I teach 53 6th graders who constantly ask "why", "what if", and "how come"? They are the intellectually curious who live in a world where their questions abound, but our funding does not. My students participate in an intellectually gifted pullout program where they investigate topics in greater depth than in the regular classroom. They look forward to our class which allows them to research topics they are passionate about.
Our middle school is in a rural school district which is growing very quickly; however, funding for our program is limited, but that doesn't stop our students from wanting to know and learn more.
By programming the Sphero Sprk+ robot balls, my students will learn that there is more than one way to solve a problem. To program their robot balls, students will not only have to understand the challenge, but they will also have to understand basic programming, distance, time, and speed, all while using creative ways to complete the task. And because they are so fascinated by making the Sphero perform a task, they won't even realize the level of learning and engagement taking place. Instead of learning concepts in isolation, students' learning will cross disciplines and will have real-world applications. These lessons can transfer into future careers that my students may not have originally considered.
If you donated to this project, you can sign in to leave a comment for Mrs. Steven-Pheal.
DonorsChoose is the #1 classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Steven-Pheal and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America create classroom project requests, and you can give any amount to the project that inspires you.