This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Somewhere a body is discovered...So what DO forensic scientists do? They are the people who carry out the scientific work in a criminal investigation. Getting jobs for students with strong science backgrounds is becoming more appealing, in large part due to the TV shows related to forensic science.
Our four-year comprehensive high school is the only high school in our school division that offers an International Baccalaureate program.
Our student population is approximately 2,100, 44% of whom are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Student demographics: approximately 44% black, 47% non-Hispanic white, 4% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 1% other. Granby employs 106 FT teachers for a student-teacher ratio of 20:1.
The forensic class consists primarily of college-bound juniors and seniors who have passed chemistry and geometry and are interested in pursuing STEM careers.
My Project
Because I am a floating teacher, I am requesting some easily portable lab equipment (magnifying glasses, safety glasses, and a ruler for photographing evidence) so that the students can each get hands-on experience during all investigations. Additionally, I am requesting a book of case studies to inspire the students to think and problem solve.
Our science staff has been publicly recognized by the school district for our commitment to giving students authentic experiences both in the lab and out in the field. Our philosophy is to get the students "doing science" instead of just reading about it.
Many of our students have already had encounters with law enforcement by the time they graduate. Our goal is to expose them to the science behind the law and inspire them by doing "cool" things like: crime scene documentation (sketching and photography), fingerprinting, blood spatter analysis, DNA tracking, hair and fiber analysis, analysis of bones and teeth, and mock trials featuring forensic evidence.
This project is just the beginning of outfitting our forensic lab with some of the basic tools of the trade.
Having supplies for each student in the class will ensure that all have the potential to participate equally. Many of the procedures are time consuming, so students without the tools will be spending their time off task. The more students we have involved, the better the chance that they will get hooked on science.
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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. Stewart and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.