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 wonderful school is located in South Los Angeles. We are the Los Angeles Academy Middle School Champions. My school is part of LAUSD, a Title 1 school, a program improvement 5 school, and one that faces many challenges on a daily basis. L.A. Academy, however, is on the rise. We met our growth targets for the state test scores for the first time this year and consistently work to deliver rigorous instruction using the current research. I teach 8th grade physical science and really enjoy the experience.
The content in physical science gives the students the basis to succeed in chemistry and physics. The class asks students to hypothesize, calculate, analyze, and conclude, usually in one class period. One of the struggles my students face is a lack of time, and thus, parts of important data gathering must be skipped or copied. A calculator for each student would allow my students to actually manipulate and calculate their own data and put meaning behind the numbers.
One of the specific applications deals with comparing the weight of an object and the buoyant force on an object to predict if it will sink or float. To find buoyant force using Archimedes principle students must measure weight of water displaced by multiplying density times volume times acceleration of gravity.
These multiple step calculations take time and personal experience to understand and analyze. Currently students share calculators or use paper and pen. Adding to the problem is, to get accurate results, I ask students to calculate to the thousandths place. The less time students use to write out problems or share calculators the more can be spent on analyzing, concluding and relating the data that is produced. With each student performing the calculations themselves it gives a much more personal experience to each student instead of watching a group member do the work.
Help students put meaning behind numbers, see math as a language, see the relationship between Science and Math, and most of all give them a more personal experience at school.
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. Mericle and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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