"I teach 8th grade math/science in the 6th most economically disadvantaged middle school in the state. Last year, no science classes went on any field trips. As a new science teacher in the building, I want to change that around and make science a positive and fun experience for all of my students. ...
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"I teach 8th grade math/science in the 6th most economically disadvantaged middle school in the state. Last year, no science classes went on any field trips. As a new science teacher in the building, I want to change that around and make science a positive and fun experience for all of my students. Most of my students have never explored the city we live in - let alone left the state! The experience I will take them on (with your support) will be educational and memorable. I have already beg and pleaded with my principal for a field trip bus so my biggest obstacle has been taken care of. Since over 85% of my students come from a economically disadvantaged household, I don't feel right charging students a fee to come on the trip. I also have never taken students on a trip like this but during the summer, I had a chance to explore the Columbia River Gorge with an amazing group of geologists. The most exciting part of the trip was when we stopped at the river and smashed some rocks. The kid came out in me and I went wild! It was so interesting to see how time has changed the rocks and the history we learned by opening up a rock. Doing so requires special chipping hammers that I'm hoping you will fund. As my principal will tell you, most of the learners at my school are highly kinesthetic; the more they move, the better they learn. If we can get a hold of such tools, then they can chip their way into history instead of reading it out of a book (many of my students come from non-English speaking homes so reading is always a battle in science class anyways). Your support of this project will give my students an 8th grade they won't forget. It's also a gift that will give forever because once we have the tools, there is no stopping me from going on this trip year after year. The students here face so many challenges in their everyday lives. With your generous donation, my hope is that they can let go from their crazy lives and live the life of a young scientist!. Thank you so much.
My students need 10 chipping hammers.
HIDE
Jan 20, 2010
Dear Diana, Patrick, Kelly, Tamara and Anonymous Donors,
Thank you all so much for donating to our field trip. Unfortunately, we did not received the rock hammers until after we went down the Columbia Gorge but rest assured that future students in this class will benefit from them! We have a courtyard inside of our school so the students were at least able to open up the packages and learn how to use the chipping hammers. The students and I want to say a special thank you to the donor who came to our classroom as a geology specialist. Because my students come from disadvantaged backgrounds, the more professionals they encounter in their lives, the better. We really learned a lot and the kids are loving the thunder eggs you donated to our school. I mentioned this before, but these students are the only students in the school who have gone on an academic field trip this year. Next year when we go on our trip down the Gorge, we will have the tools we need to chip chip chip away! Thank you so much for donating to public education. This school will benefit from your donations for a long time. With gratitude,
Ms. C.
Ms. C. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Oct 5, 2009
Dear Diana, Patrick, Kelly, Tamara and Anonymous Donors,
Thank you all so much for your donations towards our very first field trip!!! We are going to go to Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Dam, and then some embankments in the Gorge to chip chip chip away! I actually haven't told students all of the details of the trip because I wasn't sure if this project was going to get funded in time. Thanks to all of your donations, I think we'll be able to add rock hunting to the itinerary. As a teacher who teaches a math/science blend, I often find myself "squeezing" science into the curriculum. By taking a full day out to explore Oregon geology, two things will happen: 1 - the students will love me for not assigning math homework that day and 2 - I will be able to make up for lost time. Of course, I will now need to do an extra lesson on how to properly...smash a rock! Thank you so so so much!!! With gratitude,
Ms. C.
Region:
Oregon
Where is the classroom located? 
Submitted:
Sep 20, 2009
| Expires:
Feb 26, 2010
Additional Details
Level:
Grades 6-8
Teacher's funded projects:
1
Thank-you punctuality:
N/A
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Angelica G. (volunteer)
on Sep 23, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested supplies and posted this project.
Ryan G. (associate)
on Sep 23, 2009
"I donated because I want to support kids in Portland."
A donor
gave
on Oct 2, 2009
"Thank you New York for your donation. The kids are so excited to be the only students at this school going on a field trip next month!"
The teacher Ms. C.
on Oct 2, 2009
"Everyone needs a rock hammer!"
"I gave to this project because I am a strong supporter of science education. Also, rocks are cool!"
Kelly
from Oregon
gave
on Oct 3, 2009
"Thank you Kelly. I just picked up some huge basalt and granite samples from a fellow science teachers. We really appreciate your donation!"
The teacher Ms. C.
on Oct 3, 2009
"Yes, middle school students need to learn how to break rocks the proper way! We have the goggles, we have our bus, we have our field trip reports done - all we need now are those rock hammers. Thank you for your donation!"
The teacher Ms. C.
on Oct 3, 2009
"I gave to this project because Geology is my passion. If you need some rock samples, especially ThunderEggs, please let me know, I have lots of rock, and am right down the street! I'll post this to my Facebook friends, and hope they'll help as well. My wife donated yesterday."
"Patrick - I would love to chat with you about those ThunderEggs (so pretty!). Thank you so much to you and your wife for your donations. If possible, will you email me at tchan@pps.k12.or.us your contact info so we can get in touch?"
The teacher Ms. C.
on Oct 5, 2009
"Tamara- thanks for your donation - I have many students with connections to California so I'll be sure to let them CA is giving back!"
The teacher Ms. C.
on Oct 5, 2009
Project fully funded!
Happy news
on Oct 5, 2009
The teacher Ms. C.
on Oct 5, 2009
Purchased the supplies for Ms. C.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Jeana T. (staff member)
on Oct 6, 2009
The teacher Ms. C.
on Jan 20, 2010
The teacher Ms. C.
on Jan 20, 2010
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