Student Scientists Save Our Soil - Environmental Science
My students need soil test kits, lab activity guides, a Silence of the Bees DVD, and student safety contracts to learn about our environment by studying the quality of our soil.
The best science classes for students are inquiry based. Laboratory exploration creates a classroom where students are engaged and retain more information. Studying our environment and our soil is an opportunity for students to learn first hand facts which will affect their lives.
We are at a public high school in Hawaii.
My students have mild and moderate disabilities and all of my students qualify for special education. We are in a high poverty area with many of students qualifying for free lunch. Many live with single parents, relatives or foster parents. Despite these challenges, my students are bright and interested in science. I am hopeful that a strong science education can make higher education a reality for many of my students. Hands-on activities are necessary in science. Creating a chemical reaction or manipulating a model are much more meaningful than just reading from a textbook. Interactivity is key to building student interest and learning. Studying our environment is a key component of our science class. Contamination of our land and soil are crucial issues. Agriculture is a large industry in our area. These issues will directly affect my students now and in the future.
My Project
Our unit will begin with general information on our environment and the role that both human and natural actions have on our environment. My students are primarily visual and kinesthetic learners and our ability to do hands-on activities will provide a more engaging learning experience. We will take soil samples from our school and community to test. We will be able to test the soil for various positive and negative qualities. We will also further investigate the effects of chemicals on our soil. Our investigations will allow us to draw conclusions and investigate possible solutions.
Funding this project will supply my class with materials we would not otherwise have access to.
This will allow us to conduct actual testing of our own soil to become informed about the land in our community. Our inquiry will also allow us to understand the wider implications for the agricultural land worldwide and the impacts on our environment. Without lab supplies, we will be limited to only class discussion and written activities, which are less interesting and less engaging.
More than half 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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