Do you remember using fun lab equipment in science class? Unfortunately, my school has limited lab supplies so my students are often short-changed in science class. Through projects like this, I hope to build an inventory of supplies to give my students a great science education.
I teach in the inner city of New York.
Most of my students come from diverse and low-income families. Many are behind their peers in their reading skills, but we work really hard to make significant gains every year. My school has very limited supplies, and I have to share our mediocre science lab equipment with all the other science teachers. A lot of it is broken, too, which is not fair to the students. For most of the school day, students read from textbooks and do written work to improve their literacy skills. I believe science needs to be a hands-on class where students get to explore scientific concepts and become critical thinkers and problem solvers. These skills are imperative, and the more equipment I have, the richer the science curriculum can be for my inquisitive science students.
My Project
I am requesting four triple bean balances that will be used throughout the year in many science experiments. We start every year reviewing how to properly use a triple beam balance because finding mass is a basic science skill that all students are tested on in the 8th grade. Throughout the year, I reinforce the skills through other labs, like finding the density of candy. We also use triple beam balances to quantify rock observations during our earth science unit. Now I share a limited number of old, worn out balances with the other science teachers. A set of my own will allow me easier access so that I can use them more readily. I hope to start the school year with enough so that pairs of students can have their own triple bean balance. This has been a dream of mine since I started teaching four years ago.
Every child deserves an equal education, and science education cannot be equal without lab equipment.
Unfortunately, my students go to a school with limited supplies and I want to change this. My students need these triple beam balances to learn basic measuring skills and to have the equipment for fun, hands-on labs. Four balances might be a small start, but I hope to slowly build up an inventory to have enough for every two students. My students deserve these basic lab supplies!
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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. Avery and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.