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This teacher needs your help!

Dr. Lisy from Storrs, CT is requesting professional development through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Professional development

Creating a Mini Ecosystem (Biosphere)

I need these books to teach me about designing a mini ecosystems so I can develop a new long-term lab activity for my Biology classes.

  • $169 goal

This project expired on February 16, 2025.

This project expired on February 16, 2025.

My Project

I would like to have my students build mini ecosystems where they create an "ideal" mini environment for isopods (pill bugs). As the students consider various abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) factors, this long-term lab activity will provide a tangible, immersive experience for them to draw upon as we learn about various ecological and biological principles in our "Energy Through the Biosphere" unit. Trying to have students memorize various terms and abstract concepts is very difficult, but when they experience and touch these different components as they design their ecosystems, it provides experiential learning, which provides amazing and lasting retention of the material.

I have had very limited experiences designing these mini ecosystems, but these books will help remedy that.

From this self-education, I am confident I can design a "cool" laboratory experience for my students with supplies I already have in the classroom. I would like to work out the kinks ahead of time before engaging in this endeavor with my students. The overall goal is to make the learning fun for the students. Many have expressed an interest in these type of lab activities, and have enjoyed the hands-on learning we have done so far.

Dr. Lisy Edwin O Smith High School Grades 9-12 Storrs, CT View local requests Never Before Funded 33 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Pillbugs and Other Isopods: Cultivating Vivarium Clean-Up Crews and Feeders for Dart Frogs, Arachnids, and Insects • Amazon Business $44.78 1 $44.78
HowExpert Guide to Bioactive Terrariums for Reptiles: 101 Tips on How to Create and Maintain a Beautiful, Self-Sustaining Ecosystem and Habitat for Your Pet Reptile • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
The Little Guide to Cultivating Carnivorous Plants • Amazon Business $18.99 1 $18.99
A Family Guide to Terrariums for Kids: Imagination-inspiring Projects to Grow a World in Glass - Build a mini ecosystem! • Amazon Business $18.13 1 $18.13

Materials cost

$111.89

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$1.68

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$143.57

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$25.34

Total project goal

$168.91

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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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 Dr. Lisy and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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