ABSTRACT Race to the Future is an exciting and dynamic activity modeled
after the reality television show The Amazing Race. It exemplifies how 21st century
skills can be incorporated into core subject instruction and at the same
time positively enhance student engagement. In this activity, students work
quickly and cooperatively with their teammates and use 21st century skills to
successfully decipher five clues related to science content. We have used this
activity with excellent results with different groups of students (middle school,
high school, and university students), for different purposes (ice-breaker, teambuilding,
course assessment, and evaluation), and in broad curriculum areas
(science and math). However, the activity is especially powerful when introduced
during the first day or week of class. The meaningful and enjoyable
student collaboration, the upbeat class environment, and the enhanced student
engagement achieved at the conclusion of this challenging activity set an
optimal teaching and learning environment for the entire quarter/semester