Creativity
• Curiosity
• Collaboration
• Analysis and making connections
• Problem-solving
• Beautiful work
• Initiative