More than three‑quarters 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.
Support her classroom with a gift that fosters learning.
Monthly
One-time
Support Mrs. Fowler's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.
Monthly
One-time
Make a donation Mrs. Fowler can use on her next classroom project.
3rd grade is an exciting year for science learning! Students study weather, including natural disasters and the impacts of these hazardous weather conditions. Earthquakes are familiar to our students as they are a natural disaster that affects our area and our neighboring states such as California. Furthermore, news of the recent Puerto Rico quake has brought new attention to the devastation they can cause. My students will be motivated to learn how structural engineers construct buildings that can withstand these earthquakes.
These Survive the Quake: Engineering Kits will allow my 3rd graders to first act as scientists and then as structural engineers through various highly motivating and engaging hands-on learning experiences. First, the kits will allow my students to observe firsthand the effects of earthquakes on buildings. Working in small groups of three, they will use the dial on the simulator to increase the intensity of the earthquake, noting the parts of the building that fall first. Then, they will scientifically test various designs to determine the best at withstanding an earthquake. Next, they will apply their acquired knowledge and the engineering design process to construct their own building designs. Finally, they will use the simulator to test their designs’ effectiveness and modify to improve them. I teach three classes with an average of 28 students per class. Nine kits will provide all my students ample hands-on opportunities as they develop communication and cooperation skills through these small group activities. Utilizing these kits, my changemaker students will see how exciting and rewarding a STEAM profession could be and that they too can become great scientists and engineers and make the world a better place.
About my class
3rd grade is an exciting year for science learning! Students study weather, including natural disasters and the impacts of these hazardous weather conditions. Earthquakes are familiar to our students as they are a natural disaster that affects our area and our neighboring states such as California. Furthermore, news of the recent Puerto Rico quake has brought new attention to the devastation they can cause. My students will be motivated to learn how structural engineers construct buildings that can withstand these earthquakes.
These Survive the Quake: Engineering Kits will allow my 3rd graders to first act as scientists and then as structural engineers through various highly motivating and engaging hands-on learning experiences. First, the kits will allow my students to observe firsthand the effects of earthquakes on buildings. Working in small groups of three, they will use the dial on the simulator to increase the intensity of the earthquake, noting the parts of the building that fall first. Then, they will scientifically test various designs to determine the best at withstanding an earthquake. Next, they will apply their acquired knowledge and the engineering design process to construct their own building designs. Finally, they will use the simulator to test their designs’ effectiveness and modify to improve them. I teach three classes with an average of 28 students per class. Nine kits will provide all my students ample hands-on opportunities as they develop communication and cooperation skills through these small group activities. Utilizing these kits, my changemaker students will see how exciting and rewarding a STEAM profession could be and that they too can become great scientists and engineers and make the world a better place.