My students are more than just identification numbers and test scores. They are students who are getting ready for the real-world! I have a group of students who are excited about tinkering and exploring the world around them, and who want to take advantage of our school's dedicated time each day during our "Discovery Period." These are students who aren't particularly interested in the arts, but who have a knack for working with their hands. Many are students who are receiving special education services, who don't get a lot of extra opportunities in school.
My Project
Every day, my students who have not elected to take a music class have an hour block of time called Discovery. During this time, students can explore things that interest them, and get a chance to take a break from their regular academic classes.
My students are extremely curious, budding, scientists and engineers.
They crave opportunities to explore the world around them. During their discovery period, students will get the chance to use their new tools to do just that by disassembling everyday objects such as old radios, VCRs, telephones, wind-up clocks, etc. Taking apart and tinkering with everyday appliances will allow them to make tons of discoveries about the things we use everyday. They can start to discover the complex mechanisms that are all around them, and figure out how things work.
After disassembling and opening up these broken appliances or electronic devices with their new tools, students will create their own prototype invention using the parts and the glue or duct tape.
Research of our world’s greatest innovators shows
a commonality that as children, they all took apart household items, re-imagining them into new prototype concepts! Some children in my classroom have this potential, they've just never had the opportunity to develop it.
These tools will give my students who are itching to discover, the actual opportunity to make endless discoveries, with unending possibilities for new inventions!
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 Mrs. Joyner and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
