My students need solar energy exploration kits, solar cells, and butcher paper to make posters displays documenting their project work and results.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Moore's classroom raised $287
This project is fully funded
My Students
The students in our alternative middle school come to us after having taken a big fall--they have all been long-term suspended from regular public schools for behavior infractions. Our school represents their last best hope of rediscovering school as a place they can fit in and succeed.
One best chance of turning things around for these students is to engage them in meaningful hands-on learning activities.
For me as a science teacher, that often means helping them discover how they can wrestle with 21st century issues using science processes and 21st century technology. Unfortunately, most of my teaching materials are mid- to late-20th century and significantly older than my students. That's why I'm seeking resources my students can use to explore alternative forms of energy.
My Project
With three basic solar energy kits and some additional resources, I can use the "wow-challenge" method of inquiry-based science instruction to entice my students to design and carry out their own science experiments to answer their own questions. Using this approach, students groups engage in both open- and guided-exploration of the solar energy kits and resources(the "wow" part of the process).
When they are sufficiently "wowed" with what they can do, I challenge them to come up with their own questions that can only be answered through experimentation with the materials at hand: "How many light bulbs do you think we could get this solar cell to light up at once?" "If we also use stuff in the pulleys and levers box we worked with last month, how much weight do you think we could get that solar powered motor to lift?" In order to answer these questions, the students will need to work cooperatively to design and carry out their own experiments.
The middle school students who enter our alternative program have taken a big fall; we are their safety net.
These students have not found their way in the traditional school system, and each year that passes makes it less likely they ever will. If you can help provide the materials that set these kids up for success, we can nurture that success. For many of these students this year in our program represents their last best hope of learning how to do school. Let's make it happen together.
Nearly all 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. Moore and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.