In Lexington, the population is very diverse in terms of ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status. Approximately 95% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch in our Title I middle school. Our district is also very small, with only one middle school and one high school.
My students have many challenges but can achieve incredible things if given the tools and support they need.
The schoolhouse is sometimes the only safe place for these children. Many of our families have been in Lexington for generations and some have told me of their concerns that their children are not able to have the same opportunities as others in surrounding areas.
I believe that my students have enormous potential to achieve and that they deserve every opportunity to do so. Engaging my students in science now can put them on the path to colleges and careers that may have seemed impossible to them before.
My Project
My students thrive with hands-on learning! While viewing media print of the microscopic world can be helpful, being able to get a new view of the world around them is invaluable.
What better way to learn about bacteria than to collect samples from around the school and see the growth happen right before their eyes?
It can be difficult for students to understand that there are living organisms that can reproduce, but they are unable to to see them with the unaided eye. Also, students are amazed to discover that bacteria (especially harmful bacteria) can grow in places that are unexpected! We will be using Petri Dishes with Agar to grow cultures from samples taken from locations of the students' choice around the school. The application of an actual scientific laboratory practice can open the world for students who would not usually be exposed to those experiences.
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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. Thomas and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
