Help me give my students a memorable hands-on science learning experience from their own homes with owl pellets, safety glasses, and spray bottles.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Minas's classroom raised $297
This project is fully funded
My Students
Distance learning has, unsurprisingly, been a challenge for teachers all across the world during this unprecedented pandemic. We left our physical school on Friday, March 13, and launched our online learning the following Monday. Our school is a Title I elementary school that serves nearly 400 students, with 55% of our students coming from low-income backgrounds.
My resilient, hardworking fifth graders have risen to the challenges of distance learning and have quickly and skillfully adapted to these difficult circumstances.
They continue to push themselves academically across all content areas to continue their growth and set themselves up for success as they transition to new middle schools next year.
Our fifth graders will begin their final year of elementary school participating in remote learning. Each year, the first six weeks are dedicated to building community and relationships among students. Distance learning presents an obvious challenge to establishing the foundations for our class community because we will not be physically together. To offset these challenges, we will be exploring ways to build community while promoting social and emotional well-being among the members of our class.
My Project
When I was in middle school, I had the opportunity to dissect an owl pellet. I remember how this experience solidified for me the understanding of the relationship between predator and prey. Each year, we take our 5th graders to overnight science camp. One of the most memorable experiences for them was the opportunity to dissect owl pellets. For the 2020-2021 school year, all field trip experiences have been cancelled. I created this project to help connect all of my students to hands-on scientific learning from their homes.
My experience is that when students have opportunities to interact with science and pose their own questions, while engaging in collaborative problem solving, a true appreciation for science emerges.
Often times students will reveal that science is not their favorite subject, this is usually tied directly to their experience learning science: Was it hands on or from a text book? In distance learning, it becomes even more challenging to create hands-on experiences for children to explore.
Dissecting owl pellets will be an unforgettable experience for my fifth graders. It is my hope that when they have all the materials in front of them, families will work together to talk about and explore science together! This will encourage them to reimagine their relationships with science and as scientists.
More than half 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 Ms. Minas and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
