This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
As the world become more crowded and consumption increases, humans put increasing pressure on our environment. Climate change and its effects are important topics of conversation. And the solutions to problems humans have unknowingly caused lie with humans themselves. This is the place where science and engineering intersect, and too many young people in the U.S. do not see themselves as scientists or engineers.
My 12th grade environmental science students are creative, committed, and diverse.
They are high-energy and strong-willed. They speak multiple languages. They are involved in their communities and care deeply about their families. They stay after school for help and they want to succeed.
My students are mostly Latino kids who come from a high poverty urban area and attend a small public school that focuses on developing students as citizens and leaders in both English and Spanish. In this century, the United States needs more young people ready to tackle difficult problems through science. Career opportunities abound if we can peak student interest and make science accessible.
My Project
Clean water is an essential environmental, economic, and social resource. What does is mean for water to be clean? Clean enough for people to drink or swim in? Clean enough to support an aquatic ecosystem? How do we measure whether the water is clean? And what do we do if it's not?
In this project, my students will be environmental and civil engineers whose job is to make sure our water supply is safe to use and drink.
These materials will teach students how water and sewer infrastructure clean water for human use. They will analyze how excess storm water, fertilizers, chemicals, and industrial wastes affect water quality and aquatic life.
Students will use their scientific knowledge to design engineering solutions to some of the problems faced by cities- redesigning streets to prevent storm water from going directly to our lakes and rivers and designing water treatment systems that will remove harmful substances from drinking water.
Through this project, students will see themselves as both scientists and engineers. The authentic need for engineering solutions to the water crisis may lead them on a new career path in college.
More than three‑quarters 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
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 Ms. Freeman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
