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Dear Families,

The Young Naturalist Awards contest, from the American Museum of Natural History in New York, is an inquiry-based research competition for students in grades 7-12. This semester all students will be required to conduct independent research in the natural world and will be encouraged to submit an essay to this competition as part of their science research experience.

In conducting their research, students will make observations in the natural world, will identify a question they want to answer, and will do research to learn more about their topic. They will plan how to collect, organize and record their data. After collecting data, they will analyze their findings.. They will share their investigation and what they’ve learned in an essay that can be submitted to the Young Naturalist Awards competition. I will oversee students as they design their investigations and we will spend time on the project in class, so most of students’ questions will be answered.

We hope you will support your child and join with him or her in exploring the natural world around you. We’ve found that when families become involved the experience becomes much more enjoyable. Attached is a schedule indicating when assignments related to the research project are due. These are designed to help students learn to budget their time and stay on track so that they can produce the best research project by the contest deadline.

If you have any questions regarding this project, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,