"I teach 6th grade science in a rural middle school. My students have great attitudes and a genuine interest in learning new things. Their faces just beam whenever they walk into my classroom and see materials laid out for a science experiment.
We will soon be studying interactions between living t...
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"I teach 6th grade science in a rural middle school. My students have great attitudes and a genuine interest in learning new things. Their faces just beam whenever they walk into my classroom and see materials laid out for a science experiment.
We will soon be studying interactions between living things and their environments. This is always an interesting topic for students. It is fun to read or watch videos about, but it is much better to witness first hand.
I would like to have students create a small aquatic ecosystem, similar to the interactions that take place in a pond. Each group of 3-4 students will begin with an empty plastic 1/2 gallon aquarium. We will add layers of sand and pebbles to the bottoms of the containers, and then plant aquatic plants in them. Then we will add guppies (from the classroom aquarium), and pond snails. By observing these tiny ecosystems, students will learn how plants and animals trade essential nutrients and are able to live in balance with each other. They will witness first-hand the interactions between producers, consumers, and decomposers. Students will keep journals in which they record the water temperature, pH, alkalinity, and other indicators of water quality on a weekly basis.
What I'm asking for is plastic containers, sand, pebbles, and aquatic plants and snails. We will supply the guppies and eager students.
By choosing to fund this proposal, you are helping my students learn more about how organisms are able to share our environment and benefit from each others existence. It's not just a biology lesson, it's also a lesson about our own coexistence with the many other parts of the environment, and our responsibility to keep it in balance.
My students need 32 1/2 gallon aquariums, sand, gravel, water quality testing supplies and water treatment chemicals, aquatic plants and pond snails.
See Mrs. K.'s class participating in this project!
(Enlarge photos)
Nov 21, 2009
Dear Hoppy, John, Devin, Fred, paul and Anonymous Donors,
Thank you once again for providing such a wonderful learning experience for my students. We have just completed our study of the model ecosystems that student groups constructed, and it has been a very successful project. After making sure the water was safe, and adding the living organisms to the aquariums, the original plan was to check in on them and record data weekly. The students loved them so much that I ended up letting them keep their fish on their tables while they were doing other assignments, too.
The ecosystems were in a great balance between plants, fish, and snails. Most of the tanks ended up with many more fish than they started with - we saw that the guppies are big on reproduction! We only had a couple of health issues out of the entire group of ecosystems. (I imagine that students who wanted to put their hands in the water contributed to those - which was another important lesson to learn.)
After the project was complete, students who brought in signed permission from their parents were entered into a drawing whose winners got to take home an ecosystem. I hear about how the fish are doing on a daily basis from enthusiastic aquarium owners. This is definitely an experience that my students won't soon forget!
Although I knew that this would be a great learning opportunity, I could not have done this on my own, nor did I really imagine how much of an impact it would make on my students. Thank you for making this possible.
With gratitude, Mrs. K.
Mrs. K. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Sep 11, 2009
Dear Hoppy, John, Devin, Fred, paul and Anonymous Donors,
All of you have been so great to contribute to this project. I can tell that you are passionate about aquatic plants and animals, and I think it's wonderful that you want to share that with my students. I just know that some of them will grow up to be enthusiasts of aquarium care.
This project will be a great lesson on maintaining a balance between organisms in nature. We have been learning about the roles producers, consumers, and decomposers and the abiotic factors such as water, temperature, sunlight, and nutrients that living things depend on. We've just begun studying biomes, both land and aquatic ones. Then we will go on to study population changes and how humans affect the environment. By the time the materials arrive, the timing will be perfect to pull together everything that has been learned in our ecology unit.
This is a learning experience that I would not be able to provide on my own. My students are going to love doing this project and will remember the lessons learned from it much longer than just reading or hearing about them. I will definitely take lots of pictures to share and also visit your forum.
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Heidi F. (volunteer)
on Jul 28, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested supplies and posted this project.
Ryan G. (associate)
on Jul 29, 2009
"An internet forum, The Planted Tank.net, has donated to a number of projects here, so we want to continue that activity for another year. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lounge/91531-lets-make-difference-our-schools.html#post889203 We do this largely because we all feel so great when we do it!"
Hoppy
from California
gave
on Aug 8, 2009
"Thanks so much for your donation! It's donors like you that make it possible for teachers to provide high-interest educational opportunities for our students."
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 8, 2009
"I gave to this project because...I'm a member Of the Planted Tank Web site.
www.plantedtank.net
A member suggested we give back to the community and help others have the ability to enjoy this hobby! Good luck with your new project.
