My students need help with the cost of transportation to and from Dr. Davies' Farm, as well as the price of a 4-quart bag to pick their own apples in the orchard.
Growing up in the city, I was amazed the first time my class ventured on a class trip to a farm. Seeing fruits and vegetables ripe in the field or on the vine gave me a greater understanding of where food comes from, and a greater appreciation of nature. I want to share this with my urban students.
My students come from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and there are many that would otherwise not have the opportunity to experience venturing out of the city to a rural area, learning fist-hand how apples and other fruit are grown and harvested, and picking their own fruit.
During our apple-study, students will develop reading comprehension skills, both in fictional and non-fiction stories, will write their observations, begin to make the connection between their depictions of a plant's life cycle and an actual fruit, and use mathematical skills such as sorting, adding, and problem-solving, while engaging in fun activities as they learn in a welcoming school environment that encourages non-traditional and project-based learning to bridge cultural, language, and socio-economic gaps. My students are from the inner-city, and would benefit by participating in this kind of trip.
My Project
When students participate in the apple-picking and hay-ride experiences, it will lend itself to students' expression, in pictures and in writing, about their individual experiences. They can begin to make connections with characters in books we read together. They will return to the classroom with the apples, which they can sample, compare likes/dislikes in terms of taste, chart these responses, then cut open apples and plant the seeds, documenting the seedlings growth and development. In terms of art, students can create apple prints and carved apple dolls. They can also be introduced to the idea of fractions and measurement as part of an apple-sauce-making activity.
Having taught inner-city students from a variety of cultures and backgrounds for many years, it was impressed upon me very early on that for students to develop as active, well-rounded learners, full of eagerness to apply what they have learned, it is a necessity to provide them with as many real-life experiences as possible.
Each and every donation will help to ensure that every kindergartner has an equal chance to explore their world and come away from this experience richer in many ways.
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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 Ms. Rogosin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
