My students need a ride to the Rogers County Conservation District. Our fifth grade would like to travel there one class at a time for a lesson on aquatic ecosystems.
In my position as an enrichment specialist I not only provide services to students identified as gifted and talented, but also work to bring enriching activities into the classroom. One activity fifth grade has attended is the macroinvertebrate workshop at the Rogers County Conservation District.
Fifth graders in our school work hard all year to prepare for five end-of-the-year state tests.
Teachers work hard throughout the year to provide engaging, hands-on activities in all areas. This field trip is intentionally scheduled near the end of the year, after testing, because it is exceptionally engaging, but also directly supports fifth grade curriculum and maintains rigorous expectations.
Schools in our area have been hit extremely hard by budget cuts and previous grant funding for this trip has dried up. We are hoping this group of fifth graders will get to participate in this great learning experience.
My Project
In late May, each fifth grade class will travel separately to the Rogers County Conservation District. Students will spend time in both the indoor and outdoor classroom, making observations, gathering data, and drawing conclusions. Students will enter the aquatic ecosystem wearing waders and collect samples of aquatic organisms. They will return to the indoor classroom where they will identify these organisms using a dichotomous key and draw conclusions about the health of the ecosystem based on their findings.
Additionally, students in the gifted and talented program are building aquatic robots and plan to design a water collection device and test it while at the reserve.
This is the last year at our elementary school for fifth grade students.
The trip to the reserve is a great learning activity that takes students through the scientific process, develops new knowledge, and gives them an opportunity to practice existing skills in a real world situation. It is a grand final learning adventure that they will share with their teachers and peers before moving on to middle school. Additionally, they will be introduced to a variety of possible career opportunities.
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
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Harding and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.