Do you remember playing outside in the woods and creek? I remember exploring the local river behind our neighborhood, searching for salamanders, frogs and turtles while also cleaning up the area. I want my students to have the same experiences.
These students live in rural South Carolina.
They are fun, excited and love hands-on learning. However, they are technology natives and are growing up in an era where outside is a foreign concept to them. Since the majority of my students have parents who work 45 minutes to an hour away because of closed textile mills and outsourcing of production, students are expected to go home and stay inside to entertain themselves. The time to "play outside" is being replaced with DVDs, cell phones and Wii's. I would like my students to have the opportunity to learn about playing outside before they become too "cool" to get dirty.
My Project
The 20 Water Quality Test Kits that I am requesting will allow students to complete five tests to determine the quality of the water in the creek that runs beside our school. Students will test at three locations along the creek; the top area that enters school property and has a small waterfall, the middle area that is open and exposed to sun, and the lower area that does not get as much sun. These three locations give us the perfect location to test for air and water temperature allowing us to discuss the effects this can have on plant and animal life in the areas. The three locations also allow the perfect spots for checking the turbidity of the water to determine how dirty the water is for plants to grow. Next, students will determine the pH and dissolved oxygen content of the water allowing us to discuss the process of photosynthesis and how primary productivity of plants affects the animal life in the area. Students will gain a clearer understanding of why water is important.
I hope that you will help me get students outside to experience the fun of playing in the creek as we test water quality.
Once students get opportunities to do things they normally do not get to do, they become hooked and want to continue to have these experiences. Help me hook students into playing in creeks with water quality testing.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Iacuone and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.