This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
The best way to learn science is through hands-on scientific inquiry. When students are encouraged to work through scientific problems, they access higher-ordered levels of thinking. Hands-on experimentation also helps learners make real-world connections to textbook concepts. The students at our school come from a diversity of backgrounds, including disadvantaged socioeconomic situations. Many of our students are still learning English as a second language. Yet the only limit to their dreams is the limits imposed on them. A large portion of our population has never had access to an inquiry driven science curriculum before. Our department is working hard to change that. Science is a hands-on field, and inquiry is at the root of every field of science. Every student deserves a hands-on experience to make learning fun and engaging.
My Project
The requested science materials will be used by three middle school science teachers and over 400 students to increase science fluency through game play. Students in 6th through 8th grade will be permitted to check out trivia games that cover three years of science teaching to take home. Each of the requested kits includes packets of trivia style questions that correlate to tested benchmarks. When students are struggling with a concept, they can check out cards and a board game/game pieces to take home, allowing them to review concepts in a fun and engaging way. The cards are wonderfully color-coded to assist students in using context clues, something that is crucial in successful test-taking across all content areas.
Not only will students be able to practice science fluency at home, but this project will also encourage parent involvement.
Parents will be able to play the games with their children and see the content their students are currently practicing, empowering them to have an active role in their child's education. The requested programs will also be used in after-school tutoring programs. Students who are struggling have the opportunity to stay after school twice a week to review concepts for mastery. Students at these sessions would also use the board games as a fun and interactive way to engage with concepts and test their science knowledge.
The goal of this project is not only to increase student success on the 8th grade end of year Comprehensive Science Exam, but also to empower both students and parents to be an active part of the learning process. Worksheets aren't that exciting. But playing a game and having a chance to go head to head against a parent or a classmate? To realize that you do, indeed, actually know your stuff. That's invaluable.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Compton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
