Help my students to discover alternate ways to soar!!!
I work with a wonderful group of Sixth grade students in a high needs Title 1 school in Northern California with eighty percent free or reduced lunch. I need help teaching my students to love science and the environment.
My students thrive on hands-on projects. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide anything more than the basics of books, paper, and pencils. My sixth graders are inquisitive, but unaware of alternate forms of energy. When we built a basic solar balloon out of trash bags, they were amazed that it was able to float without helium or wind. They struggle so hard to be able to perform up to their potential, but how can they when I am unable to provide anything more than the basics?
I was able to discover a project that will allow my students to each create a hands-on solar powered project out of K'Nex and basic solar cells. The kids are so into building, many of them will stay in all recess to play with Legos that use as models for writing assignments. Not only will this project allow the students to gain fine motor skills (something that many of them are still lacking), but it will build a love for science. My hope is that they will see the importance of finding alternative methods to doing things.
We will begin our study of alternative fuels by studying fossil fuels and the effect that they have had on the world thus far. We will look at from both a science and social studies stand point. The students will learn that fossil fuels have contributed to the increase of green-house gases, and with that, the acceleration of global warming. They will also learn that the noxious fumes from cars have begun to destroy our world's monuments. We will look at Greece's Parthenon, and study how automobile exhaust has begun to erode the structure that has stood for some two-thousand years.
Your assistance will enable my students to gain a love for science and conservation. This project will aid my students in understanding the importance of protecting what little resources we have on this planet. Your help will ensure that my students, our future leaders, and future generations, will have the chance and the drive to reverse something that they have contributed so little to... Global Warming.
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