My students need PCR beads so we can do experiments with DNA.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Wolf's classroom raised $834
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
Imagine living in a foreign country you have never been to and where you do not know the language. Without language, it would be pretty difficult to get around or even make friends. Now imagine that you are 14 years old and must graduate high school in this country. This is what my students face.
My high school students are all recent immigrants to the United States.
As a group, they all have a common mission: to learn English while completing the same high school requirements as native English speakers. To overcome this daunting task, we use a collaborative, project-based, interdisciplinary, and content-rich environment in all classes. In my science class, I use a hands-on activities approach to encourage the use of English in all of its forms - reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Even a student with no English carries education and experiences with them. My projects are designed so students can express who they are and practice their new language with peers. In this system, students who come to me with no English are able to get full scholarships to universities and colleges here in America to pursue their own American Dream. More and more, we are partnering with colleges and other institutions to make real contributions to science.
My Project
Thankfully, through the generosity of DonorsChoose.org, local universities, and museums, we have the capacity to do real DNA experiments. Most recently, students have extracted and studied their own DNA for the same markers as the FBI forensic labs, and we are participating in the new science of DNA barcoding to identify living things in our neighborhood parks and supermarkets. To continue doing these experiments, we require the chemical reagents for copying the sequences of DNA we seek. These PCR beads only cost about $1.50 per reaction, but are out of reach of our shrinking budgets when multiplied by hundreds of students doing 2-3 tests each. We will use them for multiple projects this next year such as studying the myth of race in our genes and identifying potentially endangered species in our supermarkets.
Being able to make many copies of a sample of DNA is a critical step to many experiments.
The barcode project gives students the opportunity to participate in authentic research in collaboration with the scientific community. They will develop hands-on skills that until recently were not taught until the university level. In the process you'll help young people develop a personal relationship with science, and build a strong context for language learning. Please help if you can!
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
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 Mr. Wolf and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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