STEM to the Rescue Contest

• • Explanation: Create miniature models of habitats specifically designed for dogs and cats, creating fun home models or yard models emphasizing the importance of providing enriching environments for adopted animals. Can make it breed specific based on the type of dog/cat breed here at the adoption center. (Big Husky “needs” vs small Pomeranian habitat “needs”)
  • Elements: Create dog/cat home habitat models encouraging the use recycled material (card board, plastic bottles, old fabric), art supplies or any other creative materials available to them.  Can also offer information sheets with pictures explaining different elements.
  • Requirement: Submit a video of the project, create a PowerPoint, or compose a document with pictures: All must include an explanation of what they created, explain why they choose different elements and explain how It all connects to the main theme.
  • Learning Possibility: Research – Learn about specific dog breeds or cat breeds, Pet care need for each, and general adoption process. Engineering – Learning the process of creating fun models and layout design. Creation – Utilize digital tools or other Creative tools to bring it all and why their specific ideas help their specific animal breed. Awareness – Share and education others about the important of animal enrichment.

• • Explanation: Use technology with the help of their guardians to create an engaging tech-driven awareness campaign. Find a way to create something to share on social media or in specific Facebook group of their choice. Idea Ex: Student can act like a news anchor and record a fun video explaining their heartwarming story keeping it simple and creative.
  • Requirement: Submit a video of the project, a flyer idea with documentation, social media posts with documentation, or PowerPoint: All must include an explanation of what they created, explain why they choose different elements and explain how It all connects to the main theme.
  • Elements: Create a video, or design a fun post combining different design elements, or campaign idea with pictures of your choice. Ideas are not limited to this, feel free to think outside the box.
  • Learning: Research – Learn about specific dog breeds or cat breeds, Pet care, general adoption process. Digital – Develops skills in digital content creation and the importance of social media reaching out to the public and creating exciting visuals. Creation – Utilize digital tools or other Creative tools to bring it all together. Awareness – Share and education others about this adoption process and mathematically learn why some post work better than others by analyzing post engagement.

• • Explanation: Create a digital storybook or a traditional hand-created storybook. This option combines elements of technology with storytelling, making it a blend of various STEM aspects. It involves technology in the creation process and science/math in conveying information about the journey of orphaned pets. Basically, immerses readers in the heartwarming journey of orphaned pets, focusing on dogs and cats awaiting adoption or share any related story.
  • Requirement: Submit a video of the story (hand Created Stories are welcomed), create a PowerPoint digital copy, or compose a document with pictures: All must include an explanation of what they created, explain why they choose different elements and explain how It all connects to the main theme.
  • Elements: Create a story using any user-friendly software’s or creative art materials available to you. Can be fiction or non-fiction. (For 7^th and Up – Option to make a mini video story or Short Film)
  • Learning: Research – Learn about specific dog breeds or cat breeds, Pet care, general adoption process. Storyboard – Learning the process of a story, enhance their creative writing, and creating exciting visuals. Creation – Utilize digital tools or other Creative tools to bring it al together. Awareness – Share and education others about this adoption process.

• • Explanation: Develop a website or a new Social Media Page that provides information about pets available for adoption, educates users on responsible pet ownership, and highlights the efforts of non-profit organizations in animal welfare. The design and tech world are ever-changing so maybe they have a new creative out of the box idea. Free website & social media pages include WIX, Facebook, Instagram, or Tik Tok.
  • Requirement: Submit a video of the project, create a PowerPoint, or compose a document with pictures: All must include an explanation of what they created, explain why they choose different elements and explain how It all connects to the main theme.
  • Elements: Create a page, website, or design a mock up idea combining different design elements or pictures they choose. Can be created on a phone or computer, or any idea they come up with.
  • Learning: Research – Learn about specific dog breeds or cat breeds, Pet care, general adoption process. Digital – Develops skills in digital content creation and the importance of social media reaching out to the public and creating exciting visuals. Creation – Utilize digital tools or other Creative tools to bring it all together while being able to enhance writing and multimedia skills. Awareness – Share and education others about this adoption process and mathematically learn why some post work better than others by analyzing post engagement.

• • Explanation: Conduct a data analysis project that involves collecting and interpreting data related to pet adoption, highlighting trends, demographics, and adoption rates. This idea can design to be very specific or broad depending on the idea and data they choose to analyze.
  • Requirement: Submit a video of the project, create a PowerPoint, or compose a document with pictures: All must include an explanation of what they created, explain why they choose different elements, how the student interpret the data collected, and explain how It all connects to the main theme.
  • Elements: Create a document bringing together all the data they gathered. Students can gather data from local animal shelters or national databases, including information on pet demographics, adoption rates, and geographical trends. They can compare what species do better than other and why, or how too many pets are not good for a shelter, but other ideas are welcomed.  Listed below are a few sites that you can utilize:

https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/intake-and-outcome-database-iod/

https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics

https://animalcenter.org/adopt-a-pet/adoptable-dogs/

• • Learning: Research – Learn about specific dog breeds or cat breeds, Pet care, general adoption process. Analyze – Develops the ability to convey complex information to an audience. Creation – Utilize digital tools or other Creative tools to bring it all together. Awareness – Reinforces the idea that caring for pets involves more than just adopting – helping others understand that shelter pets are just as important and no different than any other pet.

• • Explanation: Create a podcast series that shares heartwarming adoption stories, discusses the importance of supporting non-profits, and provides information on responsible pet ownership. So, if the student has a podcast idea, submit an example of 1 episode showing the viewer how and what that episode would look like.
  • Requirement: Submit a video of the 1 episode: Also, must include an explanation of what they created, explain why they choose different elements and explain how It all connects to the main theme.
  • Elements: Develop a story or script that blends storytelling with scientific research geared towards the adoption theme.  Students can explore working on audio, studio/ space layout, and other design aspects based on their chosen idea. Just a few ideas; Students can talk about pet care, heartwarming adoption stories, interview volunteers, or the actual pets with fun made up dialogue.
  • Learning: Research – Learn about specific dog breeds or cat breeds, Pet care, general adoption process. Script Design – Learning the process of planning a script, enhance their creative writing, and creating exciting visuals. Creation – Utilize digital tools or other Creative tools to bring it all together. Awareness – Share and education others about this adoption process or their related theme.