Science is for REAL: Hands-On Science and Informational Text
My students need a six book series: How Do Simple Machines Work and K'Nex Education kits for levers, pulleys, gears, inclined planes, and wheels and axels.
I remember learning about simple machines in science. Ugh! A boring chapter in the science book with equally boring pictures. That is not the experience I want for my students. I want my students to have fun, apply what they learn, and build confidence through meaningful, hands-on activities.
Our school is a small, rural school in Indiana.
We have one classroom per grade level and a high poverty rate. Given the small size, our school has limited funds for resources, but we are blessed with a family-like caring environment.
Our students are active, curious and some are at-risk for failure due to situations beyond their control. They want to be connected to content and understand why and how concepts apply to them. Many of them also struggle with reading comprehension and making connections to the greater world around them.
We have had wonderful success in our school with integrated learning-- connecting concepts across several subjects.
My Project
These materials would allow my students to have an exciting and engaging experience exploring the world of simple machines. The project begins with reading the texts for background knowledge about the simple machines. The students will read in groups of 2-3 and practice informational text comprehension skills.
With the background knowledge in each simple machine established, the students will continue working in groups of 2-3 to build, investigate, and evaluate the scientific principles of simple machines. Each student will keep a journal much like a scientist’s lab data as they explore each kind of simple machine with the K’Nex kits. The kits are aligned to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Standards.
After learning about, and exploring each one, the teams will be given an engineering problem to solve. The students will design their project using materials from the kits. As a class, we will test each machine and record the result, celebrating all our hard work and new knowledge.
This project makes a positive impact on my students’ lives.
The hands-on activity appeals to our active student population and engages students that may not otherwise be interested. The books allow students to practice reading comprehension in nonfiction, our most difficult reading skill. By working as a team and designing a real-world solution, the students will experience the engineering process and perhaps encouraging them to see themselves in a science-related field in the future.
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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. Boyd and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
