Past projects 3
Learning Electronics a "Little Bits" At a Time
Funded Mar 13, 2016The day the kits were received, we opened them together, and I couldn't stop the kids from tearing in and building right away. In less than 10 minutes, students were building circuits and using them to interact with each other and with me. Watching the students self-assess their work, try new combinations of circuit parts, and then redesign and rebuild let's me know that the kits are going to be an immense compliment to our work in the classroom.
In particular, I was really happy to see all of my female students dive into the work of circuit building. They normally focus on the coding and programming side of STEM, working on website design and computer coding. I know the Little Bits kits have already made electrical engineering more accessible for my female students. An all girl group of 4 students were the first to build an electric hand buzzer from the parts!
Thank you all again for making technology more accessible for my students!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Glover
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 4 other donors.Engineering Popcorn Bags for Better Popped Corn
Funded Mar 12, 2013When the new laptops arrived for our classroom, my students' faces lit up with excitement. They were anxious to work on the project's presentation as it would be done electronically.
After completing the prototype and upgraded versions of popcorn bags, the students tested their designs in a microwave. Some designs were really successful, others not so much. But it was the process of design, testing, and redesign that was important to the scientific and engineering process. After completing their testing, the students created presentations using resources from Google Drive. After the project was completed, the laptops continued to be used for other purposes. Some students worked on projects from other classes, some were able to use them for personal research about science topics they found interesting, and still others used them to type out assignments to turn in electronically.
I am able to use the laptops to help my students learn tech skills in the classroom that otherwise would have not been accessible. It also allows me to build my teaching practice to include new entry points for students learning. Your donations were a powerful addition to my classroom, not just for the popcorn project, but for many others this past year, and for many others to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Glover
Investigating Food Preferences in Hermit Crabs
Funded Apr 1, 2011For five weeks, my students studied, observed, and collected data using the hermit crabs that you all so generously donated. The projects went very well, and the students were excited every day when they entered class and were able to make observations of the hermit crabs. Three small groups of students did such a phenomenal job on their projects that they were invited to present their work at the American Museum of Natural History during the Urban Advantage Science Expo 2011! Some students even adopted the crabs for the weekend to do their part in caring for the organisms. This became quite a scientific event this year in my classroom. Students from other grades were expressing jealousy and interest in learning about the crabs as well. This tells me that they will continue to provide learning experiences in the coming school year. Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Glover