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
My 168 - 7th grade Chicago Public School science students include 1st and 2nd grade level readers, English Language Learners, at-grade-level and Comprehensive Gifted Program students. The majority (91%) of my students come from low income families and a growing number (41.7%) are from Limited English speaking homes.
My students crave opportunity for learning experiences that transport them beyond the classroom and their current environments to places that fill them with wonder, and allow them to see and connect with the world around them.
My students' favorite and, not surprising, most successful learning experiences include using microscopes and collecting data about living organisms. I want to inspire my students by providing opportunity in utilizing research and data collection as a key tool to thoughtfully discuss impacts of and finding solutions for current life science issues. Issues that are important to my students include topics of Climate Change (dying of Great Barrier Reef), community health (lead in tap water) and community service projects (school/community garden).
My Project
My 7th grade students' learning abilities span first grade reading and math levels to late high school. It's a challenge for my students to experience grade level content in a shared and meaningful way. My goal is for students to use Google Expeditions and virtual reality cardboard to have shared, yet highly personal learning and lifetime impact science experiences.
Virtual reality cardboard will allow my students to transport to and observe the wonder of the diversity of life within the Great Barrier Reef and compare before and after evidence of the effects of Climate Change.
My students will also collect data while viewing 3-D evidence of human evolution, explore the Galapagos Islands underwater and visit the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid.
In using the VR cardboard to experience 3-D Google Expeditions, lessons will begin as "field experiences" with students collecting, recording and reporting data; using the information to enhance understanding of current issues in science and propose and enact local solutions. Before year's end, small student groups take the lead in guiding their peers in student designed expeditions in collecting data and planning solutions.
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
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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. Galassini and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
