Scroll down for this week's project. On tap this week: Science + Art!
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
(Normally, we have a project whose expiration is imminent, but it was yet another slim pickin's kind of week for small dollar projects, so the project below is one that still has awhile before it expires. Have at it!)
Project: Art and Science Team Up!
Resources: clay and glazes to create unique ceramic artwork
School Poverty Level: High
State: Kentucky
Total Cost: $184.72
Still Needed: $88.72
Expires: Aug 31, 2010
Teacher's Comments:
My Students
Students need to see connections between Art and other subjects. The Science teacher and I are teaming up to teach students about the scientific physical changes that occur in clay and glazes in the ceramic process, while they create their own artwork! But we need the clay and glazes to get started!
I teach high school Art in a high-need community in Kentucky where approximately 75% of students are on free and reduced lunch. We currently attempt to function on a $100/year budget, which serves high school Visual Arts students as well as Art Club participants. Our imagination and creativity level greatly exceeds the allowance of our budget so we need YOUR help!
My Project
For this collaboration project we will need clay and several choices in ceramic glaze. The students will build their own artwork, and will learn about the physical changes that take place in the clay as the process continues. Students will learn that as water evaporates out of the clay it becomes harder and less easy to work with. It goes from moist, to leather-hard, to bone dry. Then it must be physically fired in a kiln to get all the remaining moisture out so that it can be glazed, which is called the bisque stage. They will learn that at first the glaze may not even resemble the color it is going to become after firing because of the physical change it goes through while being fired in the kiln. At first it is of a milky substance and feels very grainy to the touch, but when it comes out of the kiln the color is very vibrant and looks and feels very smooth and glassy! With this project they not only get the chance to be creative, but also learn about the science in ceramics!
This project will allow my students to see and experience that Art is not only fun, but it also connects with other subject matter. This project shows that Science is what makes Art work! Without evaporation and scientific physical change, we would be making "mudpies" instead of awesome ceramic artworks!
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, Erupting With Excitement!, got rescued!
Here's a thank-you note from the teacher:
Jun 17, 2010
I'm erupting with excitement over the fact that my project was fully funded! Thank you so very much for your donation. It is wonderful to see that so many people care about making learning fun and interesting.
The books you have provided will ensure that I will be able to teach the Voyage to the Volcano unit with my class. I wasn't sure our books would hold up for another round and this is not only one of my favorite units, but several of the kids' as well.
Thank you for taking the time to make a difference in our schools. With your help, we can now touch the lives of at least 100 more children over the life of these book I can't wait to introduce them to the children.
With gratitude,
Ms. S.
We also managed to fund the bonus project, I Believe I Can Fly!, as well:
Jun 12, 2010
What a great beginning to my day to find that my project has been funded! I cannot begin to tell you how excited my students will be when they receive our new aviation literature. I am sure that they will love learning about aviation pioneers, flying machines, and making their own paper airplanes to fly!
Your donations will help increase my students' knowledge and help motivate them to learn even more. Through the generosity of donors like you, teachers are able to provide better learning materials for their students. Thank you for sharing your love for learning with my students.
With gratitude,
Ms. D.
Pretty awesome!
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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!
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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.