Mrs. Abrams-Ruque's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 58

• Science of Fermentation: Yeast Drunk on Sugar

  Funded Nov 9, 2024

  Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project! Fermentation is usually not an overly-engaging topic for students but these lab materials really helped to both deepen student understanding and also spark their interest in it. While the weather has not been on our side this winter and we had to cut the lab a little shorter than we hoped, students still got to see the comparison of how yeast process different sugars in the absence of oxygen, to produce carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol as products. As expected, students were fascinated that a breathalyzer device could be used with a balloon that captured products secreted by microorganisms. They were anxious to test other factors, but due to an abundance of snow days, time did not allow it. However, this kit will definitely be used again in the future.

  Thank you again for making this memorable activity possible. I'm confident if this topic shows up on the standardized test, students will now remember that fermentation creates both CO2 and ethanol; something previous biology students struggled to understand and remember. I also think students will never look at rising bread dough the same again, as they've not got on their "scientist goggles" to view the world!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 12 other donors.

• Documenting Evidence: A Forensic Crime Scene Challenge

  Funded Jul 25, 2024

  Thank you so much for supporting our Forensic Science Crime Scene Project! Students enjoyed learning how to photograph a mock crime scene, document and collect evidence, write a warrant, follow a chain of custody, keep a security log, make rough and final crime scene sketches, and put together clues to develop their crime scene reconstruction story line. Our new mannequin worked great at playing our "victim", Anna Fender, who broke into the school with friends and threw a wild Halloween party with drugs, alcohol, and eventually overdosing. Students did a great job putting together the clues to figure out how many other students were at the party and Anna's cause of death. The evidence bundle worked great to allow students to feel like real-life detectives with official collection materials and crime scene tape. These materials will be reused for future crime scenes as students expand their skills and knowledge and learn about other types of evidence throughout the school year.

  Thanks so much for your support! It is truly appreciated!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

• Mastering Mitosis with Models

  Funded Nov 9, 2023

  I apologize for my delay in posting an update on our project. These cell cycle models came in very handy during our cell unit. Students used these models in one of our lab rotation stations where they were tasked with arranging the models in order and naming all of the cell parts. Students said the models were very helpful in learning the steps of mitosis and understanding cell division. After working through all of our lab stations, students did a one-on-one check with me. I was able to use the models to make sure they understood each step and could name the phases, parts, and describe what was occurring. Having an in depth understanding of the cell cycle, has made learning genetics a breeze! Thanks so much for your continued support. These models are going to have a long life in our school and will help many students master this science topic!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

  This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors & Young Sheldon on CBS and 17 other donors.

• Microscope Mania

  Funded Nov 28, 2023

  Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and allowing us to purchase an additional microscope. This is one baby step closer to a full class set. It is always so fun to see students using microscopes and viewing microscopic organisms for the first time. We've been able to do a variety of labs so far in both my biology and zoology classes. Students really enjoyed seeing tardigrades, algae, blood, sperm, various organs, lichens, parasitic worms, ticks, protists, fungi, and bacteria. Tomorrow students will be viewing onion cells and fish blastula cells undergoing mitosis, as well as cancer cells.

  Thank you again for your generous donation and support.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 14 other donors.

• River Ecology Brings Biology and Zoology to Life

  Funded Sep 23, 2023

  This tank has been such a great addition to my classroom! Students really enjoyed getting to open the packages upon arrival, help put the tank together, set it up, and release the fish, frogs, and snails into the aquarium. I love seeing students walk into class each day and checking to see which animals are out and how they're doing. Students have practiced pet responsibility by taking turns feeding the animals and caring for the tank. In Zoology, we're just now starting to study mollusks and students will be able to get a close-up view of our snail's radula in action! Thanks again for your generous donation and for supporting my students and our classroom!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

  This classroom project was brought to life by The SONIC Foundation and 65 other donors.

• Genetic Disorder Detectives

  Funded Aug 1, 2022

  Thanks so much for supporting our classroom project. Students really enjoyed completing karyotypes as part of the Disorder Detective Activity. This was a great way to check their understanding of chromosome numbers, structure, and mutations. It also helped them to review important vocabulary while being realistic and relevant.

  I love that the kits are reusable and can be reused several times before needing to switch to the refill pack. I already have ideas on how I can build upon this activity next year to expand its application and help students further practice genetics and apply the skills they've been learning in class.

  Thanks again for making enriching content in my class possible for my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

• Modeling, Meiosis, and Mendel with ChromoSocks

  Funded May 3, 2022

  Thanks so much for supporting my classroom. The Chromosocks received from this project were helpful to my struggling students. We were able to use them to show the stages of meiosis and how cells pull apart chromatids to make haploid cells for reproduction. Students then could see how those same chromosomes are the basis for genetics and Punnett squares. Having something hands-on that students can manipulate is important for kinesthetic learners. The chromosocks were able to help students model homozygous and heterozygous genotypes, crossing over and genetic recombination, and independent assortment. Thanks again for your continued support of my students!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 3 other donors.

• Blood Typing and Beyond in Forensic Science

  Funded Nov 3, 2022

  Blood is a topic I teach in both my biology and forensic science classes. This week my forensics students were able to determine the blood types of synthetic blood samples from the kits provided by your generous donations. Students were excited and eager to learn and have a much better understanding now of how blood types are determined and why they are so important. They had case studies involving trying to match blood from a crime scene to the victim or suspects. They also looked at donor compatibility for blood transfusions as well as paternity cases. We also did a lab involving blood spatter patterns from blood falling at different heights, angles, speeds, and other scenarios. I love seeing my students engaged!

  I am looking forward to also using these kits with biology students in our upcoming unit on genetics. Thank you again for your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

• Modeling Membranes and Cell Processes

  Funded May 3, 2022

  Thank you so much for helping us purchase these fluid mosaic models! Students have a much better understanding of the phospholipid and protein arrangements since being able to assemble the models in small groups. They were able to walk through the steps of osmosis, diffusion, and facilitated diffusion as well as different types of active transport. Topics that are abstract to students often can be challenging but these models allowed students to work at their own pace and understand the models and processes much better than other methods I have tried with them. I am excited to get to reuse these in the future also. Thanks again for your support!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 2 other donors.

• Empower Science Students to Conquer Cancer

  Funded Feb 22, 2022

  Thank you so much for helping purchase cancer models for our cell division lab. Students always have so many questions about cancer as it affects many of their lives through family or friends that have been diagnosed. These models helped guide a conversation about the importance of self-exams and early diagnosis. Many students did not even know males could get breast cancer, so the male breast model was very educational for them. I am sure this was an activity that students will remember beyond high school. Thanks for your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Abrams-Ruque