My students need science journals (sketchbooks), basic art supplies and magnifiers so that they may enhance their observational science skills through the arts.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Rotella's classroom raised $505
This project is fully funded
My Students
How does an urban child learn about the natural world around him or her when the particulars of day-to-day life keep them inside the walls of school or home? The answer is to bring the world inside so that we may look at it more closely and improve our skills in observation, inquiry and art.
If you were to walk into my classroom you would see the bright, resilient and hopeful faces of 32 9 and 10 year old children.
Almost all are native speakers of Mandarin and/or Cantonese. This is an ESL classroom in the truest sense. The children are at varying stages of English language development. Many of my students were born in N.Y. and were sent back to China until they were of school age. Upon their return, they entered a bilingual Chinese kindergarten; these children have had more exposure to English. Other students in my class arrived in the U.S. more recently. What unites them most is not the fact that they are entitled to free lunch and are learning English, but their sheer enthusiasm for discovery, their young belief that they will one day help their families and their desire to succeed. These are not the type of children who would cry because you said, "No, you cannot have that toy." They are used to living in a world full of "No's," yet they still find many joys.
My Project
I have requested what will hopefully be my students' very first artist's sketchbook/science journal, charcoal pencils and watercolors. I can just picture them looking at their new tools and materials and saying, "Wow!" because they feel so grown-up. I believe that these resources will improve their often flailing confidence in their ideas and abilities. Their observations of the natural world are valid even though they are children and the adults around them might not always take them seriously. Additionally, art is a democratizing way for my students to demonstrate understanding of content area knowledge even though they may not have the English words in which to do so. There is also no better way to learn science content vocabulary than to draw or paint what you see and attach the new English word to it and have that record available for your reference. So, in a sense, their science journals will also act as personal dictionaries of words they've encountered through experience.
There are ways to find space for the arts and sciences in public schools despite mandates on testing.
It is my desire to inspire my students' creative and inquisitive selves through the use of observational science journals. How will these children become scientists and artists if they do not get the opportunity to explore and learn in this way? Without early exposure to scientific reasoning and arts-based practices, their potential contributions to these fields may never be known.
Nearly all 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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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. Rotella and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
