When doing science in school, did you ever catch yourself thinking that it did not matter because it was not "real" science and people were not relying on your data? Our classroom has joined the efforts of GLOBE and will be learning protocols for submitting "real" data that "real" scientists will use.
My students represent countries all over the world and speak a diverse spread of languages.
These students come together to learn in an urban school surrounded by buildings and cement, but they come with a desire to be a dynamic community of energized learners who want to learn, but need to be exposed to all the world has to offer. My goal, as their middle school science teacher, is to expose them to technology, make science authentic and investigative and show them what real scientists do, while bringing as much of the natural world into my classroom as possible. By collecting data, using an exact protocol, and contributing to a scientific community, it is my hope that they will feel empowered and energized. I feel the energy that this will bring will flow into our other science studies, as well as bring relatable, hands-on experience to concepts that are very abstract in nature, such as wind speed and light.
My Project
The Sper Scientific Mini Environmental Quality Meter allows students to measure air velocity (wind speed), air and soil temperatures and light. The device allows our students to be more career and college ready because they are working with digital measurements and instruments that are up-to-date with the current trends of scientific equipment. The students will learn GLOBE data collecting protocols, which are based on "real-world" science protocols and will input their collected data into a database that is fed by schools all over the world and is used by "real" scientists.
I have said "real" in quotations throughout my writing because right now I struggle with getting my students to believe they are real scientists.
The students do not see an authentic purpose for their scientific thinking and labs. This project will help bring the world outside of the classroom into our classroom and will give them a purpose and a sense of importance. By empowering my students as scientists, it is my hope that their enthusiasm will grow their thinking and interest in 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 Ms. Makowsky and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.