My students come from middle to low socioeconomic area, that is highly multicultural, with more than 24 languages spoken. My students are like small scientists. They always come into class with new facts or tidbits to share with me every day of things they’ve learned about science. We have been recently learning about Earth science and how our Sun moves with the rotation of our Earth. We did an experiment where the students go outside and draw their shadows with their partners. Then at the end of the class period, they drew another shadow shape to show how the Sun had moved within that hour. It is something so powerful, learning about the rotation of our Sun, but using the simple technology of chalk. Our fifth grade is also very involved in our school garden. They are our "Guardians of the Garden," taking care of and harvesting for the farmers markets we have. This helps them have real world experience by understanding economics, by working with money and exchanging money for goods, as well as producing products to sell. This is also a highly sought after activity for our kids to be a part of.
My Project
We are very fortunate to have Chromebooks for every fifth grader. I would love to be able to enhance their experience of using their Chromebooks and linking with our garden by discovering tiny micro-organisms that can be found on the plants and dirt using a Zoomy 2.0 Digital Microscope. The students will excavate small samples and do an in-depth analysis of what they find. They will also be doing diagrams of what they find.
The amazement that the students will have when they can see the micro-organisms, will be astonishing.
I can't wait to be able to give them that experience. As of now, we do not have microscopes that are functioning. We would be able to use them beyond just this one activity, we would use them through the entirety of our life science unit.
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