My students need 35 sketchbooks, 35 sets of watercolor pencils, 35 waterbrushes, 35 extra fine gel pen, 36 rubber knead erasers and 35 zipper bags for nature journal writing.
"Mother, May I?" Yes, you may! Mother Nature gives us reason to express ourselves in writing and drawing every day. This project provides deliberate and sequenced instruction to students as they explore their natural world and learn to capture their observations through an artistic lens.
My 4th grade students attend a PreK-6th grade science, math, and technology magnet school in Minnesota.
Because our school is a magnet school our students come from families from a wide geographic range and the demographics of these students are as varied as the neighborhoods from which they come. Our school is approximately 51% white-Caucasian and 49% minority which includes Hispanic, African-American, and Asian.
My Project
Our school backs up to a lake that provides many opportunities during the year for science observations, data collecting and recording, and other environment/nature related investigations. Fourth grade students participate in a "lake study" as part of the value-added standards addressed through our magnet school curriculum. Until now, my students have used only a Science Notebook to record observations, data collected, and other reflections when making monthly, sometimes weekly visits to the lake. The materials provided by this project will allow us to look and experience our lake through another lens - one that explores the colors, shapes, and movements of nature. These lessons and experiences will become a part of lifelong learning that we strive to provide for our students.
Every year students are asked to master lists of skills and meet content standards in order to improve academic achievement.
I believe that science is what gives meaning to that list and art is what gives beauty to those standards we ask our students to meet. "Mother, May I?" addresses both. It is not enough for our students to "perform" academically. It is our responsibility to provide many and varied opportunities for students to embrace the natural world in which they live.
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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. Blue and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.