Past projects 2
Phones Turn into Microscopes!
Funded Nov 23, 2021Thank you so much for contributing to this project. My students were engaged and so excited about science. Students were excited to receive their very own personal kit that they could keep. After going through how to use the foldscopes, some were amazed at how easy it was.
My students explored kingdoms of living things and had to explore samples with plants, animals, fungi and protists. they were amazed to see every day items at close up. One of them shouted out, "yo, I'm a scientist!" They shared the pictures with each other to show what they were able to see.
Students are now being challenged to take their foldscopes home and explore materials outside of the classroom and share. This takes the skills to an application level transferring to independent explorations after school.
Thank you! These students will use the foldscopes over and over again this year (and hopefully strike up some individual curiosities, as well).”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Montgomery
The Stolen Cells of an African-American, Henrietta Lacks.
Funded May 3, 2011Thank you so much for contributing to our class set of books! The story about Henrietta Lacks penetrates on so many levels. As they arrived just as our school year was ending in June, we are just starting the book in my biology classes. I hope that you have looked at the pictures of some of my students as we opened the packages and began reading. One student asked if she could take it home to read that first day. I had to tell her no, but informed her that we were going to be reading it in class, and she was happy to hear that! As we have one class set, the students read the books in class; I allow some to sign out books over the weekend if they need some more time.
I show students video clips of HeLa cells dividing to give the students an active visual of the resilient process that enabled the scientists to retain the HeLa cells and continue the vast amounts of research. Students learn to read for information and form their own opinions about ethics and biomedical research. We are also able to connect the story to many NC goals: DNA, cell division and cancer, stem cells, genomics (biotechnology), bioethics, disease and immunity (including genetic factors that may have an impact). This book will be revisited throughout the entire course, and I know it will influence the thoughts of the students that read it!
Thank you again for your generosity and the wonderful class set of books about Henrietta Lacks and her legacy.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Montgomery