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
Based only on their zip-code, my students receive limited lab opportunities. They do not experience advanced science investigations because their school is insufficiently equipped. They have not yet gasped in awe at an experiment. This flame test will set fire to their enthusiasm for science.
My 8th grade students are bombs of potential and curiosity.
They are the leaders of their K-8 school, and they will be preparing to advance on to high school. But they are at a disadvantage because their zip-codes limits the educational opportunities they receive at school. My students are always asking why things happen, but because they are from a low-income community, they do not get to touch, smell, see, hear, and taste the "why."
My Project
With this activity, my students will have the opportunity to experience chemistry. Often times, elements and atoms are so abstract that students do not get a tangible grasp on the concept. By burning different chemicals and seeing how they change the colors of the flames, my students will be able understand atoms and elements, not as a jumble of letters, lines, circles, and symbols, but as something they can experience. This is a lab students from high-income communities get to experience. By allowing my students to do this activity, they will be better prepared for high school and be competitive with their high-income peers.
Science is built upon experiences.
My students lack those experiences simply because the school zone is not prepared to provide that to them. This project is a fundamental investigation in physical science and critical for my students to gain a conceptual understanding of chemical properties. They need this experience in order to build upon what they are learning, to be competitive with their high-income peers, and to be ready for high school sciences.
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. Bannister and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.