My students need two digital microscope and pyrite and magnetite samples to see examples of fractures in rocks and minerals to better understand mineral formation, fracturing, and weathering.
Do you remember picking up a rock and thinking, "This is just a rock!" ? Understanding rocks means understanding how our world was formed and how it works. It is difficult to see some mineral cleavage and rock fracturing with just your eyes. We need to dig deeper to grow our depth of knowledge.
We are 4th graders in northern California in a neighborhood that is in transition.
We are working hard to make sure we have a strong science program when many schools have let science go in favor of more Language Arts and Math. My students are excited to be a part of a class that involves them in activities that allow them to explore their physical world. Coming from an urban area in California, these students are searching for a way to advance their knowledge and their prospects towards a better education and future career.
My Project
Even though our neighborhood is in a socioeconomic transition, we have the expectation to remain one of the top performing schools where parents want to send their children. As a public school, we have faced so many budget cuts in every area. In our school, it is the science and social studies programs that have been hit hardest. It is difficult to provide students with engaging, hands-on work without the tools to increase participation. These are incredibly hardworking kids who deserve the very best I can give them. We are not a Title I school, which means we receive very little support financially from the state and federal government. We rely solely on donations to further our curriculum and teaching.
These science supplies would help me to create a good interactive science lesson in our rocks and minerals unit. My students need two digital microscope and pyrite and magnetite samples to see examples of fractures in rocks and minerals to better understand mineral formation, fracturing, and weathering.
These items are going towards some of the most difficult and least-understood topics in Earth Science.
The students will be able to further investigate ideas such as mineral cleavage and rock fracturing. This equipment give these students the chance to spend more time doing a hands-on science lab, as opposed to simply reading the textbook and answering questions. Funding this project will prevent a reduction in engaging activities while adding a couple of additional labs for our program.
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