Alfred Mercier once said, "What we learn with pleasure, we never forget." While my classroom uses traditional textbooks to access new information, my students need experiences to really understand and remember the content. I want them to apply the skills they master in real world settings.
The students in the program are unique learners with varying degrees of disabilities.
They are a hard working group that takes pride in meeting their goals. Traditional classrooms have not been successful in meeting their needs, so they are in a class that uses varying educational methods. When asked to describe their classroom, a common word heard is "family." We are a close knit educational family that thrives on supporting each other. We encourage each "family" member to reach their highest potential.
My Project
By visiting the zoo, my students will benefit educationally, functionally and socially. We have studied various animals and habitats throughout the school year. By visiting the animals studied and observing their behaviors, the students can tie classroom content to the real world. They can physically compare different types of habitats different animals live in. They can actually see the differences and similarities between animals instead of reading about it in a book. Functionally, students would be able to practice their money skills when ordering and paying for their own meals. Socially, they will be able to interact with various community members at the zoo as well as with their classmates in a non-structured setting.
By taking a field trip to the zoo, my students will gain real-world experiences that will enhance their lives both in and out of the classroom.
It will create a tie between what is learned in the classroom to the real world. It is my hope that by creating this tie, my students will be even more excited and motivated to learn.
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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. Bunton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
