My students need one Geosafaria Talking Telescope and Microscope, a Quantum Big Screen Microscope and adapter, one Worm Vue Wonders for raising worms, one Magnet set for a center, and one Nature Block Specimen kit.
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.
I teach first grade at a year-round, low-income, and 98% minority school in NC. Every student in our school receives free or reduced breakfast and lunch. We are experiencing major budget cuts in NC and we do not have money for extras such as hands-on activities that give students a real-life knowledge of science.
My students are aware of insects and plants in the environment but they do not know how plants and insects can help our environment. They do not understand how the life cycle of plants and insects can influence their own lives and environment. I teach Science in centers which gives me an opportunity to have one-on-one time with my students as I monitor their activities. I want my centers to be meaningful and my students to be actively engaged. We do not have the resources needed to provide hands-on center activities that are meaningful.
The materials requested are for students to actively learn while they are engaged in the various activities. The worm viewer is a great tool for students to see how worms help develop the soil so that plants can thrive. Instead of wanting to step on worms that might be in the grass, they will instead acknowledge our need for their existence. My students have never viewed insects and objects under a microscope and would be thrilled with the microscope and telescope that are on a first grader's learning level. The magnets are for a center of five and my students will use these for experiments and as a way to identify problems and solutions. The big screen microscope will be used to identify the specimens that we find on our nature walks. All these resources will be used so students can become more aware of their environment and the importance of insects and plants.
Your help will make it possible for my students to learn more about their environment and to learn to love science. Science needs to be integrated into their daily lives and these resources will help my students learn this. By giving to this project you will be giving my students a life-long love of learning about Science.
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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. DAlessandro and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
