Stop Fueling Around: Creative Alternative Energies
My students need 2 inquires in chemical bonding kits, 1 modeling hydrocarbons kit, 2 science conserving resources kit, 2 science saving soils kits and 1 building blocks of light unit kit.
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.
I am employed at my school as a sixth, seventh and eighth grade science teacher for special populations. In addition, I also serve military children. I teach the most interested sets of students. Over the past two years I have worked with the other teachers in our science department to improve our students’ education and understanding of the systems in our environment. The development and conservation of resources on our planet and its relationship to the nationwide science standards has been my classroom focus.
It is easy to talk about the environmental changes that are needed but without some means of learning about the effects of the changes and their affect on the ecosystems, students are only hearing words. While words may work to excite adults, they do little to help students to appreciate the need for developing the skills to protect our world. One day my students will be the adult population with children of their own. I want to teach them through application and experimentation about the effects of damages caused by fossil fuels, the make-up of alternative fuels, the dynamics of chemistry in soil and energy conservation, and prepare them to become the scientists of the future.
The materials that we need will address a variety of issues relative to the science of energy. They will tie together the dynamics of fuel and soil conservation, and alternative fuels. I will teach the students the chemistry of carbon by engaging them in building different organic compounds. They will learn about molecular shape, stereochemistry, isomerism, and identifying and naming organic compounds. Through these lessons they will investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of recycled plastics and design their own plastics to serve specific purposes. Another component of this process will include exploring the properties of chemical bonds and analyzing each type of bond. They will learn about soil conservation by exploring soil’s physical properties through experiments designed to help them plan ways to prevent soil erosion and future damage to the soil. The students’ final tasks will involve learning and applying strategies to reduce their carbon footprints by exploring the concept of conservation.
I have requested a variety of kits that will be combined to produce the set of materials that will take the students and future generations of students on the journey as planet stewards. Initially, the kits will serve about 120-150 students, but in the future they will serve many years of student work. I will also make the kits available for use by the other science teachers as we always share our materials and ideas. Without the generous help of donors, the students will lose the opportunities to live science instead of learn science. Our planet needs students who are prepared to take on the problems in today's environment and help change the planet for the better.
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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. Capen and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.