My students need Lego simple machines kits and Magnaforms creativity kits to help introduce them to science and engineering concepts that will help prepare them for careers in the STEM field.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
My students are an amazing group of kids! Just like all other kids, they have dreams of what they’d like to be when they grow up. They want to be football players, basketball players, doctors, teachers, video game designers, etc. One thing that makes my kids different is that the odds of them making it out of their current circumstances are stacked against them. This is, however, where I come in because I stand in the gap for them as their teacher! I work hard to help my students gain the social and academic skills required for them to reach their goals.
My Project
My students are growing up in a world where technology and their physical environment is changing daily. What they are learning with me in first grade will probably be obsolete by the time they're in middle school and they will have to learn how to adapt in order to be successful. These materials will help give my students an understanding of the world around them, the ability to problem solve, and the ability to think and collaborate with those around them.
Building and creating with Legos and magnets will help introduce my students to the engineering design process, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.
These valuable skills will never become obsolete even though technology and the world around them will most certainly change.
My students will use these materials during a block of time built into our schedule each day called "Genius Hour." It is during this time that we explore the world around us and then we create. Students will learn about and create our solar system, learn about ecosystems and which animals are able thrive in these systems. We will learn how to construct buildings that are level and sturdy, by stacking Legos. The creativity with magnets will introduce my students to force and motion, as students will learn that a force is a push or a pull and how important that is in the world of science. Students will work in collaborative groups and create. These materials will incorporate literacy and will require students to read and problem solve to recreate the designs on the pre-made sheets from the Legos and magnets.
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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. Vaughn and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
