Wareham Middle School students in Janice L. Barton's Team 7A science classes won Science Scope's Mystery Photo Contest for October, and were featured in the teachers' journal for the accomplishment.

The mystery photo was... neurons!

Science Scope is the National Science Teachers Association's journal for middle and high school science teachers.

Barton's students complete a "daily challenge" at the beginning of each class. The challenge is based on the skills students are learning. Barton saw the mystery photo in the journal, and because the class has a unit on anatomy and body systems, she said: "I thought it would be fun to add a little 'real life' twist and the element of competition."

The students rose to the challenge.

"With enthusiasm, each student guessed individually, and then we discussed it in class," Barton recalled. "The majority of students in each class came up with either 'neuron' or 'nerve cell.' I sent it in, and we were all pleasantly surprised to find we had won!"

The prize? Barton and her class get to choose an item from the "NSTA Recommends" catalog. Barton says she and the students will pick a book or activity that as many students as possible can enjoy.

And, the teacher notes, "we plan to continue sending guesses in!"

Congratulations to all!

To learn about more great things happening in our schools, visit www.warehamps.org!