My students need a ride on a passenger train to deepen their understanding of different modes of transportation. They want to know where their train goes after it passes.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
As we study different modes of transportation, my students are drawn to the Metra passenger trains. When they hear these familiar train sounds, they run and wave with endless enthusiasm. I asked my non-verbal students if they would like to see where the train goes and they all shook their heads YES.
My severely disabled students are multisensory learners.
They learn best in environments where learning takes place naturally. My students are mainly kinesthetic learners. They learn “by doing” especially when information is concrete and directly observable.
My students would benefit greatly from a ride on the Metra train. As new transportation concepts are presented to students, they will begin to utilize several modalities of learning to deepen their understandings of these ideas. As they look out the windows they will explore the different neighborhoods with their eyes. The novel sounds and movement of the train will help my students identify this mode of transportation. When they see things that are familiar it will deepen their prior learning. When they see things that they have never experienced before, it will engage their curiosity. As we walk through our community discussing the different modes of transportation, students will explore why people use different transportation.
My Project
Investigating the Metra Railway via their senses will enhance the content I currently teach by incorporating significant auditory, tactile and kinesthetic components. As my students acquire knowledge about trains and transportation in new ways they will take a more active role in their learning experience. This field trip will give my students the opportunity to explore trains, neighborhoods, street signs, as well as different modes of transportation.
We will take the train to its end points, where we will have the opportunity to explore the train station. At Union Station, students will participate in a tour of this important transportation hub. The tour of Union Station will help them understand the importance of this historic landmark and allow them to explore it via their senses. Students will learn the history of Union Station, as well as rules for train safety, and how to act on trains. They will learn that trains help millions of people get to work daily as well as conserve fuel.
This field trip will give my students an experience of a lifetime.
They come from immigrant or lower income families that cannot spare the time or money to explore trains. As my students explore different modes of transportation, they will learn about trains in fun and interesting ways. We will bring this information back to school and our homes and share it. We will revisit our newly learned knowledge again and again during recess time and our daily walks in the neighborhood.
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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. P. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
