Past projects 13
Flexible Seating in Biology!
Funded Dec 4, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom! Students were so excited to see the new seating options and the lap desks which will make learning so much more comfortable for them this year. Students have been actively using the chair, floor pillows, and lap desks each and every day because of your kindness!
Students love the pillows for when they are completing independent or group work. The stools in the biology lab can be uncomfortable, so when they received these items, they were thrilled with the flexibility in seating options. Students sit on the pillows and work from the floor or sit on top of the pillows in their chairs. Lap desks are so helpful if students are working from the floor, but also when they are watching a video or taking notes in the classroom. Lastly, the chairs are a comfortable alternative to the stools at the lab benches. Being comfortable and happy in the classroom is very important to me as their teacher, and I can tell these materials are having a positive impact on student productivity and happiness in biology class.
Thank you again for your generous donation! We couldn't be more grateful!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
This classroom project was brought to life by A family that cares about Boston.Nutrient Cycles and Biodiversity in Ecosystems
Funded Oct 26, 2022Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom! I am so excited to use these kits during my ecology unit this fall and again in the spring semester!
These kits are integral to helping my students to understand nutrient cycles in our ecology unit as well as symbiotic relationships. We begin the year by discussing population ecology and the various biotic factors that influence populations in an ecosystem. We then discuss predator-prey relationships, symbiotic relationships, and invasive species. Termites and the protozoans that live in their gut are a key example of mutualism and this project helps students to engage with this relationship in a meaningful way.
We also discuss the carbon and nitrogen cycles at length during the end of our ecology unit. We go from discussing all of the biotic factors that influence an ecosystem to ending the unit with discussing abiotic factors and nutrient cycles and how they influence an ecosystem. This kit is helpful in talking about different cycles and the impact on the ecosystem.
Thank you again for your generous donation!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
This classroom project was brought to life by National Corn Growers Association and one other donor.Public Health and Infectious Disease Book Study
Funded Aug 2, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom! With your kindness, students are able to not only learn content about infectious diseases and public health, but are also able to practice key literacy skills such as chunking of the text, vocabulary development, non-fiction text summarizing, oral discussion of texts, and so much more!
We have already used excerpts from the books to discuss disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. For example, we used the "Patient Zero" book chapter on zoonotic infections to further our discussion about outbreaks after watching a documentary on zoonotic diseases. Students are loving the style of the writing, the images, and the engaging information. While they are having fun, they are also learning about diseases and the connections between disease, public health, economics, politics, and social factors. While learning about Nipah virus, for example, students were exposed to the culture and people of Bangladesh, a place many students do not have background knowledge on.
In the spring, I intend on running book circles in class to mimic small book clubs. Students will read both during and outside class in small groups to learn about larger themes and ideas the books discuss.
Lastly, students have already taken photos of the books and asked to borrow them for their own personal reading, too!
Thank you again for your generous donation!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Ecological Pyramids and Energy Flow
Funded Feb 5, 2023Wow! These resources were some of the most fun and exciting resources I have ever used in my classroom. Students prepped for the owl pellet dissection by learning about owls and their digestive system in the classes leading up to the lab day. The day of the dissection, students had so much fun. My classroom was full of joy and laughter and learning! They loved finding the small bones and trying to identify the animals the owls ate. I loved how simple but effective this kit was. It included identification charts and information about food pyramids and food chains.
This was one of the best labs I have ever done! I can't thank you enough for supporting hands on science inquiry and learning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
Lactose Intolerance: Enzymes and Evolution
Funded Dec 29, 2022Thank you again for your generous donation to my classroom! We have used the materials in class over the past few months and students are so appreciative of the lab kits!
We began our unit by talking about biomolecules and biochemistry. We spoke extensively about enzymes and I used lactase/lactose to teach using a real world example. Students learned about lactose intolerance and lactase persistence and we discussed cultural evolution as well.
We used this lab to test if Lactaid actually works to break down lactose into glucose and galactose. Students used their prior background knowledge as well as science skills to test various conditions with milk, milk and Lactaid, "stomach acid" and so much more.
They loved the lab and I know they have a great understanding of lactose intolerance as a result of the hands on lab! Thank you for this experience!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
School Supplies for Success!
Funded Sep 21, 2022Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom. The supplies you provided to students has helped us to be more creative and hands on in my science room. Students have used the art supplies to create posters showcasing their learning, color coded diagrams to help them review their content before a quiz, and more!
When students saw all of the new supplies, they could not believe that people were so generous! They were so excited by the new markers, colored pencils, sharpener, and other supplies since the supplies I previously had was old, broken, and not useful to them anymore.
I cannot wait for students to continue to use and love the materials you helped purchase! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 3 other donors.Splendid Simulations for Science
Funded Aug 11, 2020Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom! With your help, I was able to purchase a year long subscription to a simulation and online learning platform for labs for my biology students!
