My students need to be able to access online lab simulators, 3D modeling programs, and Google Drive to collaborate with each other. My class size has increased to 32 and I'm in need of 3 Chromebooks.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. DeBois's classroom raised $634
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
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
"This is more exciting than video games!" It was an unexpected compliment from one of our students. The problem to solve? Find a new home for humanity. Our student-researchers realized Earth's carrying capacity for humans was fast approaching. Their solution? Colonize space itself. Their task? Build a 3D-printed model of a space settlement in low-Mars-orbit. Close to the asteroid belt, Mars was a perfect solution to our growing demand for mineral resources. Their audience? NASA scientists and engineers who would judge the feasibility of their settlement.
"What if NASA actually likes our ideas?" This was exactly what I wanted them to ask.
The "What ifs" are essential to our practice here, not just the "How does" or "What is" inquires. We capitalize on the diversity in our classrooms, wanting students from all backgrounds to search for answers and generate ideas together to solve one fundamental problem at a time. We are a colorful school with a broad mix of cultural and racial identities. Our classrooms are filled with students from mostly low- and mid-SES families. Two of our four classes are ICT, while the others are inclusion, partnered with local D75 schools. We believe in progress through diversity.
My Project
In our classroom, our students run the show. They are in charge of their learning and their own discoveries. Our teacher team sees themselves as guides -- we are here to inspire and encourage. One of the most effective ways of hooking our 6th graders to science is placing them in charge of solving a fundamental problem. Our current problem? Human population on Earth is quickly approaching carrying capacity and we are running short on resources. The students as a collective body decided to first investigate expansion into the solar system. The solution? Orbiting space settlements!
The effective use of technology is essential for our student researchers.
In collaborative groups of four, our budding engineers have set out to design space settlements with a 3D modeling program called Project Ignite. They are in charge of writing a ten to thirty page project proposal, which they will then submit to real NASA engineers for review and feedback. In order to empower our students, the project requires each of them to be able to access the internet and Google Drive. The use of technology is also essential for our ESL and special needs students, and these Chromebooks are capable of bridging many of the gaps students come to us in 6th grade with. Furthermore, our students' level of engagement and independence when given their own Chromebook has a dramatic jump when compared to working on just paper.
More than half of 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
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 Mr. DeBois and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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