Help me give my students classroom MICROSCOPES! They make such a difference when teaching students about the living world. They engage students in the world of science for life.
My students, mostly from the Boyes Springs area of the Sonoma Valley, are bright and inquisitive. They attend this school because the program gives children from all cultures, areas, and various incomes an opportunity to learn and thrive within the district. They range in age from 9-11, and love hands-on learning.
They have spent time learning about microorganisms this year, and hope to turn our classroom into "microorganism land." They love to read and to 'argue' over which books are the best.
Doing art is a passion for them. Their best days in the classroom are when they know that they have learned, discovered, and explored.
My Project
The 4th graders have been learning all about microorganisms from books, videos, and the local ecology center. After all this study, they decided that they want to create a "Microorganism Land" in our classroom that will be like you have walked into a microscope lens, with huge 3-D microorganisms. They want other grades to come learn from their "museum." But the students have not seen real, live microorganisms - they need microscopes!
Given their power to provoke wonder and awe in child and adult alike, microscopes have proven to be transformative as tools for education.
Exploratory learning using microscopes has helped to overcome critical barriers in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) education and to broaden participation in these vital fields. They can bridge imagination with reality and break down artificial boundaries between different spheres of learning. Microscopes are an essential part of science education and make science come alive for students.
P.S. The microscopes won't just be used by 4th grade (26 students), they will be available for all students (206) in the school as well.
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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. Stone and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.