Scroll down for this week's project. On tap this week: Owl Vomit!
Reminder: Look for "The Inoculation Project" every Friday afternoon!
The Inoculation Project: Math & Science in Red State Schools
Solid science education is the best inoculation against ignorance.
The objective of this weekly project is to combat the anti-science push in conservative America by providing direct funding each week to math and science projects in red state classrooms.
Fortunately, a conduit organization for achieving this direct funding already exists: DonorsChoose.org. DonorsChoose.org allows you to make direct contributions to specific classroom projects (all vetted), resulting in tremendous and immediate impacts from small dollar donations.
Each week we focus on funding a single small-dollar project in a red state classroom. These are projects whose funding requests are expiring within the next 7 days. If the projects are not funded by their expiration date, they die.
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This Week's Project
Project: He Ate WHAT?!?
Resources Needed: a classroom kit of owl pellets and the necessary tools for scientific dissections
School Poverty Level: Moderate
State: Oklahoma
Total Cost: $157.04
Still Needed: $107.04 FUNDED!
Expires: Aug 23, 2010
Teacher's Comments:
My Students
How many times has someone asked you, "What's for dinner?" Well we want to know what OWLS eat for dinner - and the only way to know is to dissect their pellets!
We are located in a rural farming area in the southwest. Many of my students have experience with animals, but none of them have done dissections in class before. My classroom is filled with inquiring young minds. They are full of wonder and desire. I do not currently have the resources to purchase these items myself, and most of my students could not afford to buy them on their own.
My Project
This project would create the hands-on learning environment that is so essential to young students. Today's children are bombarded with action, sounds, lights, and textures. If you cannot ignite that spark in the classroom, then they will not tune in to learning. This will allow me to give them an inquiry-based experience that cannot be rivaled by books and diagrams alone. They need to be excited and engaged - and this project will do it!
The opportunity to pique students' interests is right in front of you. Hands-on programs are proven to be more beneficial and make a greater impact. If you donate to this project you will know that young minds are being opened, directed, and challenged in scientific learning methods.
Please consider rescuing this project by making a small donation to it. Small dollars make a big difference.
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Good News
Last week's project, Let Me See It: Representing Mathematical Models, got rescued!
Here's a thank-you note from the teacher:
I want to express my sincere gratitude for your financial support. My students are in need of the best tools to explore, discover, and learn about mathematics. The expectations of today's student far exceeds that of the past. At one time the slogan in math education was "Algebra for all." Now the slogan is "4 for all," meaning every student is expected to complete 4 years of high school mathematics. This raises the bar and includes geometry, statistics, and discrete mathematics for every student.
Through your generous donation more of my students can have access to graphing calculators. These tools will help them think and discuss mathematics in a variety of ways. I am excited about the new school year and I thank you for your contribution to my students' education.
With gratitude,
Mrs. M.
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Projects Funded So Far
Can we grow this list of successes?
The Viking Shark Project
Weight Our Learning
Complications - Reading to Learn About the Human Body
The Colorful World of Science
Fill Our Display Case!
Magnetic Learning
Caught By A Kiss
Add, Subtract, Write, and Save the Trees!
Math Mania!
AVID Style Interactive Notebooks
Human Body Study for my Science Class
Physics Visuals
Rocks Rock at Knox
Owl Pellet Fun!
To the Front of the Class
Help A Fishy Cause
Microscopes for Illumination
What Day is it? I Forgot!
Absent Scientists
Math Centers Full of Learning!
Time For Kids?
Extend Our Learning
We've Got the Power to Learn Math (Help Us Get Charged Up)
We Are "Mac-ing!"
Help CreateNew Experiences & LearningThrough Nonfiction Text
Projecting Success!
Help Us See. Help Us Learn
Save The World ... Make It A Better Place!
Feathered Friends
Write and Stick Learning
Leading Through Learning
Hands on ESL Scientists
Electricity Shock!
Up and Atom...A Chemistry and Math Experience!
Sun Power!
Erupting With Excitement!
I Believe I Can Fly!
Art and Science Team Up!
Bringing the Earth Up Close and Personal
Fixing the Ditch
Creepy, Crawly, Critters!
Macro Micro Nano: The Minuscule World Revealed
VaVaVaVoom Vibrant Math in Art
Ant-icipating Results!
Exploring Force and Motion
Calculating our Potential in Physics and Chemistry
Let Me See It: Representing Mathematical Models
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Helpful Links
DonorsChoose.org
DonorsChoose.org Blog
DonorsChoose.org Donor FAQ
All DonorsChoose.org Math & Science Projects
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with DonorsChoose.org, or any of the classroom projects presented for funding. I'm just volunteering my time and pixels to make a difference.