Past projects 147
(Deeper) Learning How to Use Technology
Funded Feb 19, 2015I'm just arrived back from San Diego and have had a couple of days to work off the jet lag and reconnect with my family. Fully processing all I saw and heard at Deeper Learning 2015 will take me significantly longer. I'm so excited to share with you what an incredibly rich three days I had collaborating with great teachers and educational leaders. This conference is so unique because it is focused so much on the process of learning, and what it means to teach deeply at all levels. The conference challenged all of us to think about how our teaching supports students sense of belonging to a community, how it fosters a growth-mindset, makes them know their work is relevant, and nurtures their sense of self-efficacy. Notice that this comes before anyone ever talks about the content of what is being taught! Without those ingredients, students may not see the value in school, or may simply see it as a game they need to play to get to the next stage of their lives. Deeper Learning challenged me to think about how I am using the space in my classroom to grow students who have a strong sense of these four principals and not just an accumulation of facts they are likely to forget.
Just some of the highlights of this work were an inspiring speech by Columbia University's Chris Emdin, who can be found on the TED Talk website. He pushed us to always question how and why we teach what we do, to make sure students' perception of our classes matched with their own values and culture first. I participated in workshops that gave me ideas I can bring back to my classroom right away. One was about citizen science and waterways - we went to the nearby estuary and practiced the same activities students would do - taking observations of plants, humans, and wildlife, collecting and testing water samples, and then debriefing how we could use these experiences to engage students. The second day was a day-long "Deep Dive" workshop called Creative Robotics. We were challenged to create robots using the Lego Mindstorms EV3 kits that could move like animals - no wheels allowed! Even for someone with experience building and programming, this pushed my limits, but also introduced me to ways students could become excited about robotics. After the initial challenge of making our creation move, we used art supplies and story telling to give our creation a life. My partner and I built a crab that used light sensors to scurry for the safety of darkness. We had lots of ideas how such a creation, or the many others made by the other participants - a dog, a hanging sloth, and insects - could be the basis for student story writing!
Finally, the greatest source of inspiration came from speaking with other educators about the work they are doing in their own classrooms. I spent a lot of time trying out technology at the school campus that hosted the conference - a laser cutter for turning computer creations into wood, screen printing for making student ideas live on paper or clothing, stitching e-textiles with LEDs and conductive thread, or just getting a taste of the potential for 3D printing. Most valuable though was seeing how these devices are being used in student projects. Teachers from around the country shared their students' publications about the local environment, how they used e-textiles to teach circuitry and storytelling, and how something like a laser cutter can give students' freedom to design their own working mechanical parts or quality display pieces.
I am inspired by what I went to see and I am grateful to have so many new educators to connect with about all of the possibilities out there for great, empowering education. Most importantly though, I am thankful to you for making this trip possible. I hope you will continue to support a wonderful program like Donorschoose for the opportunities it gives to both educators and their students. I leave you with one last thing I learned at Deeper Learning 2015, a new film called Most Likely To Succeed (http://mltsfilm.org/). It highlights the work being done around Deeper Learning, especially at the schools where this conference was hosted. I strongly encourage you to find your way into a screening, and then to get a copy of your own once it hits wider release. There is nothing like seeing something in action to understand its power, and the film captures what our schools can and should be, better than my words ever could.
Thank you once again for this amazing opportunity that I hope will continue transforming me and my students for a long time to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.All A-Board! Science Fair Presenters Need Boards!
Funded Jan 23, 2015The 3-panel board has some kind of power to it. Today, 150 students on 2 teams got together in the first science fair of the season, presenting projects about hydroponics and plants. Leading up to it there were all kinds of emotions about presenting to fellow students - excitement, dread, curiosity, nervousness, ignoring that it was going to happen - they were all expressed in one form or another, but no time more so than when the boards were brought out. Just seeing that iconic 36" x 48" piece of cardboard was enough to make real that we were really going to do this.
When it came time to do it, there was all kinds of craziness - excitement of seeing friends from other classes, trepidation about talking to new students, but finally they settled into the groove of presenting their work. Students were genuinely asking questions and listening to one another. Even the ones who didn't participate as much hung back respectfully listening, hoping that they, too could be part of the conversation. Some of the feedback I received today from students told me just how much they love the format of a science fair - "I loved being able to share my work with other students," "I liked meeting new people and learning about their project," and "the boards really helped me talk about my work." Even the negative comments were kind of positive - "We need more time to present."
