From the River to the Forensics Lab: STEM Investigations
My students need classroom kits such as the Elementary Crime Solving Kit, The Case of the Kidnapped Cookies Kit, and 2 Quality of Water Test Kits to improve our STEM Lab.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." ~Benjamin Franklin.
Teachers know that students learn best when they are involved in hands-on, real-world experiences. My STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) kits request will help me do just that!
I'm the Instructional Technology Resource Coach and STEM Coordinator for over 650 PreK-5th Grade students and teachers in a rural county in Virginia.
The students I teach come from very diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic status. Many students come from impoverished families and do not always have a lot of support at home. My students are an enthusiastic group that loves to learn, but I feel like I can't always provide them with the resources they need and deserve in order to reach their fullest potential.
Recently, our elementary school had an increased focus on STEM initiatives. I'm so proud of the growth my students have made as they've transformed into innovators and engineers. I'm submitting this project because I want to see my students solving real-world problems using the requested STEM kits. I think it is important for these students to experience 21st Century skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, problem solving, and personal growth.
My Project
I have found that my students love STEM activities, but there is often no funding for resources. With the requested materials, including an Elementary Crime Solving Kit, my younger students will be exposed to forensics through learning about fingerprinting and DNA.
With The Case of the Kidnapped Cookies kit, my upper elementary students will have an opportunity to become crime scene investigators, actually solving a mystery using microscopes, DNA, and chemical testing. Once the suspect in the case has been identified, the students will hold a mock trial in order to prove the suspect guilty. The experience will expose students to crime scene investigation and the criminal justice process.
Lastly, the water quality testing kits will be used by 5th graders on a field trip to the river. Students will conduct similar tests to those of environmental scientists. The results will be compared to water samples from other local areas. Students will learn a lot from this project because the experiences are hands-on, real, and meaningful.
I've done my best to gather recyclable materials and free supplies for my STEM lab, but I want to be able to offer my students more.
Please help me offer my students every opportunity to learn and be exposed to real-world problems! Your donation will make a great difference because this project will transform kids into crime solvers, lawyers, environmental scientists, and investigators! Thank you for taking the time to read my project and for supporting our students!
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. Orndorff and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
