| Pin Oak Middle School Dissertation |
Regional and National Winners
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Among our many regional and national winners are the following groups . . . .
The Metro Boys
Concerned about their friends and themselves missing the public transportation or the buses stopping at stations where no one would get on, this team
designed, built and presented to the Metro board [Houston public transportation] a buzzer that would be mounted at bus stops that people could push
notifying the driver to stop and wait for passengers.
Don’t Push Me
Seeing that school-sponsored drug prevention programs were being made fun of and ineffective, this team decided to create a peer to peer concentration
game where upper class students would go into the lower grades advocacy classes, play the games, and teach about drug prevention in a fun way and
run the program them selves.
Live off the Land
Worried that outdoor skills were being lost by kids that have always lived in the city, this team created a symposium where 15 presenters ranging from
outdoor supply companies and the Texas Parks and Wildlife to the Boy Scouts presented information to participants and encouraged students and
parents to get outside together.
Fleet of Foot
After seeing the world trade center destruction and concerned about how fatiguing it must be for firemen to climb stairs in high rise buildings, this team,
working with local fire departments and structural engineers designed a prototype pneumonic powered leg.
Stop the Pain
Concerned about the high incidence of suicide among teen aged girls, this team
Created a guest speaker series and a video website where students and parents could learn about the issues effecting teens and their possible
solutions.
Bridging the Gap
After learning in history class about the high number of preventable deaths among children in Africa this team created a partnership with local
organizations, raised money to purchase 1000 immunizations, and then arranged for the delivery of the immunizations to two South African villages.
Super Sports Squad
After seeing how the special needs children acted in gym and concerned that they couldn’t play sports , this team created and implemented a program
to teach students with special needs basic sports skills and developed a curriculum to be used by teachers throughout the district.
Where the sidewalk ends
Having to face sheer death every day on the way home from school because they were forced to walk one long stretch of road by the school this team
worked with the neighborhood , city council and the public works department to put a side walk in running the entire length of Glenmont.
Buzz Off
Concerned about the high incidence of West Nile Virus, this team working with the health department and local companies created a program to reduce
the amount of West Nile infections in the homeless and elderly.
Water Under the Bridge
After seeing flooding in the city , and watching the news with pictures of flooded cars , this team decided get rid of the antiquated system of depth
sticks at underpasses and design and build an electronic warning system wired to signal lights that would warn drivers of impending deep water
Take a Hike
After attending a lecture by author Richard Louv, this team decided to create a program where families could take a different hike a week and working
with local parks and state parks system they created a program where families could complete a passport having stamps at each location to win prizes
Gone with the Wind
After seeing the destruction of hurricane Ike on the roofs of Houston and Galveston, this team designed and constructed a model roof that they tested in
a series of wind experiments to find the optimal angle for roof designs to survive hurricanes.
Picture this
Worried about the environment, this team created and ran an environmental film festival for students from all over the country to enter their own film
about an environmental issue, and then ran break out sessions to encourage an exchange of ideas between adults and kids.
Smiles are forever
Concerned about children with cleft lips and how their parents and peers feel, this team working with surgeons and clinics in the Houston area created
an informational video for parents to learn about cleft lips and what options they have to fix them.
Exhausted? We are.
Concerned about the schools sports field being so close to the freeway and the high amount of exhaust fumes the students were exposed to, this team
working with University, State, and local officials conducted tests over a three week period and then implemented a plan of action to reduce exposure by
the students.
Stay’n Alive
Wanting to help develop our schools outdoor study are, this team researched and developed a proposal to construct a cistern in our outdoor
environmental study area to conserve water, and to develop a water wise curriculum pilot program for other schools to follow.
Cross Walkers
After seeing numerous pedestrian and automobile near misses in front of the school, this team decided to create, with city and district officials a barrier
and traffic corridor to funnel pedestrians into a safer entrance.
The Metro Boys
Concerned about their friends and themselves missing the public transportation or the buses stopping at stations where no one would get on, this team
designed, built and presented to the Metro board [Houston public transportation] a buzzer that would be mounted at bus stops that people could push
notifying the driver to stop and wait for passengers.
Don’t Push Me
Seeing that school-sponsored drug prevention programs were being made fun of and ineffective, this team decided to create a peer to peer concentration
game where upper class students would go into the lower grades advocacy classes, play the games, and teach about drug prevention in a fun way and
run the program them selves.
Live off the Land
Worried that outdoor skills were being lost by kids that have always lived in the city, this team created a symposium where 15 presenters ranging from
outdoor supply companies and the Texas Parks and Wildlife to the Boy Scouts presented information to participants and encouraged students and
parents to get outside together.
Fleet of Foot
After seeing the world trade center destruction and concerned about how fatiguing it must be for firemen to climb stairs in high rise buildings, this team,
working with local fire departments and structural engineers designed a prototype pneumonic powered leg.
Stop the Pain
Concerned about the high incidence of suicide among teen aged girls, this team
Created a guest speaker series and a video website where students and parents could learn about the issues effecting teens and their possible
solutions.
Bridging the Gap
After learning in history class about the high number of preventable deaths among children in Africa this team created a partnership with local
organizations, raised money to purchase 1000 immunizations, and then arranged for the delivery of the immunizations to two South African villages.
Super Sports Squad
After seeing how the special needs children acted in gym and concerned that they couldn’t play sports , this team created and implemented a program
to teach students with special needs basic sports skills and developed a curriculum to be used by teachers throughout the district.
Where the sidewalk ends
Having to face sheer death every day on the way home from school because they were forced to walk one long stretch of road by the school this team
worked with the neighborhood , city council and the public works department to put a side walk in running the entire length of Glenmont.
Buzz Off
Concerned about the high incidence of West Nile Virus, this team working with the health department and local companies created a program to reduce
the amount of West Nile infections in the homeless and elderly.
Water Under the Bridge
After seeing flooding in the city , and watching the news with pictures of flooded cars , this team decided get rid of the antiquated system of depth
sticks at underpasses and design and build an electronic warning system wired to signal lights that would warn drivers of impending deep water
Take a Hike
After attending a lecture by author Richard Louv, this team decided to create a program where families could take a different hike a week and working
with local parks and state parks system they created a program where families could complete a passport having stamps at each location to win prizes
Gone with the Wind
After seeing the destruction of hurricane Ike on the roofs of Houston and Galveston, this team designed and constructed a model roof that they tested in
a series of wind experiments to find the optimal angle for roof designs to survive hurricanes.
Picture this
Worried about the environment, this team created and ran an environmental film festival for students from all over the country to enter their own film
about an environmental issue, and then ran break out sessions to encourage an exchange of ideas between adults and kids.
Smiles are forever
Concerned about children with cleft lips and how their parents and peers feel, this team working with surgeons and clinics in the Houston area created
an informational video for parents to learn about cleft lips and what options they have to fix them.
Exhausted? We are.
Concerned about the schools sports field being so close to the freeway and the high amount of exhaust fumes the students were exposed to, this team
working with University, State, and local officials conducted tests over a three week period and then implemented a plan of action to reduce exposure by
the students.
Stay’n Alive
Wanting to help develop our schools outdoor study are, this team researched and developed a proposal to construct a cistern in our outdoor
environmental study area to conserve water, and to develop a water wise curriculum pilot program for other schools to follow.
Cross Walkers
After seeing numerous pedestrian and automobile near misses in front of the school, this team decided to create, with city and district officials a barrier
and traffic corridor to funnel pedestrians into a safer entrance.