My students need 34 books about plants in the classroom, so that they can learn about how to take good care of our school garden.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Wilder's classroom raised $590
This project is fully funded
My Students
When was the last time that you stopped to notice a drop of water fall to the ground? Small, important and wonderful miracles happen around us daily. Young children stop to notice and wonder everyday, but budget cuts are affecting how my students make discoveries about their world.
My students are a lovely, motivated and curious bunch of second and third grade children who live in an urban area.
Coming from mostly Latino backgrounds, they often struggle with comprehension, production and the acquisition of the English language. Having tactile experiences can help to close these gaps. Furthermore, when they are provided with meaningful and purposeful engagement with literature, they naturally expand their vocabulary, and their language growth is phenomenal.
One way that young students develop their vocabulary and strengthen their language acquisition is by talking about the experiences that they have with adults and their peers. Our school recently received a donation for a school garden. The new garden has generated a lot of discussion amongst the children already. I want to provide them with learning materials that will make their experiences with the garden even richer. A collection of literature about plants, composting and soil will help with this goal.
My Project
The children will use the books and audio equipment to develop their language and literacy skills in many different ways. I plan to engage my students in a study of plants and seeds because they have shown such a strong interest in the garden. First they will listen to some of the books. This will provide the children with opportunities to have the natural flow and sound of the English language modeled for them. Next, the children will learn how to read the books independently. This will help the children to learn new words about plants and seeds and improve their reading and comprehension skills. This will also help the children to practice speaking the English language as they engage in discussions about the books.
The children have been making discoveries about the garden as they observe and use their senses to explore. The new information that they acquire from the books, will help them to strengthen their scientific questions and inquiry about plants and seeds.
Imagine the excitement in my room when I am able to spark the imaginations of my students and their sense of awe about the natural world using these materials.
My students will learn how to think and act just like scientists do. They will realize that even though they are small, they can still develop ideas to help solve the big ecological problems we face. One day soon, I hope to hear one of my students say, "Abuela, I know how I can help the world when I grow up. I will be a botanist."
More than a third 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. Wilder and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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