Today's teenagers have many more demands for their attention than when I was in high school. As a result, it is a challenge to make science seem real to them. I try to jazz up our lessons with interesting labs. The project I am proposing is a hands-on activity where they make slime.
My school is located in a working class neighborhood in New Jersey.
Most of the kids are juniors in high school when they take chemistry. The vast majority of my students work 3-4 days per week in order to supplement their family income. I love the toughness of spirit of our kids. They handle challenges cheerfully, and appreciate it when unexpected treats come their way.
My Project
As a way to make science relevant, I am asking for help in getting supplies for an exciting activity. The ingredients of this request Elmer's glue, polyvinyl alcohol and borax are used to produce a gooey polymer that is more commonly called slime. This hands-on activity engages many of the children's senses and is certain to motivate all of their imaginations. Their lives will be fuller because of this lab.
The two biggest hurdles that I constantly have to tackle are motivation and relevance.
Many of our kids are tired from work and need a spark in order to be engaged. They also question how some of the topics we cover are relevant to their lives. This project is a home run in both regards, and is certain to show them that science can be fun.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Feighan and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.