My students need supplies to do hands on science: thermometers, model rockets, spring scales, impact sensors, microscope camera, and iPads to experiment scientifically.
How can we do cool experimental science fair projects without the tools to do it?! How do you really ignite a student's passion for science, engineering, math and technology? With hands-on, real-life, "light-the-ignition-and-watch-it-soar-into-the-sky" experiences with science and technology.
These students attend a public school that houses three different programs.
As a whole, the school is 61% low income -which just misses the target for a title one school and all the extra funding that comes with it. These students come from a range of backgrounds: some walk to school, some are bussed in, but most of them are enthusiastic about learning, especially if they can get their hands dirty doing science in school. These are the kids that will be the future scientists, mathematicians, and technology gurus of our future, and right now, they are excited about it. My job is to keep them excited by giving them real-life, hands on science experiments and the technology they need to do it.
My Project
These science/technology tools will be used in multiple ways in my classroom:
Statistics is such a big part of 6th grade math in the common core. I require my students to have at least 100 trials in their science fair experiments so we can do the statistical math. Students need tools to conduct their experiments. Spring scales, pressure gauges, thermometers of different kinds, pressure timers, the microscope camera and the technology on the iPads are all for that purpose.
Our science core covers space, heat, light, sound, and microorganisms. Using the microscope camera we can observe microorganisms. Using the rockets we can ignite passion for science. Using the temperature gauges, iPads, and models built by my students we can check for heat loss in buildings and look for ways to plug the energy leaks.
Above all, I want my students experimenting with, creating models, and solving scientific problems with real-life, hands on science and technology tools.
These students are our future.
They have a passion for learning that is just waiting to be ignited. I know that being able to design, build, and test hands-on science will inspire them to go further in the fields of science, math and technology. I also know that being able to find a passion for these topics, at this age, is crucial. We are nearing the end of the window that is open to influence these students (particularly the girls) toward STEM careers. This could be the very thing that does it
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