Learning Standards:

PK.SCI.1 Exploring, Observing, and Describing the World: Children observe and describe observable phenomena (objects, materials, organisms, and events). This standard supports activities that require children to observe animal behaviors and habitats, helping them to understand different aspects of the natural world.

PK.SCI.3 Exploring Life Science: Children explore characteristics, behaviors, and changes in living things (plants, animals, and humans) and the environment. This includes recognizing how animals are adapted to their environments, which directly relates to studying animal adaptations.

PK.SCI.2 Exploring Physical Science: Children observe and describe the properties of objects and materials and the changes that occur. This can be interpreted to include discussing changes in animal behaviors and adaptations in response to environmental changes, thus supporting inquiry-based learning.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.2: Comprehend and confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media. This standard supports the comprehension aspect when discussing the concepts of animal adaptations and habitats during experiments and presentations.

SEL Social Awareness: Develop empathy by fostering a deeper connection and understanding of animals and their habitats. This encourages children to consider the feelings and needs of other living beings, enhancing their emotional and interpersonal skills.

Inventing For Good: Design Thinking in Community Problem Solving

Attention future community heroes! If you’ve ever imagined being like Superman, Iron Man, or the Avengers, this is your official invitation to NORY’s Hero Academy. But here’s the secret, real heroes don’t just fight villains, they help people with their everyday lives. In this academy, you’ll become a friendly community hero by spotting real problems around you, from small everyday annoyances to bigger challenges that affect others. Using engineering, team work, and the Design Thinking Process, our Inventors will take action to imagine solutions, build helpful inventions, and test their prototypes to see how they can make a bigger positive impact. After gaining their hero’s certificate, Inventors will see how tackling every problem in the community is even cooler than defeating large villains. We can’t wait to welcome you to Hero Academy, your community is counting on you!

Campers will:

• Identify real community problems by observing, listening, and thinking about how people around them feel and what might help.
  
• Invent helpful solutions using engineering materials and robotics to turn caring ideas into working prototypes.
  
• Present their robotic hero inventions as learn how to share their ideas to help others.