AG students are eager to go geocaching. Can you help?
I teach 60 fifth grade academically gifted students at a public school in a military community. Due to lack of funds, these students have limited hands-on experiences with technological tools. Recently, I discovered many of them did not know how to operate a digital camera. It is my goal to get tools into these children's hands that will allow them to learn through technology.
Our school does not receive Title One federal funds, and we are in desperate need of technology tools to meet the needs of bright students who are truly bored with traditional instruction.
I recently discovered that Geocaching, electronic scavenger hunting, is a great activity to motivate students who are bored with traditional instruction. I introduced the concept to my class with one GPS unit. They loved it! I hid very complex math problems around the school campus which they located with the handheld GPS. Once a "cache" was discovered and the problem was solved correctly, students earned the opportunity to locate another cache. I've never seen such motivation. With adequate equipment, I could turn this into a great learning opportunity. Geocaching can easily be integrated into science and social studies lessons too. Since many of my students have parents in the military, they were especially interested in learning to operate a device that their parents use on their job.
Your help with funding this project will open doors inside and outside of the classroom. I plan to host a Family Geocaching Night for the students' families since Geocaching has become a sport that families can participate in together. I also plan to sponsor an afterschool club for 4th or 5th graders who are interested in technology. Please fund this project and afford me the opportunity to keep students actively and intellectually engaged in a non-traditional approach to learning.
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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. Bennett and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.