A Field Trip to the American Museum Of Natural History
The cost of sending 32 students and three chaperones to the American Museum of Natural History is $197, including <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
Our school, P.S. 50Q, is located in Jamaica, Queens, NYC approximately 13 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Last year my fifth grade class read a picture book about Coney Island and looked at our relationship to the borough of Brooklyn and discussed the location of Coney Island. We talked about bodies of water and identified them on a map and a globe as part of our Social Studies curriculum. Although I did not take a survey of my students last year, I am hoping that most of the students I will have in several weeks had the opportunity to spend time at the beach with their families over the summer due to the fact that we will be learning about the ocean this year in science. However I'm certain that my students have not looked at the ocean in the way that “Living Sea,” an Academy Award nominated IMAX film does. The description reads as follows “Experience the power of the world's oceans and their importance to life on Earth that examines our relationship with the complex and fragile ocean environment. On a journey both above and below the surface of the water, viewers come face to face with humpback whales, life-size on the giant screen; enjoy spectacular footage from the Pacific islands of Palau; take a breathtaking dive through millions of jellyfish; surf thundering waves in Hawaii, and more.”
This is a valuable experience I want to offer my 5th grade students in the upcoming school year 2005-2006. A field trip to the American Museum of Natural History, the “Living Sea” and the Hall of Ocean Life will be an adventure for my 5th grade students and has a myriad of benefits not only in the area of science.
First of all seeing the film and visiting the museum satisfies the 5th grade science instruction. “Science instruction for students in Grades 5-8 is based on the New York State Intermediate Science Core Curriculum (Grades 5-8) and the New York City New Standards™ Performance Standards for Science (Middle School Level). According to the NYC Department of Education, at the end of fifth grade students are expected to know the following about life sciences:
1) Understand how various factors can affect the life spans and life cycles of various organisms such as the effect of acid rain on plants.
2) Describe how organisms and the environment are dependent on one another.
3) Observe and explain how adaptation, interdependence and environmental change give a survival advantage to certain organisms, as when, for example, dark moths become more prevalent when soot has darkened the trees.
4) Begin to understand that ecosystems are made up of populations of producers (plants), consumers (animals such as rabbits and lions) and decomposers (organisms such as worms that recycle decaying plants and animals).
As a result of the field trip we, as a class, can also use the “four traits of science inquiry” with a follow-up activity. These include (connecting) what we have learned from the visit to the museum and come up with a question to investigate further based on an ocean phenomena. We can then (design) a method for collecting data to answer our questions about ocean events. The students can then (investigate) by using their inquiry skills and collecting, organizing, and displaying data and then (construct meaning) by analyzing the data.
Last year I arranged three field trips for my students because in my opinion hands-on experience is the best education due to students learning by doing and internalizing information immediately. In addition it also does the following:
1) “Gives them the opportunity to think as scientists-to ask a testable question about the world they have experienced, to generate quality data, to evaluate these data and use them to answer the question they have posed. There are four phases to an inquiry investigation.”
2) Allows students to use their "National Geographic Explorer Pathfinder Magazine" to further investigate and make connections about ocean life and other related topics.
3) Gives them a chance to use their note taking skills in order to complete their KWL chart.
(Before going to the museum they will fill out what they know and what they want to know about the ocean environment. When they return from the museum they can fill out what they have learned on their trip.)
4) Gives the students a chance to demonstrate how they can act responsibly as a class traveling to, in and from a public place.
5) Gives students the opportunity to express their thanks by writing notes to the docents in the museum.
6) Gives students a chance to make self to environment connections and develop ways to improve the quality of their classroom, neighborhood, community and world and realize that they can make a difference.
7) Investigate career opportunities.
On the NYC Department of Education's website it tells about the important role of parents and caregivers in their child's education. It states it's "important to let your child know you value education and that you believe he or she can succeed in school.” It goes on to give ideas on how to help children get the most out of his or her school experience: “Extend your child's knowledge by visiting New York City museums, planetariums, cultural fairs, art galleries, historical sites, environmental centers and other institutions.”
By funding this proposal you are not only fulfilling the requirements for 5th grade science instruction, you are also becoming an important person in our classroom and in a sense you are fulfilling the role described above. The fact that the students will be receiving a gift from those of you who are interested in seeing my students excel as a result of your contribution will be highlighted in the classroom. I am incorporating a service-learning project into the upcoming school year's curriculum. As we are learning about how to serve the community your valuable contribution will be acknowledged as your part in serving our classroom. You are actually modeling what we will be learning how to do. This is a wonderful learning experience.
Thank you again for your involvement. You can make a difference and we are grateful for your contribution!
American Museum of Natural History
(Admission to the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Living Sea&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; and IMAX Academy Award Winning Film and admission to the museum)
32 students and 3 chaperones
$140.00
Trip cost
$140.00
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
3rd party payment processing fee
Fulfillment labor & materials
Total project cost
$160.93
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$35.33
Total project goal
$196.26
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$196.26
1 Donor
-$185.07
Donations toward project cost
-$161.00
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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 Mrs. D. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.