In room 401, our philosophy is to LIVE and LEARN, because children have an exciting world to explore and conquer. Teachers help facilitate this by providing opportunities which are unique and realistic.
Ranging in ages from 3-5 years old, our children are unique and have diverse backgrounds.
Many have immediate family members living in Indonesia, China, India and beyond. One thing all children have in common is a natural curiosity.
All children have an innate desire to explore the world around them and THIS is where we share common ground. Language barriers don't interfere when children explore.
My Project
The early years are an exciting and busy time in a child’s life. Curious minds connected to constantly-moving bodies always provide an “adventure.” The environment should reflect this colorful, adventurous spirit. All too often we stifle this natural curiosity with rules and precautions, clinical procedures and constant hovering.
Where does that leave a young person’s curiosity?
Where is the adventure? We pressure children into learning how to add numbers and form letters yet often take away their innate desire to do so….to explore….
I would like to change that. My wish is to have a place in the classroom for children to freely explore, experiment and succeed on their own terms. Kids would be free to ask questions and find their own answers. A constant goal for young children is to appropriately answer “wh” questions: What? Where? When? Why?
A science lab would be an area for children to both formulate and answer these questions, a place with constantly changing, fun, messy materials that will be inviting and ACCESSIBLE to all children. We need authentic tools, kid-guided activities and sometimes LIVE (or not so alive. but always safe) specimen for children to discuss and evaluate, and a space with little rules in a world filled with so many.
Welcome to the our Learning Lab.
Our main piece of the science lab is a rolling cart, which would feature several different, inter-changeable materials. Test tubes bubbling with 'potions', instant 'snow' and materials to make boats and other floating objects are a few items the children will freely explore. Children will practice responsibility as they 'clean up' their work stations that are filled with practical science tools - goggles, beakers, tweezers, graduated cylinders and stethoscopes to name a few.
Science is everywhere; in each question we ask..Will you help our children find "their" answers?
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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. Mettee and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.