This was only the first round. Your boards helped make today special, and they will do so again when we get on the train with them to go to our grand event of the spring at our local museum. This tool is helping open my students' eyes to the greatest aspect of science - the community it fosters. While today was a first step for some, I can see how much some of them loved to do this fundamental and very human aspect of science - to share and to question one another. Thank you for making days like today possible and all the days after today that this experience will stay with my students .”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Quill.com FY15 and one other donor.Help Us Grow Classroom Gardens With Lights!
Funded Jan 11, 2015These past few months have been a whirlwind of new projects, both for me, and for my students. The hydroponics project you donated to has transformed my school. Where once we had bare windows, we now have hanging gardens tranquilly gurgling and growing herbs, lettuces, and bean plants. The true stars of all of this are the students whose hard work put them all up, designed the questions and experiments they wanted to run, and finally collected the data on how well they all performed. They and I simply couldn't have done it without your support, but not exactly in the way the proposal intended.
I know that originally this proposal was for lights, and we did receive some. When it came time to place the order from the vendor, the lights were simply not there. Due to a shortage of the actual product I requested, we only had a few of these neat looking, powerful bulbs actually arrive. All was not lost. Thanks to another source of funding, we were able to get enough of another type of fixture to keep the lights on for our projects. What of the remaining donations? Most of your donation went towards something we were able to put to immediate use, and will remain in use for many years to come for even more projects than just growing plants. With the funds that did not purchase lights, I purchased a high-quality drill and bits. The bottles we put together for our windowfarms required a powerful drill to make the holes connecting them. The hydroponic tanks in the photos I am sending were made by students with a drill and hole-saw. The clear and blue boxes you see are for an upcoming project the students will be doing. These boxes contain red wriggler worms for making vermicompost - a great way for students to recycle and create their own organic plant food. Your donated drill made the box holes for circulating air through the compost. Even the arts teachers have begun inquiring about when they can get their hands on the drill.
While I was initially disappointed this project did not get funded out exactly as intended, it certainly turned out even better than I could have hoped. The Toshiba America Foundation came through to get us lights, and your donations went towards hardware that will keep our projects hands-on and real for years to come. Students are excited but sometimes reluctant when they get to use tools. This one is great for training them how to be handy or even teach them skills they can use in a career down the road. Thank you for helping students find confidence to build beautiful work, this year and for many years to come!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
Engineering a Future in Engineering With Robots!
Funded Dec 2, 2014Some of you I know and some I don't, but all of you have made a big impact on my classroom with this project. This past week, the robotics kit you donated arrived, and immediately was met with excitement from the students. My elective class wanted to crack it open right away and start building. Students from my after-school group wanted a part of it the first chance they had. Before any of them got a chance, it was a group of students that were so excited to use it, they gave up a lunch period to begin work before anyone else could get a chance. The demand for doing this sort of project is high, and you've helped satiate some of the growing number of students who want a part of it. They tell me their first project is going to be to build the serpent robot as per the included instructions. I am sure they will have it up and running in no time, and will begin to ask the all important question, "what now?" Just as the students who have been using the older kits for several months have begun to do, they will use the inspiration of their early creations to go off in unexpected directions and build something completely novel. The fun is just beginning with this kit and it will continue for years to come! Thank you on behalf of all of the students you have inspired and those you will inspire. Thank you from myself as well, because I will get to be a witness to these inspired learners. Through your donation, you are now a part of it all, as well. Thanks for being advocates of great public education as part of the Donorschoose community - I hope to see you here again, soon!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia and 5 other donors.Plant a Seed, Grow a Scientist
Funded Aug 12, 2014Happy holidays to each of you! I want to thank you and update you on how we are using the seeds and planting supplies you donated. This fall, we have done an extended unit on plants and food production. We've been trying out new methods of growing plants, namely hydroponics. No class on growing food could happen without seeds, and that's where your donation has made a tremendous impact. Traditionally, my students and I would be limited to germinating chickpeas from the supermarket, or be limited to the few packets of seed varieties I could find on the clearance rack.
