MIC ProjectMadison Investigates CaterpillarsJohn R. Banks, Project Director

Jbks54@gmail.com 1-601-842-9073

It is as easy as M - I - C

M – MIC page application needs to be filled out www.micproject.wikispaces.com

I - Investigate the project with mentors and peers on Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 9:00-1:00 pm at Velma Jackson High School

C - Collect and celebrate on these four dates

October 9 – 10:00 am Stem and Leaf Climbers (at designated locations)

January 22 – 10:00 am Acorns (at designated locations)

April 9 – 10:00 am Leaf Miners and Rollers (at designated locations)

May 13 – 6:00-8:00 pm Celebration Banquet at Velma Jackson High School Cafeteria

Project Overview• MIC (Madison Investigates Caterpillars) is

funded by a NSTA Toyota Tapestry Grant.❖ In their own way all caterpillars are cute and all

butterflies beautiful.

❖ Why not study them both to stimulate scientific curiosity and inquiry and to add to long-standing research on caterpillars and global warming?

❖ The Project Director’s rural students will lead a network of public school students across a mostly urban school district in this ongoing research.

•Project Overview(cont)

❖ Twenty-four teams of three students and one adult mentor will gather for a training event, be given collection supplies, and be sent forth to gather and rear out caterpillars on four different days throughout the school year (each school will recruit one team)

❖ Throughout the project the students and mentors will journal with words, pictures and videos on the project wikipage (micproject.wikispaces.com).

❖ At the conclusion of the first year there will be a celebration banquet to give awards, to highlight project successes and to plan for the next year of the project.

“What do I get out of it?

All the supplies necessary for conducting the research

A really cool T-shirt

A reference and recommendation letter from the project director

A chance to participate in national and international scientific research on global warming

An opportunity to conduct your own scientific research under the direction of leading experts in the field.

What is expected?Help your team collect and rear out caterpillars on the four collections days and subsequent weeks

Help your team collect daily precipitation and temperature readings

Design and carry-out your own scientific investigation from the possible formats on the wikipage’s “science project opportunities” page

Help with the four project teams (five students on each of the following):

Wikipage team to design and to integrate data, video, journals and more

Celebration team to plan, decorate and select awards for project participants

Project team to approve and to coordinate science project entries and deadlines

PR team to coordinate all publicity via print, television and internet venues