“Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.” (John Dewey) We want students actively engaged in inquiry learning in a collaborative environment, leading to higher level learning.
Our school has about 370 students who come from very hardworking families, working multiple jobs so that they can stand on their own.
Each year we have more and more students who have families struggling to make it and who often have to move in with relatives after a job loss. Many also come from military families. The students at our school really want to make good choices, and we have a staff that is working to help guide students. Our staff continually goes above and beyond to help their students. The school is based on the idea that we are all part of the same team, and we work towards helping all students. Almost 100 percent of certified staff work as mentors during their personal time to give students who need the extra help the attention they need, whether it is an academic or a personal need.
My Project
Students need to learn STEAM concepts (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, And Math) in an investigative environment. Future jobs want workers that can collaborate and solve problems, and have the essential background knowledge. Our school is working to identify concepts the students need and then find engaging opportunities for them to learn. We are planning a Lego Robotics Club. The students will use the Lego Mindstorm Kits and accessories to design robots in teams. The resource books and guides will help the leaders structure the experiences and provide additional ideas for activities. It is important to have storage containers for the pieces. It is important not to lose the pieces, as they are all specialized. Students attending the club will learn essential career skills by designing and building the robots in collaboration. They will also be exposed to many STEAM concepts which will carry over to other educational experiences.
Education is changing to keep up with future jobs.
The local companies are working with the schools to help them identify skills that are needed. These materials will help motivate students to learn critical skills that students will need for the future. They will also learn team work, collaboration, and problem solving. All these are vital skills for students to master. Students love Legos, which makes this project special and will encourage higher level thinking skills.
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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. Cobb and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.