Statewide Reach for Local Impact

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Increasing Scientific Literacy and Test Scores with STEM Investigations

School:: Tarpon Springs Middle School
Subject:: Science
Teacher:: Brenda Viana
Students Impacted:: 697
Grade:: 6-8
Date:: August 12, 2023

0% Funded

Only $920.00 Needed

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Complete the following form to fund this project. All of the contact information entered below should match the contact information on your credit card. Please note, there is an "Acknowledgement" field below to list the name as it should appear in our donor acknowledgements. Please contact the foundation if you would like to pay by check: 12090 Starkey Road, Largo, FL 33773.

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Goal

To improve scientific literacy, to improve state assessments scores, and to obtain a deeper understanding of scientific concepts.

What will be done with my students

This grant would give students access numerous engaging STEM projects and rigorous scientific investigations. Through a “Explore Learning’s Gizmos” subscription, our science classrooms will have access to hundreds of online simulations with lesson materials and supporting research-based strategies to build deep conceptual understanding in math and science.

Benefits to my students

Gizmos’ virtual laboratory simulations bring many of Marzano's nine categories of effective instructional strategies to classroom by providing powerful interactive content, by engaging students in real-world scenarios involving the nature of science, and by providing personalized inquiry-based STEM activities.
In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of abstract scientific concepts, our students will also develop key literacy skills through the reporting of their research findings . My students use the CER method (claim, evidence, and reasoning) to write argumentative essays and lab reports. The Gizmos STEM investigations provide students with the research and the relevant data collection to help formulate argumentative essays and to effectively communicate scientific findings.
Since having access to Gizmos STEM investigations in the past 3 years, my students' gains and growth have been observed through various forms of assessments. My students have become more skilled in obtaining critical information from the scientific texts provided in their pre-lab research, they have become proficient in using Microsoft Office 3 Apps, and, more significantly, they have made gains in their summative state assessments.
Our Science proficiency levels increased from 52% to 68% since implementing Gizmos STEM investigations three years ago.

Describe the Students

Our middle school serves 697 students with about 49% of them receiving free lunch. 40% of my students are in either ESE or have a 504 plan. In our science class, they learn best when they are investigating scientific concepts through real-world scenarios involving the nature of science, STEM projects, and by providing personalized inquiry-based activities.

Budget Narrative

Individual teacher license Annual Subscription : Teacher and their students will have access to Gizmos and teachers’ accounts will have access to on-demand professional development. The cost for teachers is $920 each

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Explore Learning Science Gizmo Subscription	$920.00
	Total:	$920.00