This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
I see my science students as the champion track runners who practice on a dirt field. They are learning science without a science lab and yet, they are making super grades on their CRTs! We must look for creative ways to teach real life science in an older building with no real science tools.
We are a Knowledge is Power Program school.
Our goal is to teach any middle school student who wants to better their education experience and prepare for a college degree. Most of our students are from the inner city and their economic status is difficult. However, we are a public school and all students are welcome. We have had the highest middle school test scores in our state the last 4 years and because of this we have increased diversity in our student population each year. I see our students as a real world example of the future work force in our country. Our motto is "Work Hard and Be Nice". I believe our students live up to this motto. There are not many colleges and/or employers who will overlook a young person with this work ethic and attitude. We follow our alumni and continue to mentor and encourage them until they reach their goal of college graduation. Our students are part of our family and their success is celebrated as any family would celebrate.
My Project
These resources will allow my students the opportunity to witness energy transfer in an ecosystem. It is very important in today's world for students to understand where energy comes from and how it is consumed. One of my students could be the future scientist who discovers an alternate form of energy so desperately needed for the future. In order to create an interest in energy I need a hands on project that a middle school student will really enjoy and want to do. I have done this project in the past and the students love it. It is not a one day experiment. We spend a great deal of time with a study of the ecosystem, the behavior of the owl, and the biology of the pellet. During the dissection the students gain knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and ecology. After the dissection my students learn how to read a dichotomous key and must use critical thinking just like a criminal investigator to determine the owls movements for the past 24 hours. This project ROCKS!
I have seen this project influence a number of past students.
A former student is now an environmental lawyer and this was one of his first experiences with ecology. I taught a young lady who is to be a senior in college next year and she wants to teach elementary science. She said this was a project that inspired her career choice. Both of these students were urban students being raised by a single parent. You never know what will inspire a child. This simple project has changed lives.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Duerson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
