We can measure in inches, but we don't have the tools to measure the way scientists do.
My students all come from a variety of backgrounds where school is not always the priority.
Many of them wonder if they will even be eating when they get home. For these students the focus is not on mastery of the concepts but of survival. The population is very diverse and a significant portion of the population has not fully mastered English. My school is a Title 1 school which means that funding often goes mostly to language arts and math. Fortunately they receive science twice a week where we can explore different concepts together.
My Project
How can we act like scientists when we don't have basic tools to measure? We have yard sticks, but no meter sticks. We have clocks but nothing to measure with accuracy. We have nothing to measure the volume of liquids.
With these instruments my students can begin mastering the concepts of volume and learn how to measure using the metric system. These tools can be used in a variety of hands on activities in a variety of grade levels. The timers will be used for races and for measuring rates of reactions. The rulers will be used for measuring large distances that aren't practical with a regular 12 inch ruler. The graduated cylinders will be used to measure out appropriate amounts of liquids to be used in chemical reactions. The label tape will be used to mark different chemicals and to color code for group work.
I want my students to believe that they are scientists because they are using tools that scientists use.
If I provide my students with opportunities to use different tools they won't be scared of science. They won't be intimidated by those tools at a later age. With these tools I can get my students excited about measuring in science
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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. Ting and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
