Past projects 8
Rock Cycle and Fossil Activity Kits- Middle School Geology
Funded Jun 17, 2015Thank you so much for your generous donations! I'm looking forward to using the Rock Cycle and Fossil Activity kits with my students this fall during our unit on Geology. Combined with the interactive textbook I've found, these hands-on activities will engage the kids and get them excited about Earth Science!
My students look forward to opening their grant packages- it's almost like a birthday party as we open the boxes and discover what's inside. I'll send you pictures and letters from the students after we've explored the activities. Thanks again for supporting public education.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGee
Science World Magazine for Middle School
Funded Nov 22, 2014"Science World" has already become a tradition in my classroom. The students are always excited to see the new issues, and the articles are reliably applicable to some aspect of my current unit.
Two Fridays a month we have a Trivia Challenge session, using the Scholastic website subscription that was included with the magazines. It's really wonderful to see students who are genuinely interested in and excited about learning! Students have even devised their own system to determine who gets to keeps the magazines after we've used them.
I was hoping that access to current, interesting science news would motivate my students, and it has! Thank you so much for your generous donation. Please know that you are making a difference!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGee
This classroom project was brought to life by PALMco Energy, LLC and 5 other donors.Worm Composting Kit For Environmental Studies Unit
Funded Jan 20, 2015The worms have had a few weeks to settle in to their new home. Surprisingly, every worm arrived alive and in good condition. The students helped to set up the habitat a few days before delivery by shredding newspaper, mixing water into the bedding, and collecting uneaten fruits and vegetables in the cafeteria.
On delivery day students carefully picked every worm out of the containers and transferred them all into the habitat. I have designated students to check on the food levels, collect more waste, and find information about how to use the compost.
This kit is a wonderful addition to my classroom, and it ties in perfectly with the ecology unit we'll be covering later in the spring. My students like having 500 new "pets," and they initiate conversations about composing, green gardening, etc.
Thank you so much for your generous donation. Please know that you have made a difference in the lives of my students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGee
Environmental Responsibility- Solar Cooking
Funded Mar 26, 2014Today the weather in western Pennsylvania finally cooperated! We had enough sunshine to cook a veritable feast in the solar ovens that you so kindly provided for my classroom. My students planned their meal last week, and brought in ingredients to prepare the food yesterday. After the ovens sat for just a few hours in the sun, my sixth graders ate pepperoni pizza, trout, chicken wings, broccoli and potatoes, brownies, and bacon.
The kids were skeptical at first that the solar ovens would really work. The looks on their faces as they pulled off the steaming oven covers were priceless. We set up a long buffet and everyone dug in. I could hear several discussions as the class ate...it sounds like most of my students are planning to make their own solar ovens this weekend!
I love hands-on science opportunities, and my students love them too. Now they've seen first-hand one way to reduce energy use, and they're going to carry this information into the community. On Monday we'll complete a "Scientific Method" activity related to our cooking experience. I'm looking forward to using these resources again with another group of students.
Thank you so much for your support of my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGee
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 4 other donors.Frog Dissection and Amphibian Anatomy
Funded Nov 20, 2013This afternoon my students dissected frogs using the kits provided by your generous donations. They've been talking about the activity non-stop for days, and today ("Frog Day") was even better than I'd hoped for.
Every student was attentive, excited, and on-task for the entire session. We used an online tutorial, the kits, and a book with diagrams to guide our activity. The combination of reading about the frog's anatomy, seeing it on-screen, and then getting hands-on experience was very stimulating and helpful.
Most of the kit can be reused next year. I'll sterilize the instruments and pack them away to use during another activity. The lab manuals and safety sheets are also reusable.
You'll receive thank-you notes from my students soon, and I'm sure you'll be able to see the genuinely excited tone in their writing. This project has reignited the passion for science in my classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGee
This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and 6 other donors.River Ecosystem in the Science Classroom
Funded Feb 21, 2013Our new RiverTank system was completely installed and stocked with plants and fish last week. The students assisted me with washing gravel, assembling the tank, reading directions, adding chemicals to the water, and stocking the "critters."
I've now worked out a feeding and water testing schedule for all of my science classes. I've also had students from other classrooms come in and ask to check out the tank! Having a river ecosystem in the classroom allows me to assign real-world responsibilities to my students. They are proud of their work, and they take their duties very seriously.
My students would not have the opportunity to practice hands-on science without the generous donations of people like you. I'm very grateful for your assistance- thank you again for supporting public education!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGee
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 5 other donors.Chemistry, Ecology, And Other Cool Science Things
Funded Dec 5, 2012My students and I are so grateful for your generous support of our classroom! As soon as the boxes from Carolina Supply arrived, the kids were desperate to know when we'd be able to use our new equipment.
I introduced the unit on acids and bases to my 7th graders, and then we spent a wonderful two days completing the lab activity that you helped purchase. The materials in the kit will be reused throughout the year for a variety of other units. My 8th graders have used the graduated cylinders multiple times already, most recently during a lab activity about mass, volume, and density.
It's so motivating to watch my students get excited about science! Thank you again for your assistance with my grant. You've made a world of difference in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGee
The Amazing Microscopic World!
Funded Jul 12, 2012Please accept my sincere thanks for your participation in my science grant project, "The Amazing Microscopic World." Your willingness to support public education students and teachers is appreciated more than you can know.
When the box of materials arrived, I gave the students a preview of what we'd received. The kids were thrilled and had many questions about upcoming projects and topics. They are so excited to use our new supplies!
My students are experiencing science in a whole new way, and their attitudes and participation reflect the change in instruction. Again, thank you for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGee