My students need battery holders, rulers and meter sticks.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. D.'s classroom raised $418
This project is fully funded
My Students
Learning science works better when students can use their hands. Unfortunately our school just simply lacks the funding to purchase the necessary equipment needed to run an inquiry based course.
The students are mostly from the underprivileged areas of a large city.
Unlike many of schools these days, our school has an arts focus, and many of our students intend to work in the professional arts. My background is as both a scientist and a photographer.
In order to leverage students' interest in photography and the arts I have designed a physics course that uses the pinhole camera to study the nature and behavior of light. It is just this kind of hands-on, inquiry-based course that inspires students to be successful in science.
Much of our students' experience in science is in scenarios in which the test is placed at a premium. Because this course requires them to learn everything through hands-on experiences and describe everything for themselves it is much more successful and fulfilling for them.
My Project
I intend to have the students build pinhole cameras to explore the general behavior of light and also aspects of diffraction. I also intend to use the "Physics By Inquiry" curriculum as a major portion of the course. Much of the supplies needed here are things that students will use to explore the properties of light. Many of the supplies are very straightforward.
Things like battery holders so students build their own light bulb apparatuses, and rulers and meter sticks to set up complicated experiments, are really all we need to run this portion of the course. It seems simple but bureaucratic problems and lack of funding make it very hard to get everything we need.
There aren't many experiences in the sciences that are completely inquiry based.
This course intends to be just that. Many of my students don't get this opportunity to blend their love of the arts with the precision and care of the sciences.
It really gives them an experience that can change their opinions about science. I hope to expand their vision of the arts and science with this course; we just need a little help.
This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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 Mr. D. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.