Help me give my students STEM activities to integrate into science units that enrich critical thinking and problem solving skills. This active learning will engage students with different materials and encourage collaboration with each other.
As a teacher in a low-income/high poverty school district, my students are faced with several challenges both in and out of the classroom. Despite the many challenges they face, I am looking to keep things simple and provide my students with creative and meaningful learning experiences.
My students are creative, clever and very spontaneous.
They like to move, they love to read and love lots of positive attention. Many of them are being raised in single parent households and receive a free lunch based on their socioeconomic status. Others live in overcrowded, multi-generational homes or are homeless. These things may prevent them from getting ahead early in life and may not provide them with the life experiences many of us see as "typical". From the minute they walk in the door of my classroom, I focus on their potential and growth while they are with me. I may not be able to control their home lives; however, I can certainly control their experience during the school day. By doing this in a creative and positive way, I hope to inspire even our earliest learners to continue on a path of academic excellence.
My Project
These materials will provide my students with different active learning methods and approaches, such as engaged learning, project-based learning, cooperative learning, and structured problem solving. With this project, I will infuse my Balance and Motion physical science unit with even more hands-on STEM learning. During weekly centers, my students will work in teams to build simple and powered machines using these fabulous kits.
As force and motion are fundamental to all matter in the universe, so is active learning to increase student performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
They will deepen their understanding of physics content as well as their ability to work together. Children have an innate interest in designing, creating, and building. With this project, I will be able to structure my students' learning and help them bring their understanding of balance, gravity, mass, and motion to life. I have no doubt about the inspiration and insight this project will bring my young engineers!
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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. Magner and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
