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Goal

My goal for this project is to provide an opportunity for students to experience fourth grade science standards firsthand. This grant would provide the availability of scientific resources to my thirty-nine students to gain real-world application which would otherwise be addressed in a textbook or technology resource.

With this grant, students will have the opportunity to explore different energy sources and how they create motion or change (SC.4.E.6.3, SC.4.E.6.6, SC.4.E.P.8.4, SC.4.P.12.1, SC.4.P.10.2, and SC.4.L.17.3). Students will explore the advantages of Florida’s renewable resources such as wind and solar energy (Benchmarks SC.4.E.6.3, SC.4.E.6.6, SC.4.P.10.1, and SC.4.P.10.2) and how it can be transformed to electrical energy. Therefore, discovering how these natural resources can be utilized to protect our environment as an alternate means to fossil fuels. Students will investigate how solar energy can be harvested and through conduction, can be used for cooking (Benchmarks SC.4.P.9.1, SC.4.P.11.2). Consequently, allowing them to experience chemical changes (Benchmark SC.4.P.9.1) brought upon by heat energy.

In addition to energy, this grant would assist with the understanding of abstract concepts such as the rotation and revolution of the earth, moon, stars and their connections with the sun (Benchmarks SC.4.E.5.1, SC.4.E.5.3, and SC.4.E.5.4). With the use of a model, students will have a visual to observe how these connections impact our world by exploring the causes of day, night, the seasons and moon phases.

Through the use of owl pellets, students will explore one of many food chains in a Florida habitat (Benchmark SC.4.L.16.4). Owl pellets will provide a concrete understanding of how animals, including humans, must eat other plants or animals, to survive and how this stored energy is passed to them (Benchmark SC.L.17.). Furthermore, owl pellets being a behavior response, or adaptation, for owl survival (Benchmark SC.4.L.16.3).

With these resources, I want my students to grow as individuals who are mindful of their impact on their community as well as their environment. As a measurable outcome, I will use the Fourth Grade Discovery Education exam as a pre and post exam. This assessment encompasses all the fourth grade science standards and can be used as a tool for student achievement. In addition, many fourth grade standards are foundational to fifth grade FSA Science. Allowing students to experience science firsthand will provide a foothold on what they will learn for years to come.
 

What will be done with my students

The implementation of resources will be immediate in the classroom. Currently, thirty-nine students will have an opportunity to use these resources. With the exception of Flocabulary and owl pellets, many of these items are reusable, therefore allowing future students the opportunity of scientific exploration. With an approximately forty students each year, these resources will go a long way with scientific learning in the classroom. To help with vocabulary development, Flocabulary will be used as support in all areas of the science curriculum.

During the first quarter, students explore different sources of energy with the Neodymium Magnet, Balloon Helicopter, and Geyser Car as rudimentary sources of energy. Understanding how energy can be found everywhere and regardless of source, it can cause movement or change. As scientists, they also need to understand how energy sources, although all around, need to be practical and efficient for our daily needs. Also during the first quarter, students learn the connection between earth and sun. The Illuminated Orbiter would provide students with a visual representation of this relationship. As students view the earth rotating and revolving around the sun, they will understand the reasons causing day, night and the seasons.
By the second quarter, students understand solar energy is energy from the sun and both heat and light are used by all living things on earth. During this quarter, students will explore just a few ways how solar energy can be used. The Solar Balloons would allow students to explore heat energy and how heat could be used for movement by investigating how solar energy transforms the air inside the balloon. By investigating light energy, students will construct and use Solar Race Cars. The solar cars will provide an opportunity for them to investigate the benefits of solar energy to that of fossil fuels. With the Thames and Kosmos Power House, students will explore and learn about alternative energy sources. Not only would they have an opportunity to explore Florida’s renewable resources, but learn about energy-efficient construction materials by experimenting with heating, cooling, conduction, convection, and insulation. They will have an opportunity to test solar collection methods with a solar collector and generate electricity from sunlight. In addition, build wind turbines to extract energy from the wind and have the resources to construct a greenhouse to learn about energy-conserving adaptations used by plants. Also in quarter two, students will learn about the connection between the earth, moon and sun regarding the moon phases. Using the Illuminated Orbiter would allow a visual reference to this abstract and challenging concept.
In quarter three, students will investigate adaptations and food chains as well as the connection all living things have within a habitat. Using owl pellets, students will discover the skeletal remains of the prey owls eat. Using a guide, students will determine the type of prey based on the skeletal remains.

In quarter four, warmer weather will allow students to use Solar Ovens to harness energy from the sun to cook and discover which materials are best for conduction. By experimenting with different materials, students will also determine which materials are best for cooking as well as insulation.


 

Benefits to my students

Program effectiveness will be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively. Yearly growth will be evaluated by Discovery Ed pre and post assessments. This exam will be administered to all students (approximately 40) by one teacher. Typical mastery of standards is indicated by an 80% or better on the Discovery Ed post assessment.  

Budget Narrative

Solar Oven: offers students firsthand experience with solar radiation. Reflective surfaces of oven focuses heat radiation in the central chamber therefore allowing students to use solar energy to cook.

Owl Pellets: students can learn about food chains/webs, owls, and more through the investigation of owl pellets. Set includes five professionally treated owl pellets sealed in aluminum foil.

Solar Balloon: Solar balloons are a type of balloon that gains buoyancy when the air inside is heated by solar radiation. The heated air inside the solar balloon expands and has lower density than the surrounding air. As such, a solar balloon is similar to a hot air balloon.

Soda Geyser Car: Great visual tool as well as hands-on demonstration of valuable lessons in physics and motion as well as physical reactions. Using soda and Mentos, students will discover how this mixture creates energy and motion.

Balloon Powered Helicopter: When released, air travels through the blades, causing them to spin therefore, creating movement through wind energy.

Solar Powered Car: Uses solar panel to collect light energy, then converts to electrical energy to power the car.

Illuminate Orbiter: Orbiter effectively demonstrates daylight, night, seasons, and phases of the moon. The sun, earth and moon manually revolve around one another on this gear-driven model. The earth and moon are shown in true scale.

Thames and Kosmos Power House: Provides a comprehensive overview of the many forms of alternative energy. Also makes environmental protection and energy conservation issues tangible with hands-on experiences. The power house allows students to explore a variety of natural energy resources and materials to aid with conduction and insulation.

1" Cube Neodymium Magnet: A powerful magnet providing a visual representation of magnetic energy.

Flocabulary: Flocabulary is an online learning program that uses educational hip-hop music to engage students and increase achievement through vocabulary development across the science curriculum.

 

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