My students need Butterflies in the Classroom and Wisconsin Fast Plant Life Cycle Kits in order to learn how to design and conduct their own experiments.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Child's classroom raised $665
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 Students
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin.
My students are a diverse bunch of eager-minded children, with many different learning needs.
My classes are comprised of general education students, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities. Most naturally love science, because regardless of their reading levels or past educational experiences, it gives them the opportunity to work hands-on with topics they love, and new ideas that connect them to the world around them. One of the most important parts of being a science teacher is creating a space in which students learn to think critically about themselves and the world. We are here to help build the self-confidence they need to challenge themselves, ask questions, and come up with effective ways to answer those questions. The first step in this process is teaching them the steps of the scientific method. But as Benjamin Franklin said, it is not enough to just tell them the steps. In order to learn effectively, they need to be involved, and try them out themselves.
My Project
In the past, I taught the scientific method using experiments I came up with myself, and the cheapest materials possible. However, last year, I observed my students interact with nature during several field trips, and I saw that when given the skills and a little freedom, they came up with even more creative questions and experiment ideas than I did! They were able to independently engage in a learning process that would leave a lasting impression for years to come. The butterfly and plant kits will provide my students with these types of authentic learning experiences from day 1. First, I will use the butterflies to teach them the scientific method. As the butterflies develop, students will be making observations, asking questions, researching, forming hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing results, and drawing conclusions. Once they have practiced with the butterflies, the students will independently design and carry out their own projects using the plant kits.
The butterfly and plant kits enable students to study life cycles of living organisms in real-time, thereby engaging more personally in the learning process.
They will use these kits alongside the Interactions of Life unit, which will help them authentically master the curriculum content, as well as the process of scientific inquiry. Because they provide so many opportunities for students to conduct their own experiments, the kits will make my classroom an individualized and fun place to learn!
Nearly all 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 Ms. Child and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
