Welcome to The Inoculation Project, an effort to help fund science and math projects in red-state public schools categorized as highest poverty. This week, we’re taking advantage of a matching offer to help gifted elementary school students in Georgia who are studying impacts of weather and climate change on the natural world. We’re also continuing to help fund a project studying rocket science for high school students in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.
As always, our conduit is DonorsChoose.org, an organization founded in 2000 and highly rated by both Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau. If you’re short on cash, don’t worry — we’re glad to see you anyway! And your comments and shares are a good free way to help.
Today’s first project will help not only students in the gifted classroom but also all of their classmates by providing weather tools to enhance the school’s courtyard gardening program.
THIS WEEK’S MAIN PROJECT
Resources: My students need the weather measurement tools to be installed in a school garden and weather/climate related curricular materials.
School Poverty Level: Highest
Location: Stoneview Elementary School, Lithonia, Georgia
Total: $449.19 (matching offer!)
Still Needed: $357.42 Completed! Please consider other project below.
Expires: July 21, 2017
Teacher’s Comments from Ms. Hicks:
My Students: I teach 20 students in the gifted program at our Elementary. It can be a challenge to find materials and resources specifically for students in this program. My students are very eager learners that love to be engaged in meaningful hands-on learning experiences.
We have been studying about the natural world, weather, climate change, and how humans, animals and plant life are affected by atmospheric conditions.
My students have constructed handmade weather tools to use for measuring weather conditions. We would love to be able to install permanent and more durable weather tools in our school's courtyard garden. The entire school community would benefit from having weather tools such as an anemometer, thermometer, barometer, rain gauge, wind gauge, hygrometer and a sun dial as permanent weather station features in our garden. My gifted students are eager to learn from the use of these tools and also function as "experts" about weather and be able to teach their classmates in the garden..
Some classes are already very actively involved in the gardening program. Having the weather station feature installed would certainly enhance their learning experience.
My Project: Having access to weather station tools will allow my students to increase their understanding of the study of meteorology. Students will be able to apply math, language arts and science knowledge in the study of weather science. Students will be able to gain experience using professional weather tools. They will be able to measure and keep track of weather data. Students will have real life practice recording weather data. Students will be able to visit the weather station in our school garden regularly. Students will also be able to use weather data to infer probable weather forecasts. Students will be able to learn about weather science related careers. My students will also be able to apply the information/knowledge learned in this study to help them make good decisions about planting as it relates to seasonal conditions in our school garden. The students in the gifted program will able to share what they have learned in this study with their homeroom classmates. I am certain that they will enjoy being weather science "experts."
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
Several teachers at our long-term project’s school are trying to develop a cross-curricular STEM unit for their students, and we thought it would be fun to give them a boost!
LONG-TERM PROJECT
Resources: My students need model rockets, engines, launch pads, fin guides, and an altimeter. Students will build the rockets as part of a cross-curricular STEM project that will teach how to measure trajectories, altitude, and engineering variables.
School Poverty Level: Highest
Location: Valley View High School, Pharr, Texas
Total: $664.71
Still Needed: $417.35 $337.35
Expires: July 30, 2017
Teacher’s Comments from Mr. Ochoa:
My Students: I teach at a T-STEM school within a school in a low-income/high poverty school district. My students are faced with several challenges both in and out of the classroom. Despite the many challenges they face, I am looking to always challenge and provide my students with creative and meaningful learning experiences.
My students are eager for new experiences, excited to learn and always willing to work on projects.
They like to create, they love to read, and they crave challenges. Many of them are being raised in single parent households and receive a free lunch based on their socioeconomic status. These things may prevent them from getting ahead early in life and may not provide them with the life experiences many of us see as "typical". From the minute they walk in the door of my classroom I focus on their potential and growth while they are with me. I may not be able to control their home lives, however, I can certainly control their experience during the school day. By doing this in a creative and positive way, I am hopeful to inspire creative learners to continue on a path of academic excellence.
My Project: Being part of a TSTEM campus, students are expected to learn STEM principles in all disciplines. Every item purchased will aid in the instruction of those principles from teaching Newton's Laws of Physics to writing a letter to the astronauts at the International Space Station. These materials will also be used to introduce students (and especially female students) to the field of model rocketry.
This 'hobby' makes a great platform for teaching students mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.
Using these rocket kits and altimeters we can spark the interest of students in rocketry and then go on to have them work on teams and compete in our school's Rocketry Challenge which will not only task them with STEM skills but also with skills in project management, collaboration, and communication.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
Last week’s Birds and Butterflies Wildflower Garden project for a Detroit school has already been completed, thanks to our donors as well as others around the country! Here’s the teacher’s thank you note:
Thank you so much for supporting our project. Creating a bird and butterfly habitat on our school grounds will help our school in so many ways. It will help to beautify our grounds, but more importantly it will help our students to learn so many things. The number of science concepts and language arts projects which can be enhanced by our garden is nearly endless. Your generosity has helped to take this project from an idea to a reality. Thank you for your contributions to our school community.
With gratitude,
Mr. Boye
Founded in 2009, The Inoculation Project is an effort to combat the anti-science push in conservative America by providing direct funding to science and math projects in traditionally red-state classrooms and libraries. Our conduit is DonorsChoose.org, an organization that allows you to contribute to specific, vetted projects in public schools, resulting in tremendous and immediate impacts from small-dollar donations. Here’s an introductory video about DonorsChoose featuring Michelle Obama and Stephen Colbert.
Each Sunday morning, we focus on helping to fund one or two science and math projects in traditionally red-state schools, preferably in highest-poverty districts. We welcome everyone who shares our interest — no money is required! Your tip, rec, republish, comment, or share helps bring us more eyes, and besides, we like the company of others who love kids and education. Feel free to post a link or video, or just tell us how your weather is!
Finally, here’s our list of successfully funded projects — our series total is 568! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.