Have you ever stopped and asked yourself: why is the sky blue? If you have, that was the scientist inside of you inquiring about the natural world. I teach four classes of scientists who ask questions like that all day.
My 103 students are curious, creative, and CRAZY about science!
My 4th and 5th graders rotate daily between a Math teacher, Science teacher, Reading teacher, and Social Studies teacher. This gives my students the amazing opportunity to critically engage with science concepts every day. You know when you walk in my classroom and see my door with the warning "Mad Scientists in Training" that you are walking into organized chaos, with students collaborating and constructing arguments on hands-on science experiments and projects.
Some examples include my fourth graders who explored energy by designing and creating their own solar ovens in order to roast delicious s'mores with light energy. My fifth graders have observed chemical changes by mixing up their own solutions, which inspired two of my students to make a volcano at home and share the impressive reaction of baking soda and vinegar with their class.
I'm blessed to say I am teaching our future leaders and scientists!
My Project
Scientists naturally question the world around them, and mad scientists in training are no exception to this rule. My students LOVE asking critical questions about the science content, and they will leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of knowledge. I want to support their natural curiosity by providing them with resources to research their own questions and ideas. Having access to technology like Chromebooks will enhance my students' learning when using the Scientific Method to investigate phenomenon or designing a solution for problems.
Therefore, if you give a scientist a Chromebook, you provide him or her with the opportunity to take charge of his/her learning.
When I give my students answers to their questions or problems, my students miss out on a critical aspect of their learning - constructing their own understanding with exploration. Learning comes alive in children's hands when they actively research and explore information to answer their own questions.
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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. Thao and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
