Past projects 6
See It, Read It, Do It: Science Fun!
Funded Nov 28, 2016The students couldn't be any more excited about the materials we have received from your generous donation! The airzooka is a HUGE hit. It is fun, exciting, and educational. Student learn that air is matter as it moves through the air and they feel it. It just happens to be incredibly fun to feel the air and watch it move a friend's hair with a quick blast. The books are beautiful and are such an engaging way of teaching science concepts, especially to the youngest learners. I am grateful to have these books on hand to share with my students. The root viewer and compost viewer are like windows into how the earth works to make and decompose our food. Thank you for your donation and all that it adds to our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Priest
Microscope Mania!
Funded Oct 4, 2016Dear Donor,
Thank you for your generous donation to our classroom! I am truly grateful! The students LOVE the digital microscopes. They microscopes have been in the hands of students in Kindergarten as well as 6th graders.
Kindergarten students have been using the microscopes to look at their hair, skin, shoes, freckles, pine cones, rocks, leaves, and so much more with the help of the middle school teaching assistants. We have been looking at how the threads of our clothes are actually woven and look like braids. It is wonderful to see the young students and middle school kids work together.
6th grade students have observed a variety of leaves to find evidence that living things are made of cells. It is wonderful to have digital microscopes where images can be displayed for a group to observe. We can take pictures and videos of what we see as well.
When students finish their work, they are welcome to explore with the digital microscopes. It is wonderful to see students engaged and curious. This love of learning is because of your generosity and commitment to education. I appreciate your support and all you do for our students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Priest
Engineering with Makey Makey Invention Kits and Magnet Cars
Funded May 31, 2016Thank you for donating to our Donor's Choose project! I am blessed to teach where we have such wonderful support from our families and the community. My students are excited about science and learning. It is wonderful to start off the year with new materials! The Makey Makey invention kits and magnetic car kits will be favorites this year.
The Makey Makeys were a hit last year with students. I am excited to have more of these invention kits so they can be in the hands of more students. (I have have over 400 students in my room each week!) Third, fourth, and fifth grade students will be completing projects with the Makey Makey Invention Kits this year while diving in to the Next Generation Science Standards. Third graders will create pencil drawings that conduct electricity, power the Makey Makey, and teach about weather and solutions to weather related hazards. Fourth graders will be making a musical instrument as they learn that energy comes in many forms and can be transferred. Fifth graders will use the Makey Makey to create a model to describe how Earth's major systems (geosphere, biosphere, etc.) interact.
Younger learners will explore forces and motion with the magnetic car kits. Students will learn about pushes and pulls while their cars respond to magnets. It is wonderful to provide these fantastic opportunities to my students. Thank you for blessing us with your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Priest
Ready, Set, MAKE!
Funded Sep 18, 2015Thank you for your generous donation to our Donor's Choose "Ready, Set, MAKE" project. It is a blessing to have your support and to have this wonderful equipment. The students love the hands-on science activities and ask to use the Makey Makey invention kits all of the time.
In Maker Studio, I have set out trays of cardboard, paper clips, tin foil, and play dough for students to use with their Makey Makey creations. I will be doing this with grades 2-5 in the new year. We are learning about the engineering and design process, circuits, and electricity as we create. It is great to have materials that blend science and fun together.
The students and I are learning together about how to use our Vernier probeware. It is great to see data in real time. We used cups of warm and cold water to create letters like "M" and "W" on the graph. Students saw that they needed to place the probe in warm water for the graph to go up and cold water for the temperature on the graph to do down. We are currently working on choosing and adapting Vernier labs to use with our curriculum to have technology be seamlessly integrated. It is a wonderful journey of learning and growing. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Priest
Gadgets & Gizmos for Science Exploration
Funded Jan 12, 2015Thank you for your generous donation to our science program! It is wonderful to be collecting real time data to analyze and include in our lab reports. We are excited to add the Vernier probes to our inquiry science labs. Miss Mallory and I are learning with our students as we explore the capabilities of these amazing probes. To start with, we watched the Vernier graph temperature as we warmed the probe with our hands and then sent the data to our Chromebooks. Our 8th grade students are currently completing a lab using the Vernier probes to test the pH of soils and other solutions like sports drinks, and coconut water. Students asked the pH of nail polish remover and we will investigate this on Fri.! Students are excited to use the probes to measure velocity, temperature, pH, and other properties. We are truly grateful for your thoughtful generosity. Science rocks!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Priest
Innovating Like Disney at the Little School in the Valley
Funded May 4, 2014Thank you for your support of our classroom project! I love seeing the students excited about learning and these additions to our classroom have been an integral part. Students have told me they can't wait to come to class. Other students from other classes on campus have emerged from their classrooms and joined in the fun as we set off geysers. Not only have my students benefited but I have been able to include others in the fun and learning.
The students have loved using the ice cream ball to explore chemical reactions while making ice cream. The raspberry pis are helping us take computer coding to another level. We are learning together as we explore coding. The soda geyser showcases chemical reactions is a huge, sticky hit also.
My students are gaining technical skills and learning about engineering concepts as they will be able to code the raspberry pi devices. We have a lot to learn and I am really excited about having this equipment. In the 2014-2015 school year, I will be able to offer a new STEM elective incorporating coding and engineering because of this generous donation.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Priest