My students need 20+ gardening supplies in order to create an interdisciplinary unit that unites general education students with students with cognitive delays in science.
Imagine having a cognitive delay, and having "regular" students stare at you. Imagine having people be afraid to communicate and interact with you. I want to break down the barriers and the stigma between "regular education" students and students with severe special needs.
They are amazing, diverse, and funny.
We are located in a public school in Southeastern Massachusetts. I teach about 100 students life science on a daily basis. I love to do hands-on activities, and so do they! Although I have some special education students in my classroom, my main goal is to work with the teacher across the hall from me and unite our students. We have been experimenting with creating interactions between the students in my class and the students in hers. We would like to reduce the stigma that students often feel towards people with Down Syndrome and other developmental disorders. We would like to work together, starting this summer during the enrichment program, to create a garden that will unite the two classes of students.
My Project
I am requesting materials from FEED USA and DonorsChoose.org to start a "friendship garden." The goals of the program include reducing the stigma surrounding students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and students with cognitive delays. It would provide a group of approximately eighteen general-education students with the opportunity to work closely with students with special-needs. In return, it would promote the development of appropriate social skills and verbal interaction between a set of peers that do not have the opportunity to interact on a regular basis.
It will be located in a central courtyard that is enclosed within the school, yet is accessible by two doors. Students will use this as both a social and educational experience. The unit will be year-long and will be multidisciplinary.
This project will hopefully help the Autistic and cognitively delayed students develop basic gardening, science, and interpersonal skills.
In return, it will help create more compassion and understanding in the general education students, as well as help them to learn science in a fun and relevant manner. This will be an amazing opportunity for both groups, as well as the adults involved!
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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 Mrs. Ventresca and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
