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.
My Students
Is the "Concrete Jungle" a myth? Not to us! We live in an inner city, urban environment. The extent of our exposure to nature is maybe the Squirrel that is always begging for food outside our cafeteria doors. The world is a big place and we hunger to explore it!
We are the Wildcats!
Our school is a k-5, Title 1, Elementary School in the dense metropolis of Tampa, Florida. Even though we are the "Wildcats", we are not wild. We are more like housecats that never get to experience the untamed beauty of the outdoors! Our domain is the hot pavement of our neighborhood, but we seek the soft soil of unspoiled, virgin land. We hear chaotic sounds of beeping horns and combustion engines, but we seek the silent tranquility of the woods. We smell the toxic fumes of automobile exhaust and stale air, but crave the fragrant aromas of nature! We stare at concrete and steel, follow the neat grids of our city blocks, conform to the rules established by our streets, but yearn to breath free, run wild, and get lost in the wilderness. We lust to return to our evolutionary origins, if only for a little while!
My Project
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Participating in this sport will impact our students in several ways. Through Geocaching, they will benefit from exposure! Exposure to the world they seldom see or experience. Our students are unfamiliar with nature and environmental issues. While being exposed to the woods, we will study different species of plant and animal life, learn a respect for the planet and creatures that live in it, basic observation and navigation skills, and teamwork. These GPS units will allow us to get out of our stuffy classrooms, and engage in "Natures Classroom". Geocaching supplies the platform to experience new places, adventure, and fun while being surrounded by countless physical and life science learning opportunities. The GPS units are the vehicle!
Ironically, just 4 short miles from our concrete community is Wilderness Park, over 100,000 acres of unspoiled Florida ecosystem!
This park will be our first natural classroom. This project will have a very SPECIFIC impact on our students, the opportunity to be EXPOSED to new places and experiences! Not only will they experience fun and adventure while using GPS,they will learn about different species of plants, animals, ecosystems, and see things they didn't know existed. Lets go Geocaching!
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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 Mr. Volpe and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.