My students enter the classroom asking questions about their projects. They are ready to dig deeper, refine their presentations, and prepare themselves for an outdoor experience while making sure their tablemates are also ready.
My mostly 6th graders are no different than the 7th graders in the class.
They are inquisitive, bursting with energy and filled with excitement about learning Environmental Science. We are a choice school with an emphasis on the environment and sustainability. Students take this class as an elective, along with their general science class. We spend time outdoors learning about the local environment and developing researchable and testable questions. Students learn to take control of their projects as they develop science process skills, data analysis, writing claims-based conclusions and self assessments.
My Project
We can walk to a local pond in a flood control drainage area. Over the course of the semester, students have made observations and now they are developing questions about the area. We are inviting scientists to help us answer these questions, designing investigations, and choosing questions to research in the computer lab. Students are already wondering what organisms live in the pond, being able to use an underwater camera system will generate a lot of interest (to say the least). A local scientist is also assisting in setting up sensor platforms to record other data. However, all these questions will come from the students. The culminating project will be displayed at our annual Science Fair and Science Celebration Night.
Students become empowered when their curiosity is nurtured.
They become invested and strive for accuracy. Having an OpenROV as a tool will inspire students to think critically about their environment. Once motivated, this skill can be applied to other subjects and to day-to-day situations. We strive to create learners who question the world around them, collect data, analyze it and use this information to make further connections while exploring how technology can help support their work.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Benita and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.