JUST ANNOUNCED: See the 2012 Challenge Finalists

2010 Winners

Siemens, Discovery Education and NSTA are pleased to announce the National Elementary School Winners of the 2010 K-2 Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge!

2010 K-5 Finalists
2010 3-5 Winners

Choose A State To View Winners Team

First Place - ILLINOIS

  • Team Name Zero Waste Lunch Experts

  • Location Addison, Illinois

  • School St. Philip The Apostle School

  • Teacher/Mentor Amanda Wallace

  • Description After noticing how much garbage was created every lunch period, the Zero Waste Lunch Experts decided to focus their project on reducing the waste created during school lunches.  The students did research to figure out how convert a regular lunch into a zero waste lunch, looking at alternatives to packing food in plastic bags, like using paper placemats and napkins.  After sending home flyers and encouraging students to pack a Zero Waste Lunch, the students measured the amount of waste created on a normal lunch day and compared it to a day when the focus was on packing a Zero Waste Lunch.  They found that total waste significantly decreased and some students even had zero waste! The team plans to work with the rest of the school to pack environmentally friendly lunches and work with the community to urge citizens to reduce waste.
  • Zero Waste Lunch ExpertsView Their Proposal

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Second Place - NORTH CAROLINA

  • Team Name Hunter EcoHeroes

  • Location Raleigh, North Carolina

  • School Hunter Elementary School

  • Teacher/Mentor Smith Raynor

  • Description The Hunter EcoHeroes found out from their cafeteria manager that their cafeteria produces about a dumpster-full of trash every 2-3 days.  They decided to focus their project on reducing waste in the cafeteria and changing wasteful behavior.  In order to measure whether their strategy made an impact, students collected data before and after they implemented their waste reduction strategy.  They raised awareness of the amount of waste produced in the cafeteria by creating posters and shared strategies for reduction.  They also added additional recycling bins to help make recycling a habit in the school and asked the Principal to include something in his newsletter to parents asking them to pack recycle lunches.  From the project they realized students want to help the environment by recycling, they just need the right tools to do it!
  • Hunter Eco HeroesView Their Proposal

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Third Place - FLORIDA

  • Team Name LAA2
  • Location Lakeland, Florida

  • School Lincoln Avenue Academy

  • Teacher/Mentor Mijana Lockard

  • Description  Team LAA2 noticed that many of the faucets in their school constantly leaked and that many students were letting the water run while washing their hands.  Concerned about the effect of this on the area's water shortage, which already causes the city to institute summer water restrictions, they decided to focus their project on reducing the amount of water wasted at the school.  After testing faucets in the school, the team recorded leaky faucets and presented their data to the principal.  To research further, they distributed surveys and contacted experts.  Using posters, flyers, and a TV announcement, the team educated students on water use and conservation.  They also worked with the PTA to raise money to replace faucets that waste water and recycled runoff water by using it to water classroom gardens.  With the help of the county school office, they hope to make similar changes in other schools to help conserve water.
  • LAA2View Their Proposal

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