Geobloggers for Earth Science Education

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Thank you so much for sponsoring our science project, Creeps and Flows. Students experimented with water erosion. They were able to see erosion and deposition as one liter of water made its way through their land models.

After watching this erosion and researching erosion prevention, groups of students chose a variable to test. Groups chose using rocks to form embankments, planting trees, placing netting over the soil, using timbers, and even creating ditches for diversion.

Each group presented their comparison models to the group. There was so much enthusiasm, extended questioning, and discussion from this activity. It has worked nicely into our weather unit as we talk about how water moves. It has also been an excellent review before we take our state test.

Thank you for supporting science in our school. Erosion makes so much more sense!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Braun

Each time a new package arrived, you should have seen the looks on the students' faces. They knew we were getting something really cool.

Just opening the boxes wasn't enough! The kids have really enjoyed learning new things and having experiences they otherwise wouldn't have in a science class in an urban setting.

The eighth graders had studied landforms early in the year so having the landforms arrive, they eagerly put them together and went to work reviewing plate boundaries and playing while learning.

Since we are learning about measuring mass and the conservation of such, having the balance has been a hit. The kids enjoy putting different items in each side and trying to get the sides to balance. They are learning how to use a balance, too, by comparing masses and knowing that weight is not mass.

Finally, the first time we used the slides was probably the most intriguing thing. Watching them create their very first wet slide was sweet satisfaction. Needless to say, they are interested in continuing more studies with these items.

Thank you so much for your donation. You may have created more little scientists than you know.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Jordan

Thank you so much for your kind donation to my recent Donorschoose proposal. You have no idea how much you have impacted the lives of over 150 middle school children in Chicago, IL. They are so excited to have new resources within the classroom to make learning science more fun and educational.

With the new resources, children will now be able to have lab equipment, enrichment materials and a supplemental curriculum to work with. With this being said, our children will continue to succeed in all aspects of state standards and Illinois learning goals.

Words cannot really explain how much you have made a difference in the lives of so many. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Tenzer

I am really amazed and humbled by your generosity. I want you to know that you have made a difference in my classroom, and for that I am thankful. My kids feel important and valued when I tell them someone donated to our cause. That is the part I wish all donors could see.

It's not often my students get to feel important. I try to enforce it on a daily basis, and your donation helps me prove that we are not forgotten. That we have worth and that we can learn just as much as the "rich kids", as my kids say. We're here to stay and keep an eye out for us!

I tell my kids, "Let Choice whisper in your ear and Love murmur in your heart. Be ready. Here comes Life!" Thank you for allowing them to see that teamwork DOES make the dream work!”

With gratitude,

Teacher

Thank you so very, very much for your generous support of my students, my school and me. Your donations have enabled me to add student-centered investigations to our STEM curriculum, and my students enthusiasm and engagement have skyrocketed!

The seismograph has been the biggest hit of all of the supplies. The kids loved building earthquake-proof buildings and watching them fall. It was neat, too, to see the difference in how a short, strong earthquake was less destructive than a mild earthquake with a long duration.

The genetics labs have been very helpful engaging my 7th graders in investigating genetics. The pop beads especially have helped my students understand DNA, and the surveys of traits have been a lot of fun!

Thank you again for all of your support. Our school, like so many others, has to work creatively with small budgets. It is heartening to know that such kind, supportive people are willing to step up and help our kids learn!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Sankstone

Our class building project was a great success thanks to you! The students had a great time planning and constructing and a wonderful learning experience building their earthquake-proof structures and testing them on the shake table.

Many of the students commented that this project was their favorite activity so far this year. From a teaching standpoint this experience was a great chance to see students who may struggle with written expression excel at a building project. I think this project helped build their self-esteem and gave them a sense of accomplishment when their towers withstood the simulated earthquakes in front of their peers.

Without your generous donations this project would not have been possible. The entire 8th grade at Kings Junior High School completed this project, so you helped provide a positive hands-on learning experience for over 300 students! All of the 8th grade science teachers have decided to complete the project again next year with some minor modifications. Thank you for your generosity; without it this project would not have been possible.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Seitz

Students just finished building their K'Nex skyscrapers! Each building was uniquely designed by teams of engineers, whose team names ranged from "The Hulk Builders" to "Eagle Engineers." Students worked together to build skyscrapers using techniques such as cross-bracing, shear cores, and base insulators to help absorb and withstand the seismic waves. After learning how a seismograph works using our new mini seismograph, we tested the skyscrapers on a shake table. We added a variety of weights to the buildings to symbolize the weight of people. Students cheered for themselves and each other when the buildings survived and even when the buildings collapsed.

The engagement of this project was so high because the quality of materials was high. In the past I have used clay and toothpicks for materials but it is not the same. Students will not forget this learning experience and will hopefully apply their knowledge to help make themselves and their community safer.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Arnosky

Thank you so much for your generosity and your kind donations to this project. The students learned so much from the hands-on materials and the many experiments that we were able to do with each and every one of the vehicles, Newtonian Demonstrator, Schoolhouse Rock video, Bill Nye Physics DVD, and the Force and Motion game. We were able to use everything that you purchased through your donations. The difference from last year and this year is vast. This year the students really understood what is force and motion, but most importantly, they really understood Sir Isaac Newton's 3 Laws of Motion.

The students' practiced daily with each vehicle to learn more about friction, mass, acceleration, constant velocity, action-reaction, force, motion, impact, contact forces, non-contact forces, impulse, equilibrium, gravity, aerodynamics, and control. In order to assess their learning, the students were given an oral exam. It was very difficult, but they did fantastic! I am so very proud of each and every student.

This, however, would never have been possible with the materials that we had available to us from last year. Your donation encouraged these students to not only learn more about force, the three Laws of Motion, and Sir Isaac Newton, but to apply it to everyday life. They did not memorize the information, they LEARNED the information through the hands-on materials that you so generously helped us attain. This is what learning is all about, and without you, would have been inconceivable.

Thank you so very much.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Stowe

Thank you for supporting my students. The vernier probes arrived just in time for my students to use them. One group used the turbidity sensor to measure the ppm of suspended materials in progressively more filtered water. Then the measured the effect of that water on the growth of sprouted plants. They found that it did not affect the growth of the plants. The other group used the light sensor to measure the effect of adding baking soda to the 'mountain dew light stick' seen on you tube. They found that as they increased the baking soda the luminosity went up, but only slightly.

Your generosity made these projects possible. Thank you! I am also excited to use these probes in demonstrations through out the year.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Hamaker