There are many things we can see and observe in everyday life. But to enjoy the wonders of the microscopic world, we need some help. A digital microscope will be the perfect tool to explore the world of the teeny tiny.
My students are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade children in an environmental science focused charter school.
They love to explore the outdoors and find "treasures" to bring back to our discovery center. We share the treasures and have them available to observe throughout the year. We observe with our eyes and with magnifying glasses already. Being able to take a closer look at the treasures we find would excite the students' imaginations and enhance their experience with the natural world.
My Project
I am requesting a digital microscope for my classroom. Young children have a lot of trouble seeing through a microscope and being able to focus appropriately. Often what they see is just darkness and it gets frustrating. The digital microscope is perfect to use with 1st - 3rd graders. This microscope will hook to my computer so I can focus on an object and the students will be able to view it on a screen. I can also connect my computer to a projector and project it onto our wall. This particular microscope comes with the ability to take photos of what we view and short videos. We can use these for reporting and sharing our findings with others in the school and our families. My students will be able to see the veins in a leaf and how intricate and delicate they are. They will be able to see and classify organisms that live in pond water - and can compare that to organisms you find in a river. The things we can learn and explore are limitless!
We do a lot of discovery learning and science investigating in our classroom.
The one experience we are missing is being able to use a microscope. Having a digital microscope will allow my young students to take a closer look at the world around them. They will all be able to view the same thing at the same time so we can have rich discussions about what we are seeing. And as only one can help with the microscope at a time, they can learn careful equipment handling with me close by.
Half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Johansen and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
