Help support Mrs. Bender's Classroom

We are trying to create an outdoor learning space to be used for science classes with the vision that the space will be utilized by the other content areas as well. We have a patch of land on school grounds selected and have secured a small amount of grant money to get the project started. We used it to purchase picnic tables to place in the space. Our next step is to begin acquiring student tools to be used in the space. Some of the fifth and sixth grade science standards focus on weather, the water cycle, the four spheres (hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere), and human impact on the environment. Purchasing equipment such as a weather station for collecting and recording weather data, hand lenses and bug boxes to explore the environment around us, and more it will allow students to interact with nature first hand and develop and explore their own questions about our world. Research shows that students learn and understand concepts better when they can experience it first hand through inquiry and investigation, so we want to create a space that fosters this type of learning. Research also shows that middle school aged children are not getting outside as often as they should. Developing this outdoor space will allow teachers of any content area to bring their students outdoors to learn. Some of the resources for the space will include dry erase graphing boards, compasses, and rulers. These are things that could be used in multiple content areas so that the art teacher could bring students out to paint and draw or the math teacher could bring students out to measure and collect data.

About my class

We are trying to create an outdoor learning space to be used for science classes with the vision that the space will be utilized by the other content areas as well. We have a patch of land on school grounds selected and have secured a small amount of grant money to get the project started. We used it to purchase picnic tables to place in the space. Our next step is to begin acquiring student tools to be used in the space. Some of the fifth and sixth grade science standards focus on weather, the water cycle, the four spheres (hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere), and human impact on the environment. Purchasing equipment such as a weather station for collecting and recording weather data, hand lenses and bug boxes to explore the environment around us, and more it will allow students to interact with nature first hand and develop and explore their own questions about our world. Research shows that students learn and understand concepts better when they can experience it first hand through inquiry and investigation, so we want to create a space that fosters this type of learning. Research also shows that middle school aged children are not getting outside as often as they should. Developing this outdoor space will allow teachers of any content area to bring their students outdoors to learn. Some of the resources for the space will include dry erase graphing boards, compasses, and rulers. These are things that could be used in multiple content areas so that the art teacher could bring students out to paint and draw or the math teacher could bring students out to measure and collect data.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Mrs. Bender's Classroom Edit display name

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Mrs. Bender's Classroom Edit display name

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.