By the end of the school year, I want my students to be able to say that they had many opportunities for hands-on exploration in my class. By measuring, using a Bunsen burner to "boil water in a paper cup" to making crystals like rock candy and more, they were able to discover the joy of science.
I have 170 diverse 8th grade students from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
The most common phrase I hear is "Can we do a lab today?" They have learned that science labs are interesting, fun and exciting. Many times they don't get the answer they expected and that is when learning happens. Although we do a lab or so per chapter, these materials will allow us to do several more over the course of the year.
My Project
My students will be learning proper methods for measuring both liquids and solids with the beakers and digital scales. They will be able to protect the glass beakers on the Bunsen burner with the ceramic wire gauze. The temperature probes will complete a set of 8 for use with the Labquest interface so that they can graph temperature changes in real time. The hot plates will complete a set so that each station can make rock candy, and other crystals, as well as other experiments requiring heating.
Your generous contribution to this project will help not only my class engage in hands-on activities as part and parcel to the 8th grade curriculum, but will be used by the other students at our school as we move towards the Next Generation Science Standards.
We have about 300 8th grade students, and over 500 6th and 7th grade students that will be able to investigate science with these materials for many years to come.
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. Borstel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
