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Goal

The goal of this grant it provide students with hands-on experiences that deepen their understanding of anatomy and the interconnected systems of living organisms, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and an appreciation for scientific discovery through dissection opportunities. 

What will be done with my students

Upon being awarded the grant, I hope to use it to order specimens immediately. Dissections would benefit students in May as we complete our Body Systems unit. Many of the systems and structures that we learned about in the unit will be visible and available for exploration through dissections. Students will examine multiple specimens and can investigate how anatomy differs across species, sparking discussions about evolution, adaptation, and biodiversity. Students will design and conduct mini-research projects, such as identifying the functions of specific organs or systems within the specimen. Dissections would be a useful tool to permanently integrate into the curriculum. After conceptualizing each body system and it's function in supporting life, students would be able to explore the system further using hands-on techniques. I believe all science curriculums could benefit from hands-on learning opportunities like dissections. These activities aim to make the experience educational, interactive, and thought-provoking while inspiring curiosity.  

Benefits to my students

Students will benefit from explorative learning outside of a teacher's directions. Dissection labs offer students a wealth of benefits, such as:
-Hands-On Learning: Students actively explore anatomical structures, making abstract concepts tangible and easier to understand. This type of learning often sticks better than just reading or watching.
-Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: By analyzing organs and systems, students develop skills in observation, inference, and making connections between structure and function.
-Curiosity and Engagement: The interactive nature of dissection often sparks curiosity about biology and the natural world, encouraging students to ask deeper questions.
-Preparation for Future Studies: For those pursuing careers in medicine, biology, or veterinary fields, dissection builds a foundational understanding of anatomy and physiology.
-Empathy and Ethical Discussions: Students gain an appreciation for the complexity of life and can engage in thoughtful discussions about the ethical implications of studying living organisms.
In short, it’s a rich, hands-on experience that bridges the gap between theory and real-world biology. It allows students to become scientists and teachers to become curators of creative thinking and problem-solving techniques. Myself, 2 facilitating support teachers (3 teachers total) and my 125 students will benefit from this experience. 

Budget Narrative

I plan to break the students into around 16 groups. Each group would receive a fetal pig, a sheep heart, and a sheep brain to dissect. All specimens are to be placed on their own dissection tray to keep the classroom sanitary. Each group would receive enough scalpels for each person so that everyone has a chance to explore hands-on. Each person would require gloves for each dissection. I would like to request the maximum value of $1200 to cover any additional shipping costs/tax costs. 

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