Project Scope
CSTEM collaborates with colleges/universities, school districts, organizations, and corporations to design and develop the Shell • Schlumberger Sea Turtle Challenge annually. The collaborating partners for this project are Shell, Schlumberger, Holthouse Foundation, DOW, Texas Southern University, Writers in the Schools (WITS), the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, The Children’s Museum of Houston, Kids Money Klub and the Robot Agency. Participating schools are guided by the CSTEM Project Manual which provides clear and concise guidelines on how to complete each phase of the project. Through a series of Saturday workshop sessions leading up to the competition, teachers and students receive the support they need to find success through their participation in the challenge. All of the grade level schools receive the same project materials (i.e. robotics kits, GPS equipment, art sculptures, art supplies, and computer software, etc.) and guidelines as well as teacher and student trainings to develop components of the project.

Project Overview
CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services designed the Shell Schlumberger Sea Turtle Challenge to combine three levels of basic education into one project and maintain the organization’s objective to engage students while incorporating communication, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (CSTEM) and art. On competition day, the 2008 Sea Turtle Challenge is projected to directly impact over 900 students from 16 feeder pattern schools (53 schools) by supporting the development of high performing neighborhood schools in areas of math and science. Further, this project provides students with opportunities to see how their work affects all aspects of life, including endangered wildlife (environmental stewardship). The Feeder Pattern Project Plan aims to connect elementary, middle, and high schools by:

- Building capacity and sustainability with hands-on project-based learning in areas of CSTEM and art.
- Assisting schools with reducing achievement gaps in STEM areas.
- Developing team building skills and providing mentoring opportunities.
- Providing a venue for students to apply CSTEM and art skills as a collaborative effort to solve real-life problems.
- Providing an opportunity to learn the global impact of their work.
- Assisting schools by providing tools and resource that add value, rigor, relevance, and higher level thinking to curriculum.
- Assisting schools with developing a support network within their feeder pattern schools to develop stronger learning communities.

CSTEM will continue with its theme, “Everyone is an Artist and an Engineer”, which will educate and inspire students to not only continue learning but also make connections with the real life application of STEM and art. The students will be engaged by designing, researching, developing, and implementing their own ideas and concepts through robotics, geographical information systems (GIS), web designs, a creative writings, art sculptures and murals inspired by the work of John Biggers.