Making Science Attracting: A STEM-Based Study of Magnetism
My students need different types of magnets for a fun-filled STEM-based unit on magnetism. They also need a class set of owl pellets for hands-on learning about living organisms and food chains.
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.
My Students
My 4th grade students have hopes and dreams that we work hard to achieve every day. We do our best to use the resources provided for us, but they are outdated and few in number.
When I stand in front of my 4th grade inner-city classroom, I see a beautiful group of high-energy students who want to achieve but who do not have access to the same learning tools as their counterparts in surrounding school districts.
I want them to have the same opportunities to thrive and grow as other children in their grade level.
My Project
It can be challenging to engage inner-city children in caring about science. However, I have found that the more hands-on STEM activities I can offer, the more exciting it is to learn about science!
Imagine that, rather than just reading a boring textbook about magnetism, you are instead able to explore the properties of magnetism by experimenting with iron filings, brainstorming about ring magnets, working with a partner to create a wand magnet learning activity, or demonstrating your new knowledge using bar magnets!
Or how about being able to actually dissect an owl pellet to examine what it ate, and then reconstruct the skeleton? Doesn't that seem like a more fun and engaging way to learn about carnivores, food chains, and body systems, instead of just listening to the teacher talk about it?
The activities I have planned for these two units of study will engage my students, make them excited to explore science, and hopefully help them to expand their scientific knowledge of the world around them.
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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. Camano and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
