The 2nd-graders I teach are brimming with curiosity about the world around them. With limited resources, though, it is often difficult to channel that curiosity into understanding of scientific concepts. Students need hands-on materials to connect everyday observations to the principles of science.
I teach sixteen 2nd-grade students at an urban, Title I school in Tennessee.
Most of my students do not have the opportunity to visit museums or libraries outside of school, so engaging experiences in school are vital. My students are curious about the world around them and love to learn new things. As a whole, they especially like science (in a class poll, 9 students reported that science was their favorite subject). They also love to create evidence of their learning, through writing or through visual representations.
My Project
I selected a variety of resources to help students develop their understanding of matter, the atmosphere, and the Earth by directly engaging with the content. First, students will be able to participate in a weather unit that incorporates math and literacy. This grant will provide thermometers, a rain gauge, maps, and picture weather cards so we can conduct a class project monitoring weather conditions in our community. Students will then be able to interpret the data using graphs and summarize the data in writing.
The next part of the grant will enhance student understanding of matter and its phases, which can be one of the most challenging subjects for young students who struggle to think abstractly. Materials for experiments like a balance scale, foam, test tubes, and eyedroppers will allow students to visualize and manipulate different types of matter. Through hands-on activities, students will easily be able to compare and contrast different types and phases of matter.
Donations to this project can mean the difference between students' approaching scientific concepts with confidence and excitement and their approaching these concepts with frustration.
Hands-on learning is essential to help cement foundational scientific knowledge that students will need for the rest of their lives. Even with society's growing dependence on technology, science in the classroom is often overlooked. Help me bring science to the forefront of my 2nd-grade classroom!
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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. McAloon and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
