Due to COVID-19 school closures and distance teaching in the spring, hands-on learning for third graders across the nation meant holding an iPad, watching their teachers on screens or opening a pencil and paper packet. In the summer I thought for sure we would be going back to school. I was totally wrong and I am now teaching full time from home with 20 amazing 8 and 9 year olds who need more than just my instruction, slides and videos across screens for learning.
As an environmental magnet school, and experiential learning is at the core of everything.
At our school we believe it is imperative for students to participate in scientific observation and data collection to complete hands-on projects that build reading, math, science and technology skills. While environmental experiential learning means spending a lot of time with nature, distance teaching has also required teachers to keep engagement high across digital screens, apps and our phones. Our students deserve unique experiences during these unique circumstances so they don't have to just watch another video.
My Project
Students will use Lego Wedo 2.0 at their homes to build and program Lego robotic sets. Normally students collaborate in pairs but partner work isn't possible with COVID rules for safety and my class of twenty students have all registered to remain at home for full time distance learning. To make hands-on engineering possible with the Lego Wedo 2.0 kits, I am working towards raising enough for each student to pick up their own set to use during distance learning in their own homes. Thank you for supporting my effort to get these hands-on engineering sets into their hands at home to keep engagement high during this unique and sometimes challenging time of virtual learning.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Shannon Lawson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
