My students need 1 3-D printer to design and create a prototype of their inventions for our annual "Invention Convention" STEM project.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Reyes's classroom raised $1,597
This project is fully funded
My Students
My students will soon begin an "Invention Convention" STEM project. Students connect their designs with science concepts they have learned throughout the year. The students always want to take it a step further by making a prototype of their design. The 3D printer will allow that to happen!
My students come to school eager to learn and with a strong desire to succeed.
They generally come from a high socio-economic background so they are not lacking in opportunity. The challenge with my students is coming up with something new and innovative to capture their attention, inspire them, and push them to the next level. My students want to know how science relates to their lives. They are teens and by the nature of their developmental level, they crave interaction and a way to fit concepts into their own experience. I find this age level to be uniquely suited to project-based learning and peer collaboration. The students are fun to be around, positive, and able to be inspired. I think the 3D printer will really hook them into the Invention Convention STEM project!
My Project
I have requested a 3D printer to enhance our department's annual "Invention Convention" project. Invention Convention is a school-wide project that all eighth grade students (over 400!) participate in. They brainstorm an idea and take it through a mock patent process. Students then use iMovie to film an infomercial for their product. During the infomercial, they must connect their invention to at least three physics concepts covered during the year. The iMovies are shared with the class and the school through our broadcasting system. I have asked students for feedback regarding their likes and dislikes about the project. The one thing students always say is, "Why don't we actually get to MAKE our invention?" Having a 3D printer will allow students to experience that final stage of completion and print out a prototype of their design.
American students rank twenty-fifth in math and seventeenth in science compared to other developed nations.
Our country needs more young people to pursue careers in math and science. If students are offered exciting, meaningful, and content-rich projects in math and sciences at a young age, they may choose to further study them in college and beyond. The "Invention Convention" project fits the bill. The addition of the 3D printer adds the spark to ignite the possibilities!
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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. Reyes and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.