Mini Bilingual Biologists: Classroom Ecosystem Exploration
Help me give my students experiential learning opportunities. Students are more excited to learn when lessons connect to real life, showing them everyday uses, linking to careers, and engaging them in hands-on activities that make a real difference.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Ezolt's classroom raised $923
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
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 Project
This project based interactive learning immerses diverse English Language Learner students, kindergarten through 4th grade in experiential learning through in-depth hands-on study of ecosystems. By observing plant growth, insects, and habitats, students build a foundational understanding of real-world environmental needs, while beneficially gaining a tremendous amount of academic vocabulary and real world applications.
Objectives:
1. Engage students with hands-on activities focused on ecosystems.
2. Build vocabulary around plants, animals, and habitats.
3. Foster scientific inquiry and environmental awareness.
Part 1: Role-Playing and Vocabulary Building:
Students become “scientists” by wearing mini lab coats and using observation notebooks. Through visual aids and interactive activities, they explore living and non-living things, learning ecosystem vocabulary through observations of real world flora and fauna.
Part 2: Plant Growth and Insect Observation:
Using an AeroGarden vs potted plants, students grow many plants, observing the effects of water, light, and nutrients. Noticing differences of inside vs outside plant development. Students will also watch the lifecycle of ladybugs and caterpillars, tracking growth and development to deepen their understanding of ecosystems and how flora and fauna rely on each other.
Part 3: Building a Classroom Ecosystem Model:
Students work together to create a 3D ecosystem model of a garden, using clay, paper, and natural materials to represent plants, animals, and their interactions. This collaborative project reinforces vocabulary and scientific concepts in a creative setting.
It's a no-brainer that students are more engaged in learning when real-world problems and scenarios support what they're doing in school. When students see the connection between what's inside and what's outside their classroom, they see that there's more to their learning than a grade. This experiential project builds bridges beyond the classroom by connecting content with real world applications getting students doing authentic activities that have real impact on future learning.
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
AeroGarden Bounty Basic - Indoor Garden with LED Grow Light, Black
• Amazon Business
$179.95
1
$179.95
Seajan 12 Pcs Unisex Kids Lab Coat Bulk Soft Kids Scrubs White Doctor Coat Scientist Halloween Costume for Boys and Girls (L Size)
• Amazon Business
$52.99
1
$52.99
Seajan 12 Pcs Unisex Kids Lab Coat Bulk Soft Kids Scrubs White Doctor Coat Scientist Halloween Costume for Boys and Girls(S Size)
• Amazon Business
$50.99
1
$50.99
Insect Lore Live Ladybug Growing Kit Toy -unisex-children Original Ladybug Land
• Amazon Business
$24.99
2
$49.98
Educational Insights Sprout & Grow Window Plant Growing Kit, Science Kit for Homeschool & Classrooms, Ages 5+
• Amazon Business
$30.20
1
$30.20
Seed Pod Kit for AeroGarden, iDoo, Ahopegarden with Strawberry, Cherry Tomato, Dwarf Pea, Pepper, Radish, Beet, Cucumber, Compatible with Hydroponics Growing System, Indoor Garden Supplies (50-Pod)
• Amazon Business
$29.99
1
$29.99
Survival Vegetable Seeds Garden Kit Over 16,000 Seeds Non-GMO and Heirloom, Great for Emergency Bugout Survival Gear 35 Varieties Seeds for Planting Vegetables 35 Free Plant Markers Gardeners Basics
• Amazon Business
$29.75
1
$29.75
Colarr 60 Pcs Mini Notebooks Colorful 5.5 x 4 Inch 30 Sheets Small Journal Bulk Blank Lined Notebook Colored Small Kraft Paper Book Bulk Student Classroom Office Back to School Supplies(Colorful)
• Amazon Business
$26.99
1
$26.99
AeroGarden Mountain Meadows Flower Seed Pod Kit (9-pod), Pink/Yellow
• Amazon Business
$22.99
1
$22.99
AeroGarden Cascading Petunias Seed pod Kit for AeroGarden Hydroponic Indoor Garden, 6-Pod
• Amazon Business
$20.23
1
$20.23
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Butterfly Growing Kit - Butterfly Habitat Kit with Voucher to Redeem 5 Caterpillars (S&H Not Included), Butterfly Cage, Feeder (Amazon Exclusive)
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
AeroGarden Salsa Garden Seed Pod Kit, 9-pod
• Amazon Business
$16.95
1
$16.95
Aerogarden Salad Greens Seed Pod Kit with Red, Green, Romaine and Butter Leaf Lettuce, Liquid Plant Food and Growing Guide (9-Pod)
• Amazon Business
$16.50
1
$16.50
RESTCLOUD Professional Butterfly Habitat Insect Cage Caterpillar Enclosure Pop-up Polyester Bottom for Easier Clean
• Amazon Business
$15.99
1
$15.99
FOSS Third Edition Insects and Plants Science Resources Book - Grades 1-2 - Kids
• School Specialty
$13.00
1
$13.00
60 Packs 3.15 Inch Peat Pots for Seedlings, Biodegradable Seeds Starter Nursery Pots, Holes Round Seed Starter Pots for Plant Vegetables or Gardening Supplies with Bonus 10 Pcs Plant Labels.
• Amazon Business
$12.98
1
$12.98
AeroGarden Gourmet Herb Seed pod Kit - Herb Seeds for AeroGarden Indoor Garden, 9-Pod
• Amazon Business
$12.68
1
$12.68
Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Liquid Plant Fertilizer for Use in AeroGarden Hydroponic Indoor Garden, 3 fl. oz.
• Amazon Business
$11.99
1
$11.99
Ladybug Life Cycle Stages Set
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$11.48
1
$11.48
Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Container Mix - Organic and Natural Plant Soil, Feed for Up to 3 Months, For Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs, Use in Indoor and Outdoor Containers, 1 cu. Ft
• Amazon Business
$10.99
1
$10.99
Plants and Tree Ecosystems! From Wetlands to Forests - Botany for Kids - Children's Botany Books
• Amazon Business
$9.43
1
$9.43
Ladybugs
• Amazon Business
$8.99
1
$8.99
AeroGarden Replacement Filter Pack (10-Pack), Black
• Amazon Business
$7.95
1
$7.95
Segarty Lanyards with ID Holder, 10 Pack Vertical Clear Plastic Badge Name Tags Key Card Holders, Black Strap Clips Waterproof Ziplock Nametag Protector for Women, Business, Student, School, Office
• Amazon Business
$7.39
1
$7.39
Photo Card Set Ecosystem Diversity
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$6.62
1
$6.62
It's a Good Thing There Are Ladybugs (Rookie Read-About Science: It's a Good Thing...)
• Amazon Business
$5.95
1
$5.95
Materials cost
$679.94
Vendor shipping charges
$15.60
Sales tax
$48.62
3rd party payment processing fee
$10.20
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$784.36
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$138.42
Total project goal
$922.78
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$922.78
1 Donor
-$922.78
Donations toward project cost
-$784.36
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Ezolt and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
