This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
I teach Environmental Science to 9th grade students. My public school is in one of the lowest-achieving districts in the country, and I teach at one of the three lowest achieving high schools in the district. 95% of our students are on free or reduced lunch, and almost 300 out of 400 ninth graders fail the ninth grade each year. My community is constantly in turmoil, but my school is striving to be a safe and rigorous learning environment.
My district is suffering severe budget cuts, especially in the science departments. However, labs in science are critical in a high school classroom, and there is absolutely no reason my students should not experience high quality labs simply because my school lacks adequate resources. This lab will be an extremely valuable experience so they can see how science really applies to their surroundings.
My students need three water quality testing kits so that they can learn about the chemicals and bacteria that contaminate their own water source through experience. The river that divides my students' community from the rest of the city is one of the most polluted water sources in this region, and my students will be able to gain great insight into how science actually applies to their own surroundings. I want them to think about the social justice issues that surround this water contamination, and so this activity will expand beyond the classroom - we will need the gloves and trash bags to actually clean up their environment.
Not only will these resources teach my students the lab skills, critical thinking skills, and data analysis skills they need to compete at a college-level science course, this lab will also push them to think about problems facing our entire population. They will enter the rest of high school and college with a greater understanding and sense of responsibility regarding environmental issues.
Your help will ensure that my urban students are able to interact with their natural surroundings. They will also gain a sense of how precious our water resources actually are. Finally, you will help ensure that my students are experiencing science in the real world instead of just out of a textbook.
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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 Ms. N. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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