Now, we are having a hard time deciding what exactly we want to grow next! The variety of options in these seed packs is dizzying. I have some students asking for tea, others want to grow herbs, and still others want to grow tomatoes in our chilly winter classrooms. We will not be able to accommodate all of these requests this year (I'm still trying to figure out where to put tomatoes other than our outdoor garden in the spring), and probably will not be able to for several years. I'm more thankful then that these seeds are packaged for long-term storage. They will remain viable for future classes, as well.
Our photos come from our first foray into growing lettuce, basil, and parsley in the different growing media you supplied. Students agreed rockwool gave them the best results, and was most forgiving when they forgot to water. It even transferred well into the hydroponic systems the students built. I hope that the new year is bountiful for you and yours, just as these supplies are providing a bounty of inspiration for my young scientists. Please continue to support great education any way you can.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
Hardware for Growing Up - Plants in Vertical Farms, that is
Funded Aug 23, 2014I'm proud to write this thank you with some exciting news. This past month, vertical farms have been installed in a dozen rooms in our school. Not only did the students build them from scratch using the materials you donated, but they have now been working in groups to measure plants and water chemistry, and to maintain the systems daily.
How did this all happen? Mostly thanks to you! For a few weeks in September, each day new box would arrive - sometimes with tubing, others with a pump or a plastic fitting, others with tools. At first students were perplexed - "What are we going to do all of this?" was a common question in those early days. Thanks to a prototype built by a couple of students and I, as well as a heavy dose of Internet videos on hydroponics, the picture started to come clear to them.
When I presented students with the instructions for building their own hydroponic system, they dove right in. Groups had to figure out how to communicate what they were doing and how each person could contribute. Most importantly, they were communicating with one another, both in English and in their native languages. My classroom felt like organized chaos for a few days. In the end, both they and I couldn't be prouder of their work.
Now that they have had their first plants growing in their hydroponic towers for a few weeks, the real science is happening. Groups of students are planning original experiments that incorporate these towers. Some of the research proposals I am getting from them are phenomenal. When we return next week, they will begin testing the effects of different nutrients, unique light orientations, and comparing their results to good old fashioned potted plants.
Amazing science that students are proud of is happening in my classroom, and we have all of you to thank. Please continue to support great education in any way you can, and may the new year be a great one for you, your loved ones, and students everywhere.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 14 other donors.Snack Time!
Funded Nov 3, 2014This week we began receiving many large boxes of granola bars, baked snack chips, breakfast bars, trail mix and lots of other assorted goodies. Thanks to these snacks, already I've seen a change in the way my day develops. In the morning when I first get in, I've given breakfast bars to students who would normally only down a cup of coffee. On those days, they've been noticeably kinder in their groups and more focused on their work.
At my after-school club, as word spread I had snacks, I got the most students I have had in months stay to work on a hydroponic tank we had started. The added hands helped finished a project that had only slowly progressed since the first month of school.
At parent conferences this week, parents chatted with one another and helped themselves to the snacks I put out while waiting to be next to meet with my team of teachers. In the moments between when they sat down and then got up to speak with their child's teachers, you could just see on their faces the look of gratitude for so simple a thing, especially after a hard day of work.
Like I've said before in this proposal, it seems like a small thing to offer students and families something to eat, but already I see it breaking down barriers to learning and collaboration. From the bottom of my heart, and from all of the stomachs out there, thank you for your donation to my classroom pantry. Please continue to support students and education through this wonderful website.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Wells Fargo and 2 other donors.Help Us Engineer Robots!
Funded May 22, 2014This year has been a new phase in my teaching career, thanks in no small part to the donors to this project. Only last year I became interested in teaching robotics to my students after trying out the technology on my own. I was so excited by the possibilities and by the fun I was having that I turned to Donorschoose to bring it to my school. Now, this kit and the several that we received from others last year have led me to start our school's very first robotics elective course. Since September, the 16 students in the course have learned how to build and program for the very first time. Many of these students are juniors and seniors at risk of not graduating on time, but you would not know it by seeing them at work in this class. Last week students brought their creations together in their first competition, a robot race. Everyone was cheering for one another while still hoping their robot could beat the others. It was inspiring to see them all work so hard, celebrate their accomplishments, and encourage each other after inevitable misses. They are all excited about building and programming our next challenge, a line-following robot. I am excited that they are excited about building something! Thank you to all of you for making this and every other project on Donorschoose.org a reality.
