My students need circuit kits, cell models, and other Math and Science materials for hands-on inquiry investigations.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Johnson's classroom raised $329
This project is fully funded
My Students
Children are naturally curious and that curiosity can make Science and Math come alive! Through hands-on investigation our students will be better prepared to be the problem solvers of the 21st century. Our future engineers, scientists and researchers depend on STEM activities!
I teach in a small school (about 310 students) in a rural area.
While many of our students come from hard working middle class families, in recent years we have had a growing number of struggling families. My 4th graders are extremely inquisitive and want to know how and why things work. They ask amazing questions. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to allow them to explore their wonderings and discover things. Our PTA is amazingly generous but being a small school they, too, are limited in what they can provide. Giving my students the opportunity to engage in their own investigations would help them see the relationships between Math and Science. Many students shy away from these disciplines because they think they are too hard. Much of this misconception comes from not having the resources to allow student generated exploration. As they become immersed in the process, they will gain the confidence and interest to continue in these needed disciplines.
My Project
These materials will provide my students with the chance to extend and explore the concepts taught. The curriculum explains simple circuits but having the resources of the electrical circuit kit will allow them to expand the circuits and extend their knowledge. The collider and the the energy sticks will allow them to explore Newton's laws of motion and deepen their understanding about inertia, acceleration, velocity and forces. The origami paper is a great way for students to create "boxes" of different sizes and estimate volume. Through the use of journaling, they will be able to see the relationship of what happens when the dimensions of the box are doubled and thus be able to determine the volume of a box of various sizes. These inquiry based projects will allow them to make meaningful connections to the world around them.
Doing Math problems and reading about Science has it's place but when a child has the opportunity to explore and discover relationships and patterns on their own, it is so much more meaningful!
As students continue to explore their ideas, their thinking and questioning become more analytical and their writing becomes more proficient as they journal their claims and evidence. Getting students interested in Math and Science at this age can spark the interest and talents of our future engineers!
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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. Johnson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
