Help me give my students art supplies to help us practice being naturalist scientists. My students need watercolor paint, brushes, palettes and paper. They also need some nice drawing markers.
My small school is set in a suburban community near military housing. Even though my school is within a large metropolitan city, it feels like a small community and sheltered, an "island in the hills." Within those hills, we have a variety of ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as several families that have moved here from other countries. Many of our students are grappling with parents being deployed.
My students are exuberant and creative, and I am constantly challenged to investigate new opportunities for them to test the waters in STEM/STEAM learning - and tailor the activities for all grade levels, transitional kindergarten through grade five!
Our STEAM Lab and Makerspace has gone through many changes over the years, and we are keeping in step with new thinking and methodology by focusing on the three-dimensional design of the Next Generation Science Standards. We also make a concerted effort to incorporate exposures to technology, engineering, art, and mathematical applications, and make it relevant to their world and interests. The curriculum is student-driven, and ever-morphing to meet their needs.
As the TK-5th STEAM Lab teacher, I feel I have the best job ever!
My Project
With the varied supplies for working in watercolor, much like the scientists in the field might use: watercolor paint paper, brushes, palettes, and fine line drawing markers, these supplies will help get us off to a fantastic start for the 2019-2020 school year!
Help my junior scientists move beyond scientific observations and experiments, and delve into the world of a naturalist.
There are new activities and projects in the works that students have not participated in before - as we add the "A" into STEM and become a STEAM Lab. Our art experiences will start off practicing nature watercolors as field nature scientists might in their field notebooks.
My students will be thrilled with the transformation and excited to get started in this year's science and engineering investigations with a new artistic twist! We need to build the foundation on which the new school year will launch. This is a new endeavor, but one that the kids will love.
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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 Mrs. Allard's STEAM Lab and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
