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Goal

Our students are living in an ever changing world where they as individuals need to be able to connect multiple curriculum skills together to complete tasks, learn problem solving techniques, and use their own ingenuity and creativity to discover new ideas. As a fourth grade teacher, I strive to guide my students in reaching goals in cross curricular areas. However, students are not always as proficient in areas as we aspire them to be. According to the initial STAR Math Assessment given in August 2018, 26% of my students are below proficiency and not on grade level. Although fourth grade students do not take the Statewide Science Assessment, they are assessed in fifth grade. As a current fourth grade teacher and a previous fifth grade teacher, I understand the importance of vertical planning in the area of science to help increase students scores on the Statewide Science Assessment. I strongly feel that there can be a decrease in percentage of students that are not on grade level on the STAR Math Assessment and an increase in scores on the fifth grade Statewide Science Assessment by providing opportunities for STEM and hands on activities that will effectively and actively engage students. To help provide a hands-on, interactive, and engaging classroom where students can explore the application of skills, I feel that students need access to STEM and hands on science kits to help them succeed in these areas.
According to an article on nea.org, The National Education Association encourages the use of STEM activities in the classroom so that students can compete with other students and eventually employees in a workforce that is rapidly changing.They believe that STEM education is essential to provide this opportunity to our students.

Florida fourth grade math standard-MAFS.4.NF.2.4 requires that students should solve word problems involving multiplication of a fraction by a whole number by using visual fraction models and equations to represent and use and application of skills and concepts to do so. Also, the Math Standard- MAFS.4.MD.1.3 states that students should apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world and mathematical problems. Florida fourth grade science standard- SC.4.N.1.1 requires that students raise questions about the natural world, and use appropriate reference materials that support understanding to obtain information, and conduct both individual and team investigations through free exploration and systematic investigations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations. With these requirements for fourth grade students, the use of STEM activities could help benefit our students.

 

What will be done with my students

If granted the STEM and Hands on Science Kits, students will be able to use the kits to enhance lessons in science and math during whole group as well as small group instruction.
Students will be able to use their own creativity with project-based activities that will promote problem solving and critical thinking.


 

Benefits to my students

Currently, there are 23 students that will benefit from the use of STEM and Hands on Science Kits as well as other fourth grade students in the future. It is my goal that by May 2020, 80% of my students demonstrate proficiency on the Math portion of the STAR assessment and that my current fourth graders move forward to fifth grade with the application skills needed in order to prove successful on the Statewide Science Assessment.  

Budget Narrative

These items were chosen as a supplement to the fourth grade curriculum as a cost effective means to provide students with the opportunity to increase learning in a hands on and practical way.  

Items