Past projects 5
WaveLab: an enLightened Soundscape
Funded Dec 6, 2023Thanks to your thoughtful donation, we've been able to acquire essential supplies and resources that have enriched our understanding of how waves function. From interactive tools to hands-on experiments, your contribution has allowed us to offer a more comprehensive and engaging learning environment.
Your generosity has not only provided tangible materials but has also sparked a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm among our students. Witnessing their excitement as they delve into experiments, explore concepts, and grasp the intricacies of waves is incredibly rewarding.
Your belief in the importance of education and your willingness to invest in our classroom's endeavors have touched us deeply. Your support doesn’t just impact our current studies; it lays the foundation for a lifelong appreciation for scientific inquiry and discovery.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Brock
Exploring Tiny Details
Funded Nov 8, 2023Thanks for always continuing to encourage the curiosity of the 8th graders. My students are always so curious and ready to do labs which really just takes money. With your help, this project will not only help this years students, but students for many years in the future! Your contributions are truly a great example of community and the encouragement of hands-on learning.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Brock
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors & Young Sheldon on CBS and 9 other donors.Rocket Building is a Blast!
Funded Jan 17, 2023With attendance issues on Fridays, I decided to use the rockets as an incentive to encourage kids to be at school. It worked! Knowing that coming in on Friday would be an activity to build their rockets, kids came in ready to work.
Well, this last Friday was LAUNCH day. The weather cooperated beautifully. Kids were very excited to have their rockets that they carefully put together, decorated and loaded the day before. We went on the basketball courts and even the 4th graders came out to cheer us on (it's a K-8 school) by counting down.
With each class, came other employees to enjoy the kids excitement and launches. Secretaries, the student resource officers, the counselors, everyone came out. The custodians came running out with a tall ladder to rescue one particular rocket that got blown into a tree.
Often, in school these days, those experiences that cannot be measured with data are the learning of how to follow instructions, gluing things together, seeing the electrical circuit, using paint, etc. It's the reasons to bring out the curiosity and the reason kids WANT to come to school. Other teachers have remarked how the most struggling of students have been showing up on Fridays.
Thank you, for allowing this experience to happen. IT WAS FABULOUS. This, by far, will become an annual event, culminating our space science unit.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Brock
Community Water Impact Survey
Funded Nov 6, 2018I have been using the resources for this project for the last 3 years (minus the missing year of 2020). It's been amazing watching the kids connect to science in a way that they can truly appreciate. Water studies in an area filled with springs has made this a much more reachable concept for kids who think that science isn't for them.
Students were excited to use real materials and truly appreciate the outdoor lab experience. This project has now become a staple for the 8th grade year in our community with subsidies now coming from the university due to its success.
Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Brock
The Science of Light
Funded Aug 3, 2018The best sound a teacher can hear, is scuttling of kids getting into their seats quickly because as they meander into the classroom the island at the front of the room is filled with equipment. There is no need to prompt the students to get started or "do the warm up". Rather - the kids are curious, "What are we doing today?" "Oooooh, are those flashlights?" "I saw those before, that's UV!"
When the students see rocks, I have to admit, they are not as happy as I am. But when they changed color with fluorescence, wow! I had questions from students I had to research as their innate inquiry just went beyond what I had expected. It's always fascinating to see that the better a time the kids are having, the more questions come up, allowing me to remind them that good science is inquiry.
For most students, being able to wear rainbow glasses while looking into the different light sources (tubes of different elements) and studying Fraunhofer Spectral lines (an intro I didn't get to until college) was the icing on the cake. I have had emails from parents asking for "where to buy the glasses". When young teens go home and discuss how excited they were about a class over dinner, the seeds of curiosity and wanting to learn more have been planted with highest compliments.
Our class is taking this project to the next level by looking at photosynthesis and the transfer of that energy to real living plants and growing them (energy transformations). I was told how lucky they felt to be in my class and I couldn't have done it without your support.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Brock