In these first four months, we have used this technology almost every week! Not only are the lessons and labs well designed and aligned to my teaching standards, the students LOVE them! They rave about how fun these simulations and STEM cases are and ask to use them every week! They are practicing important scientific skills such as making hypotheses, analyzing data, and writing about evidence.
In addition, because I am 100% virtual right now, your generosity has allowed my students to have access to a rigorous, fun, and engaging lab experience that they would not have without Explore Learning Gizmos. Despite the hardships of the Covid19 pandemic, I am confident that my students are learning and engaging with the world of biology in a meaningful and fun way. Thank you so much for your help, especially during the pandemic and virtual learning.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
This classroom project was brought to life by A Generous Donor and 2 other donors.Budding Biologists in Need of Lab Supplies
Funded Dec 6, 2018Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom! The supplies that you donated were integral to the lab experience in biology this year. Students were exposed to a variety of lab experiences in class and were taught basic microbiology and biotechnology skills throughout the year. During each lab day, we utilized the lab coats, goggles, and gloves that you donated to us. The students learned essential lab skills and lab safety skills throughout this process. They are so much more prepared to enter college with skills such as pipetting and loading gel electrophoresis equipment as a direct result of your generosity.
Students also felt like true scientists while wearing these donated items. I truly feel like students gained confidence in my class as a result of your donation. When students look the part, they feel more energized and motivated to learn the skills essential to biology lab success.
Students will continue to use these materials for years to come! Not only will my students from this year benefit, all of my future classes will also gain the experience of utilizing them in class. I cannot tell you how grateful we are to have received the resources you donated. We appreciate your support more than you know! Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
Bulletin Board Beautification
Funded Sep 5, 2018Thank you again for your generous support of my classroom and my students! Words cannot express how grateful we are to have such kind and caring people who want to help us! We have loved having the bulletin boards in our classroom. They make our room so bright and positive! Students have remarked that they miss having bulletin boards around school and that these boards really impact the physical space in a positive way!
We have two giant boards now at the back of my room! One board is a dedicated Data Board/Growth Mindset Board. I have posted class averages for assessments on this board to show students their growth over time. In addition, I have posted exam reflections on the board as well. These reflections are places for students to assess their own mastery, reflect on strategies and content and then make a plan for improvement on the next assessment. The skills students are using to reflect on their own growth are crucial to student success and social emotional well being. I am thrilled that I am able to use this board to showcase student reflection and growth mindset.
On the other board, I have posted "Biologist of the Month" awards for each of my five classes. I started "Biologist of the Month" to create a sense of community in my classroom and a shared understanding of how a positive and supportive culture can help all students learn. Students love this concept. Each month, the students in each section nominate a peer who they think deserves the award. The student does not have to be the top scholar in the course, rather they have to exemplify a core value or show improvement in a certain area that their nominee noticed during the month. So many students have told me how much this simple activity means to them and I am thrilled that I can now display names proudly in my classroom. On the other side, I am displaying stellar student work to help showcase the talent and intelligence all of my students have.
Thank you again for contributing to the physical space of my classroom. Because of your generosity, my students have a bright and cheery physical space, which helps them to feel safe and learn better in my classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet
This classroom project was brought to life by Neukom Family Foundation and 4 other donors.Discovering the Living World Under Microscopes
Funded Dec 10, 2017Thank you so much for your generous donations to my biology classroom. Because of your generosity, my students are more engaged, interested and invested in biology class. The students were incredibly excited by new lab equipment and the labs we were able to complete in class using the microscopes and slides.
One lab we completed was looking at various pre-made slides under the microscope. Your donation helped us to acquire these diverse slides. The students were engaged in making observations about fleas, water bugs, elodea leaves, wings of various insects, scales of fish, and various other organisms. The students loved looking at the organisms at three different magnifications. Students were so engaged and even took photos to send to their friends and family of the insects and other organisms they saw!
Students also were able to observe live organisms under the microscopes. Students were able to observe paramecium as well as amoebas swim under the microscope. They saw their structure as well as their behavior. This was one of the most fun experiences the students had in the classroom because they were able to then see what they were learning in class come to life. We had spoken about the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells in depth in class and then students were able to make comparisons via the slides we obtained through your generous donation.
In addition, we also then looked at the cell cycle under the microscope. Students had studied mitosis and meiosis in depth before using the microscopes. They were able to identify different stages of mitosis in both animal and plant cells. This was incredibly meaningful to them because they were able to visualize the various stages and see how the structure changes during each stage.
Lastly, students were able to swab their own cheek cells and mount slides to look at under the microscopes. This was the most fun activity of all because students were able to make observations about their very own cells! Students loved this activity and even spoke about it weeks later.
As a result, not only were the labs engaging, but the students also learned multiple lab techniques as well throughout the year due to the microscopes. They were able to learn how to focus a microscope, how to mount a slide, how to set up a wet mount and how to change magnifications. These skills will be essential when the students attend college in just a few short years.
Thank you again for your generosity. My classes are forever grateful for your kindness and donation to our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dinet