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Thomas Joseph's Science Blog Page

Part of: LabSpaces
  • $147raised
  • 4projects funded
  • 4schools served
  • 4teachers supported
Welcome to my Giving Page! Please support my efforts in Science Bloggers for Students challenge, a friendly month-long competition (10/10/10 through 11/9/10) between science blogs to see which can do the most to help low-income classrooms on DonorsChoose.org. Pick a classroom project from the list to support, a number of these are well within range of being completed! By the way, DonorsChoose.org is a 501(c)3 charity so your donations are tax deductible.
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  • Lookin' Large With Mini Microscopes

    Funded Oct 24, 2010

    Thank you for your help in securing microscopes for my classroom. My students are so interested in science and the world around them! Without the appropriate materials, though, they were frustrated in not being able to go beyond the standard textbook information. Now, they are reaching out to study their own interests and going into the local environment to see real science. Something as simple as a blade of grass is an extensive lesson if you can see it, hold it, and study it for yourself.

    With your help, we have enough microscopes for the students to group together in four small groups and investigate their common interest. One group might compare animal coverings from a wide range of species, while other groups might research the components of our science garden soil, study a dissection of one of our composting redworms, or view real slide specimens of human body cells. They are learning amazing things and really using their minds to extend their thinking! It is all due to your wonderful generosity and we cannot thank you enough!!”

    With gratitude,

    Teacher

  • Plant A Seed, Grow A Scientist!

    Funded Oct 14, 2010

    This is just a small token of my gratitude for your donation to my classroom. The Root-Vue planters we got have allowed students to make real scientific observations of germinating seeds. The seed sample kit allows me to give actual demonstrations of how different seeds travel. The students especially enjoy watching the helicopter seeds whirl toward the ground! Having interesting books about seeds has helped integrate literacy and hook some reluctant readers by grabbing their interest.

    It was so exciting to share the news with my class when this project was funded, and even more fun to watch their excitement as the boxes were opened. Thank you for making it all happen.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Ehmke

    This classroom project was brought to life by Disney's Planet Challenge and 9 other donors.

  • Luis Loves To Read!

    Funded Oct 10, 2010

    I am happy to report that since your books arrived, several of my students who had never before finished an entire book are reading books that they truly enjoy. Cesar is almost done with Walter Dean Myers' book, "Sunrise over Fallujah," and proud to be finishing it. "Dopesick," a suspenseful thriller by the same author, is getting passed around like a hot tamale-- the minute it gets returned to the shelf, someone else wants to take it out.

    At lunch the other day, Mariana was looking for a new book to read, and Brandi (who had just finished Sherman Alexie's book, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian") told her, "You should read this one. I just finished it! It's hecka funny, but it's serious, too. It'll really get to you." That book is on its fourth reader.

    I love having a special bookshelf I can count on for my reluctant readers. When they approach me and say, "I don't have a book, Ms. G," I can pick one out, and be 95% sure they'll like it and finish it.

    The dictionaries are also so useful! The other day, Dulce (a great writer who is still learning English) used the intermediate dictionary, with simple, definitions, to help her finally write an essay where she had all the words she needed to express the complex thoughts she had in her head.

    She got an A. And so do all of you! Thank you so much.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Gore

  • Science: It's In Their Blood

    Funded Oct 13, 2010

    Thank you so much for your donations to our classroom project! Our anatomy & physiology classes were able to use blood typing kits... and it was so terrific! The kits allowed the students to better understand what happens when non-matching blood types are mixed - they were actually able to see the agglutination reaction right in front of them, instead of just reading about it in a book. They were so excited! It was really cool for me, as their teacher, to watch them so involved in the lab. I was able to take the lab a step further - it was designed for students to simply mix the different blood types with the anti-sera and watch what happened. However, I know my students are more involved when there is a problem to solve. So I created a "mystery unknown" situation, where I covered up the labels on each solution. They had to use their powers of observation and deduction to figure out which blood type was in each bottle. They did a great job and they really relished the challenge! We have enough of the solutions left to continue using them with several more semesters' worth of students. Thanks again for your generosity - we truly appreciate it!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Hoffman

    This classroom project was brought to life by Carolina Biological Supply Company and 7 other donors.

  • School Food Matters

    Funded Oct 9, 2010

    I am writing this letter to thank you for your support. The supplies that you helped fund have made my science classroom a more lively and engaging place. Unfortunately, my school has no budget for science this year and I have had to purchase most of the materials I use personally. I cannot tell you how honored, amazed and grateful I was when I opened the box of materials and started prepping for their use.

    The resources in urban agriculture kit has allowed my students to experience growing crops in the classroom. This has been a highlight of the course as Food Science really should include a "hands-on" component where students can understand what it takes to produce the crops they eat and rely on daily.

    The yeast observation kit has offered my students the ability to increase their understanding of the role of microorganisms in our food. Again, though food is something all children have in common, my students were unaware of how important microorganisms are for so many aspects of food production.

    The calorimeter will be used in my room for years to come. This activity empowers the students to really understand what a calorie is and to consider them when making food choices. This relates to the nutritional analysis kit as my students are now so much better equipped to read and understand food labels. As we seek to increase our understanding of the obesity and diabetics epidemic, students can now make well-informed decisions about their diet.

    In closing, I would like to sincerely thank you again for your support. it is a challenge to reach teenagers sometimes, but with the right materials it is so rewarding. The materials you have funded are appreciated by them regularly in the classroom and have helped make the classroom a space where students can practice inquiry-based science to understand the food system they are a part of.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Freitas

    This classroom project was brought to life by Perry & Donna Golkin Family Foundation and 5 other donors.

  • We Need to be RECHARGED!

    Funded Oct 24, 2010

    Your donation allowed my students to obtain access to 4 sets of rechargeable batteries, 3 charging stations and 2 memory cards for our digital cameras. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. The students were so excited when the packages arrived they couldn't wait to get them opened.

    The rechargeable batteries have allowed my students to continue to use technology in the classroom to support their learning. Before receiving this gift, students had to wait for me to find or buy batteries in order for them to continue to use the CD player and audio book. It also kept them from using the digital cameras to capture students engagement and math in our world.

    Thank you so much for your generosity and support in providing the simple things in life that make an impact on student learning. ”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Brickhouse

  • Aquaculture

    Funded Nov 18, 2010

    Thank you so much for your support of education, and the support of our classroom. The materials that you have made possible for us to receive will benefit students for years to come. The students are excited not only to get started using the aquaculture system, but that it was actually donated to them. The system that you as a donor have provided us with will reach over 250 students directly each year, and will be used for several years. As a teacher, I am excited that we can begin hands-on learning in a subject that before we could just read about in a book. This will impact students greatly, and may lead some of them onto a career path in this subject area. Again thank you for being a supporter of education, and believing in young minds that will lead in the future.”

    With gratitude,

    Teacher

    This classroom project was brought to life by Burroughs Wellcome Fund and 16 other donors.
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