Science City is expanding because of your students’ creativity

You are helping us meet our mission

• We are a scientific, educational and cultural resource for the community.

• We’re dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of science, learning and discovery.

• Our mission shines through everything we do – inspire, engage, educate and collaborate.

You are helping us extend our reachWhat We Do• We develop and deliver inquiry-

based STEM programs for children in pre-school through high school

• We advance professional development for educators

• We ignite natural curiosity and inspire students, through exhibits and programs, to continue thinking scientifically reaching for higher levels of STEM understanding

Why Burns & McDonnell plus Science City?Looking to the Future• We can inspire children to become the driving

force behind tomorrow’s science and technology

• We can increase the number of students interested in STEM education and careers

• We can develop a pipeline of skilled STEM workers, fueling the region’s economic development

Inspired by kids, designed and built by Burns & McDonnell

Picture Your BOTB Students Here

Battle of the Brains BasicsHow It Works• Students create a proposal for an outdoor Science City

exhibit focused on a single topic following the competition criteria and rubric

• 20 finalists are selected by a team of judges for public voting

• $155,000 in grant funding* for STEM education awarded to the top 20 proposals

• One entry becomes a Science City exhibit designed and built by a team of Burns McDonnell and Science City professionals AND the students

* $50,000 grant for top elementary & secondary proposals$5,000 grant for the two runners-up proposals in elementary & secondary$2,500 (fourteen grants) for honorable mention in elementary & secondary

Battle Basics continuedImportant Dates• Sign Up -- September 11• Upload Proposal and Videos -- October 21• Finalists announced -- November 6• Public Voting -- November 7-14• Awards Ceremony -- November 18

Who Can Enter• Full-time K-12 students in 18 Kansas/Missouri counties• Two divisions:

Elementary (K-6) Secondary (7-12)

• There is no limit to the number of entries a school may submit • The same teacher may lead multiple teams

Battle Basics continuedChanges from BOTB Round 2

No mobile or online exhibit element required

Exhibit is to be designed for an outside environment

Social media messaging developed

Supplemental materials are researched and listed

Video should be explanatory versus a commercial

Constructability (including safety/durability) points increased

The budget has increased to approximately $250,000

Presentation points decreased

AND the exhibit is to be designed for an outside environment

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #1

1) Put on your project manager hat Structure your students’

team to take advantage of everyone’s strengths –divide and conquer

Create a place in your room where kids can jot down ideas as they come

Develop a schedule and pay attention to the dates

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #22) Explore the resources and

updates available at http://botbkc.com/ The competition is also

about providing STEM resources to your classroom

Check out (and like) Burns & McDonnell Battle of the Brains Facebook page

Join the #BOTBKC Facebook event page

Follow #BOTBKC Twitter account

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #22) Explore the resources and updates available at http://botbkc.com/

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #33) Create the BIG IDEA The sky is the limit here -- literally

Inspiration is key – inspire your kids to be curious about the world around them when determining the Big Idea

Incorporate the Big Idea in all exhibit components

Stick with a topic your students are excited about

Encourage your students to take their idea just a little bit further

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #44) Follow the rubric – the

judges will Encourage your students to

get the maximum number of elements – check and recheck

Use the winning proposals as guides

Present the proposal in order of the rubric

Focus on STEM applications in the exhibit

Develop a visual image through SketchUp (or similar CAD program) or hand draw the ideas

Use the video to explain the exhibit process through your students’ voices

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #44) Follow the rubric – the judges will

Let the judges hear your social media messages

Science City’s footprint and fun are expanding @BOTBKC #headingoutside

Help Science City suggest age appropriate supplemental materials to educators about the exhibit (books, articles, videos, etc.)

Judges will be looking for safety and durability of the outdoor exhibit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=11&v=fGEFJaNu2NE

Proofread, proofread, proofread!

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #4

Stress safety, safety, safety in the outdoor environment

You Be the Judge• Select a partner and a playing card

• Read the proposal and find the section(s) corresponding to your playing card

• Determine how many points you would give this section(s) according to the criteria in the rubric

Creativity and

Inspiration

Interactive Exhibit

Engagement

Visual and Written

Presentation

Constructability and Student Involvement

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #55) Use your mentor and explore online resources Interact with the Burns & McDonnell professional – he or

she wants your team to succeed Assign one of your students to record any questions the

team might have for the mentor along the way Visit other museums (virtually) who have successful outside

exhibits: City Museum -- St. Louis MO

(http://www.citymuseum.org/)

SciWorks – Winston Salem NC (http://sciworks.org/visit/exhibits/outdoorsciencepark/)

Infinity Science Center (Mississippi) (http://www.visitinfinity.com/exhibits/special-exhibits/)

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #55) More online resources Exploratorium – San Francisco CA

(http://www.exploratorium.edu/publicspaces)

Pasadena Kidspace Museum http://www.kidspacemuseum.org/exhibits/physics-forest

Nobel Energy Science Park at Mada Tech - Israelhttp://madatech.co.il/pages/MenuItemPage.aspx?ContentItem=2291

NYSCI science playground (http://nysci.org/science-playground/)

Observatory Science Center (London) (http://www.the-observatory.org/outdoor-exhibits)

A roadmap to a successful BOTB proposal - #5

Any Questions?• About the rules?

• About the rubric?

• About judging?

• About anything?

Please contact Battle of the Brains botbkc@burnsmcd.com