"
A donor
gave
on Aug 9, 2009
"I gave to this project because PlantedTank.Net has helped me learn so much about aquatic gardening and fishkeeping. I would like to pay my experiences forward to children who may learn and develop around something as interesting as this."
Devin
from Knoxville, TN
gave
on Aug 10, 2009
"I am so thrilled to be this much closer to having this project become a reality. Thank you both for sharing your love of aquatic plants and animals and for spreading the word about this proposal."
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 11, 2009
A donor
gave
on Aug 16, 2009
"Thank you so very much! I can't wait until my students can carry out this project. They will learn so much, and have fun doing it. You've helped get us closer to the goal!"
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 16, 2009
"I gave to this project because of plantedtank.net i've learned so much there and hoppy inspired me"
paul
from South Carolina
gave
on Aug 17, 2009
"I'm matching Paul's contribution, to try to encourage more people to donate. We are going to get this project funded, one way or another."
Hoppy
from California
gave
on Aug 17, 2009
"I gave to this project because I belong to the plantedtank.net site and we are donating to projects to help promote the aquatic hobby of fish and plants."
John
from Cape Coral, FL
gave
on Aug 17, 2009
"I gave to this project because it was brought to my attention on ThePlantedTank.com Here is the link
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lounge/91531-lets-make-difference-our-schools.html
This a a planted tank internet forum that is free. It would be neat for you to post pxs of your project. We would all love to see it and help in any way we can. :D"
A donor
gave
on Aug 18, 2009
"All of you are amazing. I was looking at the website and I think it could be a good resource for us to use in class. I'll definitely post pictures of the project in action. Thanks so much for everything you guys are doing!"
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 18, 2009
A donor
gave
on Aug 21, 2009
"I gave to this project because of plantedtank.net i've learned so much there and hoppy inspired me"
paul
from South Carolina
gave
on Aug 21, 2009
"This is so great! I've had several proposals funded on DonorsChoose, but I've never had one receive so much attention. Thanks so very much for your generosity!"
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 21, 2009
"I'm donating again because I have this feeling that if we can get this past the 50% mark, some angel will step in and finish it for us."
Hoppy
from California
gave
on Aug 22, 2009
"I hope you're right. Thanks again for donating and for getting the word out about this project!"
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 22, 2009
"A member of the plantedtank website named Hoppy brought up this wonderful idea to fund your project. I hope you have your project funded shortly. The children are lucky to have a teacher like yourself."
A donor
gave
on Aug 22, 2009
"What's really fortunate is that there are generous donors such as yourself out there. I just came up with the idea, but all of you are the ones making it possible!"
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 23, 2009
"As a member of the plantedtank website, a group of us have stepped up to fund your cause. I will continue to give each paycheck until your classroom project is completely funded. Please feel free to look us up if you have any questions in the future on plants in the aquarium!
Good luck!"
A donor
gave
on Aug 31, 2009
"I'm donating again because we can get some momentum going, with two donations in one day. Less than $200 to go now!"
Hoppy
from California
gave
in support of North Carolina
on Aug 31, 2009
"Thanks again so very much! We're more than halfway there!"
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 31, 2009
"I learned of this project from Hoppy at plantedtank.net. I attended NC public schools and I'm so excited to open a child's imagination to the fascinating underwater world! "
Fred
from Greensboro, NC
gave
in support of North Carolina
on Aug 31, 2009
"Thank you so much. I can hardly wait until this project is fully funded. You are helping to make a lasting impression in these students' lives."
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Aug 31, 2009
"I received an account credit when another project I was supporting failed to be fulfilled. This is a good place to shift that donation to."
Hoppy
from California
gave
on Sep 2, 2009
"Thanks again! You are so wonderful for continuing to contribute and spread the word to others about this project!"
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Sep 2, 2009
"It's payday! And I couldn't think of a better thing to do with my money than help fund your cause. Good luck with your project funding and be sure to visit us at the plantedtank if you need help. :)"
A donor
gave
in support of North Carolina
on Sep 8, 2009
"Thanks for all of your help. I appreciate not only the donations, but also that you are so dedicated to seeing this project be successful. I will definitely be looking to you for advice."
The teacher Mrs. K.
on Sep 9, 2009
"I couldn't stand thinking about this project not happening this year! Thank Hoppy at the plantedtank for bringing this great idea to our attention. Take care and be sure to visit us anytime. :)"
A donor
gave
in honor of Hoppy
in support of North Carolina
on Sep 11, 2009
Project fully funded!
Happy news
on Sep 11, 2009
"You don't know how excited I am right now! All of you are wonderful!"
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Heidi F. (volunteer)
on Jul 28, 2009
