This Is What Real Science Looks Like: Creating Classroom Scientists
My students need Chromebooks and Vernier temperature probes so they can be exposed to scientific probeware, collect data during labs and engineering design challenges, collaborate with classmates, and engage in peer review. Just like real scientists.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Holland's classroom raised $887
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
It's often said that as we grow older we begin to get less curious. My students defy this. As the school year goes on, they get more curious as they make connections between concepts and start looking at the world in new ways.
My students are curious and creative problem solvers who make insightful observations as they engage with and learn from each other.
I teach at a Title I school with a diverse population of students who show me every day that, if given the chance, they will rise to the occasion.
My Project
To truly prepare students to become scientists or to simply teach them to be scientifically literate citizens, students need to be exposed to what science is and how science is done. When students come to my class, many do not have a really clear idea of what science is. They think of it as many people do, as a set of facts in a textbook. But real science is so much more then scientific facts: it's a process, a search for understanding, a creative, collaborative, and ever-changing field as new information is discovered and made sense of. In short, science is amazing.
The best way to help students understand what science is isn't to tell them, but to show them by having them act as scientists in our classroom and model the work done by scientists in the real-world.
Just like real scientists, students need to be able to research what has already been discovered, share collected data, and engage in peer review and scientific argumentation. And, one of the most useful and engaging tools to help students do this is Chromebooks. When used thoughtfully, Chromebooks don't replace hands-on inquiry based science but enhance it by simply becoming another tool for students' scientific work. They are one of the most powerful tools for collaboration and peer review that can be used in the classroom.
In addition, having temperature probes will allow me to expose students to scientific probeware and digital data collection. Our probes will be used throughout the year on various inquiry-based projects, from environmental monitoring of student built ecosystems to data collection during engineering design challenges such as designing chemical cold packs. With the probes connected to Chromebooks, students can collect and analyze their data digitally, allowing my students to act as 21st century scientists in our classroom.
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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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. Holland and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
