"In order to have a future and make a difference, the current student generation needs to appreciate and understand the importance of the marine environment to our own survival.
I teach Oceanography to 10th-12th graders, many of which have never been to the ocean and are clueless as to why we shou...
"
MORE
"In order to have a future and make a difference, the current student generation needs to appreciate and understand the importance of the marine environment to our own survival.
I teach Oceanography to 10th-12th graders, many of which have never been to the ocean and are clueless as to why we should care about it. Read about science?? Most students would say it was boring, but I want to show them how fascinating the marine realm can be and that reading can be enjoyable. They know about the movie Jaws, but not the real story behind it. They have heard about the book Moby Dick, but not the true story of the ship Essex that inspired it. Sea Turtles, Shipwrecks, and Alaskan Crab Fisherman are just some of the stories that I hope to use to get students interested in oceanography and reading. This year is the first time our county has ever offered Oceanography and I had approximately 60 students in my classes. Next year, the numbers have doubled and I will have five sections of oceanography, so the interest is growing. Our library has some reference style books and older books on oceanography, but very few books that would grab the students attention, much less that they would want to write book reports on or encourage their peers to read. The library definitely doesn't have enough books for the students to all check them out and read when given time in class. My solution is to have a library of maritime books in my classroom so that I can incorporate the reading into our class time. Since the books will stay in my classroom, I would have enough for 125 students to read during their class period. The books that I chose will add to the very small library that I started this spring and cover a large variety of topics. Students will be able to pick whichever book they want to read each semester or just for enjoyment if they complete their class assignment. Our survival on this planet is dependent upon the ocean. In order to save this wondrous environment, this generation needs to appreciate and understand it so they can make a difference after graduation. Your help will make it possible for students to realize that science and the ocean aren't just boring textbook topics, but include mystery, adventure, and discovery. Thank you for helping to save the future of our planet!
My students need a variety of 26 biographies and fiction and nonfiction books about the marine environment that include the sensational and the bizarre to encourage even the reluctant reader.
HIDE
Ms. S. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Jun 7, 2009
Dear Dan,
Thank you so much for your contribution to my classroom and my students. These books will be put to a good cause - opening the minds of our future leaders to the ocean realm and the mysteries that lie in its depth. I am hoping that the variety of books will allow all the students to find something that appeals to them and hopefully influence them positively. It will also encourage them to read which will help them in other parts of their education and life. Reading has always been my haven and way to relax, I hope they too can experience that escape from the real world. I can't wait to see which books the students like best and what sort of presentations they do for the rest of the class and I will make sure there are pictures. Some of these students are so creative and just need one thing to better influence their life. Maybe some of my students will want to become marine scientists, advocates, or environmentalists after reading some of these books. Once again, thank you so much for making this dream come true!! With gratitude,
Ms. S.
Photos coming soon!
Region:
Virginia
Where is the classroom located? 
Submitted:
Apr 07, 2009
| Expires:
Sep 13, 2009
Great news -- this project is now a reality! We ordered the materials and they were sent directly to the classroom.
| Materials |
Vendor |
Price |
# |
Total |
| Chasing Science at Sea: Racing Hurricanes, Stalking Sharks, and Living Undersea with Ocean Experts Ellen J. Prager |
Barnes and Noble |
$20.25 |
1 |
$20.25
|
| Last Great Sea: A Voyage Through the Human and Natural History of the North Pacific Ocean Terry Glavin, Foreword by Carl Safina |
Barnes and Noble |
$13.45 |
1 |
$13.45
|
| Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul Jack Canfield, Wyland, Mark Victor Hansen, With Steve Creech |
Barnes and Noble |
$13.45 |
1 |
$13.45
|
| Fascination for Fish: Adventures of an Underwater Pioneer David C. Powell, Foreword by Sylvia A. Earle |
Barnes and Noble |
$19.75 |
1 |
$19.75
|
| Dolphin Days: The Life and Times of the Spinner Dolphin Kenneth S. Norris |
Barnes and Noble |
$19.75 |
1 |
$19.75
|
| Down Time: Great Writers on Diving Ed Kittrell, Casey Kittrell (Editor), Jim Kittrell (Editor) |
Barnes and Noble |
$14.35 |
1 |
$14.35
|
| Heal the Ocean: Solutiuons for Saving Our Seas Rod Fujita, Rodney M. Fujita |
Barnes and Noble |
$15.25 |
1 |
$15.25
|
| Sea Change: A Message of the Oceans Sylvia A. Earle, Joelle Delbourgo (Editor) |
Barnes and Noble |
$12.55 |
1 |
$12.55
|
| Shark Life: True Stories about Sharks and the Sea Peter Benchley, Adapted by Karen Wojtyla |
Barnes and Noble |
$6.29 |
1 |
$6.29
|
| Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth Samantha Weinberg, Fourth Estate |
Barnes and Noble |
$12.55 |
1 |
$12.55
|
| Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs, and the Chesapeake Bay William W. Warner, John Barth, Author |
Barnes and Noble |
$13.49 |
1 |
$13.49
|
| Coming Back Alive: The True Story of the Most Harrowing Search and Rescue Mission Ever Attempted on Alaska's High Seas Spike Walker |
Barnes and Noble |
$14.35 |
1 |
$14.35
|
| Working on the Edge: Surviving in the World's Most Dangerous Profession: King Crab Fishing on Alaska's Highseas Spike Walker |
Barnes and Noble |
$14.35 |
1 |
$14.35
|
| Voyage of the Turtle: In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur Carl Safina |
Barnes and Noble |
$15.30 |
1 |
$15.30
|
| Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex Nathaniel Philbrick |
Barnes and Noble |
$7.19 |
1 |
$7.19
|
| Deep Descent: Adventure and Death Diving the Andrea Doria Kevin F. McMurray |
Barnes and Noble |
$13.50 |
1 |
$13.50
|
| Highest Tide: A Novel Jim Lynch |
Barnes and Noble |
$7.15 |
1 |
$7.15
|
| Killing Sea Richard Lewis |
Barnes and Noble |
$5.39 |
1 |
$5.39
|
| Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II Robert Kurson |
Barnes and Noble |
$7.19 |
1 |
$7.19
|
| Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World Mark Kurlansky |
Barnes and Noble |
$12.00 |
1 |
$12.00
|
| Sensuous Seas: Tales of a Marine Biologist Eugene Kaplan, Susan L. Kaplan (Illustrator), Sandy Chichester Rivkin (Illustrator) |
Barnes and Noble |
$22.45 |
1 |
$22.45
|
| Fire in the Turtle House Osha Gray Davidson |
Barnes and Noble |
$14.35 |
1 |
$14.35
|
| Grayson Lynne Cox |
Barnes and Noble |
$11.70 |
1 |
$11.70
|
| Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks Susan Casey |
Barnes and Noble |
$12.60 |
1 |
$12.60
|
| Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916 Michael Capuzzo, Mike Capuzzo |
Barnes and Noble |
$13.45 |
1 |
$13.45
|
| Maiden Voyage Tania Aebi, With Bernadette Brennan |
Barnes and Noble |
$13.45 |
1 |
$13.45
|
| |
| Vendor Shipping Charges |
$34.56 |
| State Sales Tax |
$0.00 |
| 3rd Party Payment Processing Fee |
$5.18 |
| Postage / Processing for Donor Thank-You Package |
$9.00 |
| Project Cost Excluding Donation to Support DonorsChoose.org |
$394.29 |
| Optional Donation to Support DonorsChoose.org |
$86.55 |
| Project Cost Including Donation to Support DonorsChoose.org |
$480.84 |
| Given |
-$483.41 |
| To Go |
$0.00 |
Additional Details
Level:
Grades 9-12
Teacher's funded projects:
1
Thank-you punctuality:
N/A
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Karen R. (staff member)
on Apr 7, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested books and posted this project.
John C. (associate)
on Apr 8, 2009
"The oceans are the last great frontier on our planet and having students discover, learn and come to respect their vital role in preserving this vast ecosystem is essential to better understanding how all things work.
Dan"
Dan
from New York, NY
gave
on Jun 7, 2009
Project fully funded!
Happy news
on Jun 7, 2009
"I can't thank you enough! The ocean is such a wondrous, peaceful, and amazing place. I am so happy that I can share this with my students!!!"
The teacher Ms. S.
on Jun 7, 2009
"Thank you so much. The ocean is a place of inspiration and peacefulness that has influenced my life tremendously. I can't wait to be able to share the mysteries of the sea with my classes next year!"
The teacher Ms. S.
on Jun 7, 2009
The teacher Ms. S.
on Jun 7, 2009
Purchased the books for Ms. S.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Jenni D. (staff member)
on Sep 3, 2009
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