My students need a Sunspotter to be able to safely monitor the sunspot activity on the Sun in order to participate in NASA's Student Observation Network (S.O.N.).
My students are fascinated with our solar system, and the wondrous marvels of the night sky. That is one reason I started an astronomy club at our school. The problem we face, however, is that we can't even look at the most important object in our solar system: the sun. That's why we need your help.
Our school is located in rural Alabama right across the street from a cotton field.
My students come from all walks of life. Like many schools across America, some come from middle class families while others come from unimaginable poverty. Some of our students came to our community after their homes where destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Many of our students have parents who are in the military. They are curious, inquisitive, creative, and inspiring children. I honestly believe that I learn more from them than they will ever learn from me. We work hard in my classroom to be kind and compassionate towards each other. The students have a great sense of pride for their school and their community. Before last year we were part of another elementary school that was so overcrowded all of the 4th and 5th grade classrooms were in portable buildings that had been built in the 1970's. The community fought hard to get a new school, and now we are happy to say that we are in a brand new building.
My Project
The wonderful thing about the equipment we are requesting (the sunspotter) is that it allows the students to see a vivid image of the sun without the risk of damaging their eyes. It will also allow them to do several different projects at once. First, they will be able to study the surface of the sun on a daily basis, and track the number of sun spots they see. This data will be recorded in a computer database, as well as displayed graphically in the school hallway for all students to see. Secondly, the students will be able to participate in NASA's Sunspotters network. They will be able to share their findings with other schools that are in the network, as well as compare their data to images captured by SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory). This equipment will also be a gateway for students to learn about solar flares, coronal ejections, and the impact they have on Earth. This single piece of equipment will have projects that include science, math, technology, and communication.
Our school faces an interesting challenge in that we do not receive any federal funding.
Any money we receive for equipment, supplies, field trips, even copy paper, has to come from our PTA, grants, community donations, fund raising, or teachers' pockets. Our country is in dire need of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Getting students excited about these fields at an early age is key to filling that need. This one piece of equipment would be a significant tool in our effort to inspire.
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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 Mr. Gaston and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.