With more and more emphasis put on standardized test scores, students often must read about science instead of experiencing it. I want my students to learn to think as scientists do and question what they see and hear. Wearing lab coats will give the message that exploration is important work.
The majority of my students come from a middle class background.
In most families, both parents work and put an emphasis on education. The students come with a wealth of background knowledge. They are curious about their world and never stop asking questions. Our school is 90 years old and sits on the bank of a large river. The river provides many opportunities for scientific investigation.
My Project
Young children have a great ability to become immersed in their make believe play. My hope is that after learning about the scientific process and how scientists think, wearing a lab coat will turn my students into real scientists. The lab coats will remind students that they are doing important work and they must follow the same steps and processes that scientists do.
There have been numerous articles recently stating that students in the United States are falling behind students in other countries in science and math.
If my project is funded, I believe I will have a room full of students that will be interested in science for the rest of their lives. Hopefully, they will share their interests with their family so that our entire community will begin to think as scientists do. What an impact all those "scientists" could have on our world.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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