The cost of this proposal is $469, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
I am a first grade teacher at a Title One School where over 30% of our student population participates in our free breakfast and lunch program. Also, over 30% of our student population are English Language Learners. Our families come from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
On behalf of two first grade classrooms I am requesting that we are funded for our local park district to "bring science alive" in our classroom through its School Nature Program. These are in-class presentations which are called: Creepy Crawlers in which students learn all aspects about snakes, lizards and spiders. Students will examine dead and living specimens up close and learn the valuable role these animals play in nature; In the Dark in which students learn about nocturnal animals like bats and owls and how these animals adapt in nature; and Mammalian Madness in which students learn all about mammals, how they survive in nature and the students will also "become" a coyote and play a role in a short presentation. As well, students will have a hands-on experience with animal skulls, skins, bones and teeth.
These presentations allow the children to participate in activities, not just sit and listen or look at pictures in a book. The students will gain a much stronger understanding of the concepts presented because they are allowed to participate.
These programs supplement our curriculum standards in science and also engage the students in hands-on activities. An extension activity that we will do in the classroom is the dissection of owl pellets which is a very educational experience. I've had these programs presented in previous years and the students love them. The cost of the programs have increased and are too expensive for us to afford.
For some of our students, this is the only opportunity for them to have this type of hands-on, ranger-led learning opportunity. These presentations "bring alive" what they see in the pages of their science books.
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