Middle school science is the place where students bring life experiences and work together to develop understanding of new concepts and explore their applications. However, content knowledge is no longer enough. Modern students need to work with modern technology to make their visions a reality!
My school is "stuck in the middle." Being a "moderate poverty" school, we do not receive the funding and technology provided to poorer schools, yet do not have the parent donor base of affluent schools.
As a magnet school, we serve students from throughout the district, encompassing a wide range of home languages, academic proficiency, and socio-economic levels. We are a full-inclusion school, so I teach all students, including those with special needs, gifted, and English learners.
My colleagues and I have developed a rigorous STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) curriculum, constructed on a foundation of hands-on learning and real-world application. I employ a program of varied activities and instructional strategies to both motivate and teach my students. We also offer a rich electives program with offerings such as Hands-On Technology and Robotics.
My Project
The Next Generation Science Standards are being rolled out! Finally, the emphasis in science class will not be on memorizing and repeating back facts of science discovered long ago, but on becoming proficient at "doing" science.
We need an OpenROV underwater robot kit and set of build materials to engage in hands-on engineering and explore local waters! To begin our OpenROV project, a group of students (with assistance) will be directly responsible for the assembly of the underwater robot. Students will use their skills of computer programming, investigation and collaboration to actually get it to work!
The entire school will follow their progress in science class, providing a great source of student-centered engineering, as well as motivation to study science and math. Instead of just reading about sea floor exploration in Earth Science, adaptations of marine organisms in Life Science or classic descriptions of motion, forces and fluids in Physical Science, students will directly observe these concepts in action with their OpenROV robot in various water sources of the SF East Bay!
Our middle school students will be the researchers and engineers of the future.
Robotics and the exploration of Earth's waters are exciting and important STEM careers. This OpenROV underwater robot project is important because it will provide students the experience of collaborating to solve problems, exploring local waters and following projects being undertaken at other schools. What a remarkable way to experience science!
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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. Horne and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