I want to take this opportunity also to encourage you to watch the new documentary "Underwater Dreams." My students and I were all inspired by seeing it in the theater last month, though it is also available online. The story is about undocumented immigrant high school students who did the impossible and beat MIT students at a robotics competition, but it is also about so much more. It is about how the immigration policies of our country are backwards, and rob opportunity from otherwise exceptional youth who want to and deserve to be contributing members of our country. Many of the students in my class are themselves undocumented. You gave us a Lego kit, but what you are really doing is building hope and a future for these students. As the documentary tells us after the competition, we need to fix how we treat undocumented youth in this country. It is not only the right thing to do, but the economically smart thing to do, as well. A donation to a robotics program is a wonderful gift, and there is so much we can do to help these students actualize their full potential as productive Americans, and realize the full potential of America. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
Creating Multicultural Unity Through Genetic Research
Funded Mar 18, 2014From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of my students I want to say thank you. Running a science class that addresses the really important questions is not easy. When it comes to questions such as "Who am I?" or "Where do we come from?" we risk becoming a philosophy class unless hard data can be brought to bear. The kits you provided gave us the hard data, but even more significantly, it was from DNA locked away inside each and every one of my students. No experiment is as effective as the ones that help them "Know Thyself," as the ancient Greek inscription from the Temple of Apollo says.
It is amazing that in only the last 2 decades science has been able to quantify the answers to these questions that have been knocked around since the days of ancient Greece and likely before. Your donation of these mtDNA kits allowed us to have exciting moments of discovery about who among our diverse group shared the most common ancestry. As always, it was exciting and surprising what we found. Students from the Dominican Republic were shocked to find they shared less ancestry with one another than they did individually with others in the room, including myself. Several Asians were more related to Europeans than to other Asians. Students from Bangladesh even claimed me as Bengali after learning I had more similar DNA to them than anyone else (my family roots are from Eastern Europe). The results brought everyone a little closer together, and taught my eclectic group that they are far more similar than they think.
More significantly perhaps, these kits gave this group of students their first taste of doing real science using biotechnology techniques. These skills will give them a great resume builder as they pursue college applications and scholarships, and give them an advantage in their first college biology classes because they are now familiar with skills like how to pipette and how to run a centrifuge.
I'm honored to have the support of this wonderful group of donors, a group that includes strangers from afar and colleagues who I respect greatly, all who see the value of a great science education. Please continue doing your part to support great education and please continue to support classrooms here on Donorschoose.org.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by AT&T Foundation and 5 other donors.Help Us Engineer Robots!
Funded Jan 27, 2014It's been a long school year. Now that the weather is getting nicer and days are getting longer, both the students and I are in a reflective mood. As we've been looking back on the year, one of the highlights that comes up again and again is how this has been the year of the robot. Your donation was a highlight for some of my students most in need of something to help them get comfortable with English, and with those students further along in their development, but needing a challenge.
We've been tinkering at all times of the day, which was one of my goals when I requested this resource. Before school many students are here early but aren't willing to do school work. By giving them a robotics kit to build and program it has been a low pressure, low stakes way for them and I to talk, and for them to forge friendships with one another. Others prefer to tinker during study halls and lunch periods, and still others have come to my after-school club to learn the ins and outs of how to make something with these kits. What they've been learning is how to use English with me and one another. They've learned how to use their hands to build something they've imagined. They've learned how to bounce back from setbacks when they put it together incorrectly or when their vision doesn't represent the reality of what they've made. A few have even started to ask, "Now what?" and begun to build and program completely original designs.
This robotics kit is the ultimate tool for beginners and experts, providing opportunities for growth to everyone, including me. Now that I've started to see the challenges students have and the interests they express, I am already planning for how to use these kits next year.
Thank you for providing us with such a wonderful tool that will inspire my students and I for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf