My students need a microscope for hands-on learning of cells and microorganisms and the new digital microscope will be a great way for all of my students to participate!
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Branan's classroom raised $359
This project is fully funded
My Students
Cells are so tiny that you need a microscope to see them. My students must be able to not only see examples of cells, but identify the cell's structures and functions. It is challenging enough with a microscope and without a microscope, the task is extremely difficult to understand.
We are a small rural county in Georgia with only 1 primary, elementary, middle and high school.
The majority of our students (about 80%) in our county are living below the poverty line and most of those are living in a single parent home or with relatives or guardians. I teach 75 fifth grade students and 33 of them are students with special needs. They are a sweet group of kids, but many of them function below grade level. Many of them struggle to stay focused in class and the grade level text is very challenging for them to understand. We have a wonderful staff of teachers and administrators. We not only educate our students, but we give them a positive and structured environment in which to learn. Many of our students do not have academic support at home for various reasons (working hours, parents' lack of proper education themselves, or sadly, neglect). This puts added pressure on teachers to make the most of the hours we have them in school.
My Project
Many of my students are ADHD (attention and hyperactivity disorder) and EBD (emotional behavior disorder). Because they have short attention spans and short fuses, I have to get creative with my teaching. I try to inspire them to want to learn more about the world around them. To do this, I try to give them as many "hands-on" learning opportunities as possible. Fifth graders must identify types of cells and their structures as well as identify beneficial and harmful microorganisms. Kids sometimes think that things don't exist if you can't see them (especially students w/ special needs). The microscope and digital microscope will allow them to see things they have never seen before and hopefully will spark their interest to want to learn more. The digital microscope will give all of my students the opportunity to see these tiny objects in full detail. They will have a greater understanding of the building blocks of all life known as cells and hopefully a better desire to wash their hands!
Many kids dislike "work." They don't see or appreciate the importance of their education.
Science is so important for these kids because our planet is ever changing and the jobs of the future will be in the science and technology fields. In my classes, I try my best to educate my students in an exciting way so that it doesn't feel like "work," but fun! I want them to appreciate the knowledge I give them and I want them to continue to explore and learn more about the world around them.
More than three‑quarters 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
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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. Branan and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.