Somewhere deep in the heart of the Midwest lies our town. It is the quintessential rural town that has always been described in books, television, and movies since the beginning of time. Families have lived here for generations and take pride in everything that the small town has to offer. The townspeople come out in force at the annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, as well as the Strawberry Festival. They crowd the stands to see their hometown team play ball and line the streets during the annual homecoming parade. It is, indeed, a tiny piece of Midwestern paradise.
Our high school special education classroom is a place of growth in academics, personality, and citizenship.
We celebrate each other's successes while learning from each other's mistakes; in short, we try our best and come together as one team with the common goal of becoming productive citizens in a global society.
My students don't let their disabilities define who they are or what they are capable of; instead, they embrace them and the challenges they pose without fear.
My Project
The majority of my special education students participate in our school's agriculture program. In this program, students learn about the various aspects of agriculture: Animal science, environmental science, and agricultural business management. Perhaps the class that they are most excited about is the environmental science class because they are able to see how science interacts with the things they take for granted every day in nature.
I want to harness my students' love for environmental sciences by letting them learn about hydroponics and how this can supply them with fresh vegetables, even in the winter!
Let's face it: Illinois is a pretty bleak place in the dead of winter. It's cold and snowy, which is the exact opposite of what is needed to grow anything outside. By teaching my students about hydroponics, they will learn how even in poor weather conditions, little sunlight, and no soil, they can still grow flowers and vegetables. The students will plug in the Aerogarden system, fill it with the distilled water, add nutrients to the water, and plant the seed pods. Within the first few days, they will watch the plants begin to sprout, and within the first 60-90 days, they will watch the plants begin to bud and produce vegetables.
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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. Bell and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
