Past projects 3
I'm Drinking Water from the Time of the Dinosaurs?
Funded Nov 14, 2012Thank you so much for your generous donations to fund the water and weather science equipment for our class. I was so excited to be able to use the equipment with the students to make science more hands on. Your contributions to my class project have made the lights turn on in their eyes. The Water Cycle Model Activity Set, the Accent Water Cycle Kit, the Aneroid Barometer, the Wind Vane, and the Instant Snow were exciting to share with my students and the other fourth grade classes. We trade classes for science so I am able to share the resources with almost 100 students in our three classes. The impact of these resources has already helped this year's students. Because the equipment is durable, it will be used by numerous students for many more years to come.
The Water Cycle Model Activity Set gave me lessons and pictures to use to show the students different stages of the water cycle. It included a set of ten color pictures which started with the ocean spray against the rocky coast. The spray evaporates. Another picture showed the fog and mist in the tops of the trees. Pictures showing the building of clouds from condensation came next. Then it had pictures of precipitation with rain and then snow. Finally, the pictures completed the water cycle with snow melting and run-off occurring, ready to start the cycle all over again. The model itself intrigued the children in watching the evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and run-off occurring right before their eyes. A lamp shining on the ocean (water inside the model) imitated the sun and produced evaporation. Ice cubes on the top of the model under the plastic cloud cover provided the change in temperature needed to produce condensation. Precipitation then dropped from the clouds striking the mountains and formed lakes, rivers, and run-off back down to the ocean. The children could see the cycle in action.
The Accent Water Cycle Kit provided lesson plans, beakers, jars, plates, and thermometers to do experiments with the students related to the water cycle. Putting ice in the metal beakers and then putting in the thermometers and watching the temperature change made a great impact on the students. Just holding the cold metal beaker and feeling the condensation on the outside brought the meaning of the word "condensation" to life. That is real hands on learning!
The Wind Vane moves easily in a small breeze. It is easy for the children to determine which way the wind is blowing and find the wind direction for their weather trackers which they fill out every day. The Aneroid Barometer was fascinating for the children to take turns pumping up. It helps the children understand more about how a barometer works. The measurement from a barometer can inform the students about what kind of weather is coming and how it will affect them. We have had several strong storms lately where the barometric pressure has been quite low. The students have been able to see a relationship between the storm they see and the readings from the barometer. The last item we received was the instant snow. I am saving the snow for the end of the year to excite and remind them of the mountains of snow we had during this winter. I know they will be thrilled at the experiment.
With the cutbacks in education funding, teacher furlough days, more students in the classroom, and budget shortfalls, generous donations from companies such as yours are invaluable. My students would never have received these wonderful resources without your help. Thank you again for being willing to fund these teacher projects to help students in classrooms all across the country.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Langford
This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and 9 other donors.Rain, Snow, Sleet, or Hail?
Funded Dec 24, 2010Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity in donating toward science equipment and resources for my classroom. The children have been able to use the small weather station to measure the wind, temperature, and precipitation. I have used the Jumpstarters for Meteorology Book and Weather Transparency Book to develop lessons and a learning packet about weather for all the classes in the fourth grade. The children had fun watching the anemometer spin in the wind, counting the rotations, and learning which direction the wind was blowing from. We played Weather Bingo and learned to recognize the different clouds and instruments, etc. It has been interesting to use the hygrometer to measure the humidity in the classroom. The Interactive Weather Map Bulletin Board Set has helped the children learn more about weather fronts and weather symbols used in forecasting the weather. The Clever Catch Ball was used in a group activity where they toss the ball back and forth answering the weather related question wherever their thumb landed.
These hands on weather instruments and learning resources have helped the children recognize the weather around them each day. They are excited to go outside and observe the changes occurring in the weather day to day. Learning that the different types of clouds indicate changes in the weather gives the children knowledge to base their choices of what clothes to wear to school that day. There is a saying in Utah that if you don't like the weather, just wait a little bit and it will change. The students have learned that many days that is an accurate saying. One day they observed five different forms of precipitation within just hours: rain, sleet, snow, snow pellets, and hail.
Thank you again for your wonderful contribution to the learning of my students. It was such a great Christmas present to find my project funded on Christmas Day. Thank you for being willing to help students and teachers achieve their goals and have fun learning together.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Langford
This classroom project was brought to life by Friends at the Eccles Foundation and Wells Fargo and 3 other donors.Instant Feedback
Funded Dec 1, 2007Merry Christmas to you! It sure feels like Christmas came early for me with your generous donation to fund this project. I am excited to receive the materials sometime in January and begin using them with my class. I feel "Instant Feedback" will allow me to fine tune my teaching of each individual student. Thank you so much for your help and generosity. Have a Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Helena ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Langford