This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
My students attend school in a large urban district in Ohio, where all of the student body receives free breakfast and lunch. Many of our students walk to school through neighborhoods that are characterized by abandoned buildings and overgrown lots. Yet, our attendance rate remains at a steady 93%, which is a testament to their commitment towards education.
My scholars especially enjoy learning opportunities that allow them to have hands-on experiences and different learning modalities as they provide many pathways toward achievement.
My Project
Students learn better with focused hands-on activities. Opportunities as such improve their school lives because scholars come to class excited about learning.
Having resources for constructing and investigating an actual ecosystem will make a huge difference in my students' learning.
My students will get to extend learning beyond the textbook by participating in a STEM activity in which we construct an ecosystem complete with live grasshoppers, mosquito fish, snails, sow bugs and aquatic producers.
We would first start out by using our available technology to research each of the main organisms that we will handle. In small groups, students will display their findings on large chart paper. Next, students will contribute by donating/recycling empty 2-liter pop bottles. In the next portion of the unit, students will build the terrarium by utilizing one of the bottles. Inside of the terrarium, students will grow grass, mustard, and radish seeds. They will use daily journals to record observations and measurements, as insects are slowly introduced to the environment. They will use the other pop bottle to make the aquarium portion of the ecosystem. Aquatic plants and organisms will be added and observed as well. Finally, the students will connect the land and water containers to make a complete ecosystem. They will use the large graph paper make a variety of graph (line plot, double bar, and line) to chart variation in growth and mortality rates
As the students get up close and personal with their projects, they will continue to keep daily journals to record observations, findings, and pose questions. This project will significantly help my students understand how all organisms (big or small) are connected within an ecosystem.
Pond Snail, Living, Medium, Pack of 25
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$21.82
3
$65.46
Post-it Super Sticky Easel Pad, 25 x 30 Inches, 30 Sheets/Pad, 1 Pad (560SS), Large White Grid Premium Self Stick Flip Chart Paper, Super Sticking Power
• Amazon Business
$27.19
2
$54.38
Elodea densa, Living, Pack of 50
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$21.15
2
$42.30
Cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus), Living, Adults, Pack of 100
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$32.35
1
$32.35
Kricket Keeper
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$11.47
2
$22.94
Duckweed, Living, Unit of 100-150
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$8.05
2
$16.10
House Cricket (Acheta domesticus) Food, 250 g
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$7.42
2
$14.84
Materials cost
$415.21
Vendor shipping charges
$36.08
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$6.23
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$487.52
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$86.03
Total project goal
$573.55
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$573.55
2 Donors
-$286.77
Donations toward project cost
-$243.76
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$43.01
match offer
-$286.78
Match offer toward project cost
-$243.76
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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. Saxon and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.