Science is often a challenging subject for middle school students, yet, when given the right materials, it is the most fascinating and engaging subject of them all! Who hasn't made a vinegar and baking soda volcano at some point in their lives? We attend a small K-12th grade school located in a rural town in which there are just as many dirt roads as there are paved.
Many of my students are under resourced 7th and 8th graders who have a passion for learning about the world around them.
Limited only by their own understanding and previous classroom experiences, these young people thrive in an exploratory atmosphere. Many of them have had limited opportunities to receive high-quality science exposure due to the heavy emphasis on mathematics and literacy in the early years. Economic backgrounds and limited school resources have inhibited opportunities for them to learn kinesthetically, and develop their scientific communication skills linguistically. My students have had minimal exposure to project-based learning tasks which use real-world applications.
My Project
In the past, my students have used clay, foam, and even candy to represent various models in my classroom. This was effective, but I believe it's time for my students to learn how to design with tools of the future! These young scientists can move their creative skills beyond a hot glue gun and tape. I want them to experience design on a whole new level. So with this project, I am asking for 3D pens and refills that my students will use to design and create 3D models in science. From models of elements, to cells, to rockets, these awesome hand-held tools will bring excitement and creativity back into lab!
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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. Crane and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
