We are "THE RAT LAB" an innovative, hands-on, interactive, departmentalized, fourth-grade classroom, exposing a total of 90 students, ninety minutes daily, to either Social Studies (Civics & History) or to various areas of the Sciences or Health topics.
"The Rat Lab" is part of the largest elementary in our rural county, nestled at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains.
Our school educates and impacts the lives of over five hundred (500) students, on a daily basis, 180 days a year. Approximately, 80% or higher, of our students are classified in the low socio-economic class.
Currently, we are facing the effects of the Covid and Drug Epidemic leaving in their wake the innocent victims, our students. The decline in the coal industry has created a ripple effect on the future occupations in our great mountain home.
We strive to provide our students with a brighter educational future, despite the obstacles in their daily lives. Many of our parents are dedicated, loving, and strive to provide their children with opportunities, to make their futures more promising. It is our responsibility as educators and as human beings to meet the emotional/physical/educational needs of all.
My Project
You know how messy kids can be. Can you imagine 90 kids a day, for 90 minutes, each creating their very own forms of messes? Well, I live and enjoy this reality everyday in The Rat Lab. This is where hands on investigations, into the worlds of Science and Social Studies takes place. Children learn through doing, so I allow them to learn through the creative processes of creating and experimenting with all forms of matter.
The daily Rat Labs consist of investigations involving water, ice, mud, clay, plaster, soil, rocks, plants, animals, and any other type of messy scientific material you can imagine!
We make messes, but we learn and clean as we go, A child learns better through actually experiencing the process, through hands on investigations, rather than just a teacher describing it to them.
I strive to give this to my students, on a daily basis, but it is a challenge...KEEPING THINGS CLEAN. Each class is back to back, three times daily, so we must clean up and prepare for the next group. within a 5 minute window. this can be a challenge, but we are successful.
The smiles, giggles , comments, and the learning, that comes from each and every student makes it worth ... ALL THE MESS.
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 Mrs. Collins' Rat Lab and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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