In order to better meet the needs of our 6th grade students, I strive to provide a STEM lab atmosphere that will gives my students opportunities to engage in investigations that include research, comparisons, descriptions, and experimental design.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin's famous quote has since been proven by science; educators now call it “experiential learning.
I teach in the largest middle school in our state. Our community is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Along with our physical growth, our community is becoming more diverse. My students speak multiple languages, have a variety of learning style and a curiosity for the unknown.
As the population grows, so does the need for additional resources to create lessons and activities that use real-life applications.
My Project
The materials I am requesting will give my students the opportunity to assemble, monitor and make decisions on how to maintain an indoor water-tank garden. The tanks are a scaled-down hydroponics system where the fish waste fertilizes the plants and the plants clean the water.
This system will help students better understand the needs of living things and how they interact within an ecosystem.
It will also address the serious issues of resource consumption.
Student will be able to test and maintain the water quality, and the cycles of matter in their tank. They will be able to to measure the affects of variables on other variables. Example: Water temperature has a direct effect on dissolved oxygen levels.
Our community is growing rapidly with new housing developments. The housing developments include apartments and mobile home parks. These space offer limited or no space for growing food. Aquaponic gardening will offer a solution to growing food in areas with limited space, poor soil, scarcity of water.
Students will grow organic greens, herbs and care for Betta fish. They will also develop skills for creativity, problem solving, communicating ideas, and collaborating with others. These skills are beneficial for the students to be lifelong learners.
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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. Vincent and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
