“Growing” Our Science Knowledge

School:: Magnet Innovation Center
Subject:: STEM Education
Teacher:: Margaret Aresco
Students Impacted:: 100
Grade:: 9-12
Date:: October 1, 2023

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

The St. Joe Community Foundation - $985.60

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 75

This grant was used to purchase supplies to construct a grow shelf in my science lab classroom. I purchased a metal shelf, full-spectrum grow light, and power strip with timer for the light. This shelf unit provides space for students in biology classes including Biology 1 Honors, AP Biology, and BSC1010C and BSC1011C Principles of Biology 1 and 2 dual-enrollment to grow plants as part of lab activities including invesitgations of plant diversity, genetics, and metabolism. Students benefit greatly from growing and studying plants in lab, developing lab skills including plant care and docmentation. There is also space on the grow shelf for our classroom carnivorous plant terrarium, microbial ecosystem mesocosms, and animals including fruit fly habitats for genetics research, our fishtank, and our class pet bearded dragon. This grow shelf will provide many years of lab experiment space for plant and animal research, including students' independent science fair research projects.

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal of this project is to provide an adaptable grow rack shelf for growing plants and animals in our high school science laboratory. Living plant and animal specimens engage student interest and allow students to apply the scientific concepts they are learning to real-world scenarios. Having a secure, dedicated space for these experiments will enhance the ability of students to conduct experimental observations of living plants and animals.

What will be done with my students

The grow rack shelf unit will be flexible, consisting of a stainless steel framework with adjustable shelves and trays and full-spectrum UV lights. Plants include our carnivorous plant terrarium, Fast plants grown for AP Biology genetics labs, monocot and dicot seeds grown for examination and dissection in Biology 1, microbial ecosystems and short-term projects in other classes. Animals include fruit flies for AP Biology and Dual Enrolled College Principles of Biology 1 classes and Nematode worms for behavioral experiments in Biomedical Science classes. Students will set up experiments in the grow rack according to the curriculum for their class, and a variety of experiments will be conducted simultaneously. Data will be collected during each experiment.

Benefits to my students

The benefits to students will be measured by evaluation of student lab reports and assessment scores related to the lab topics. Lab reports include hypothesis development, experimental design, setting up experiment, data collection, graphical analysis, and formative reflection questions to evaluate student mastery of the topic. Assessment scores for all classes can be directly connected to lab experiments as the experiments align with state standards for each course.
This grow rack system will be used by several classes, including Biology 1 (freshmen), AP and Dual Enrolled Biology and biomedical science courses, for a total of 80-100 students each year.
The items to be ordered for this project are the stainless steel wire shelving unit, 2 grow light fixtures, plastic trays to hold plant and animal containers, and a power strip with automatic timer to control day/light interval for grow lights. The grow rack is durable and will last for many years. Our lab currently has one Fluorescent Grow Light fixture that will be added to this grow rack.

Stainless Steel Wire Shelving Unit - 48 x 24 x 86" $680 + $89.63 Shipping = $769.63
https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-6153/Stainless-Steel-Wire-Shelving/Stainless-Steel-Wire-Shelving-Unit-48-x-24-x-86

HYDRO PLANET T5 Grow Lights 2 Feet 2 Bulbs Fixture with Fluorescent HO Bulbs 6500K | Indoor Plant Lights | Plant Grow Light $60 x 2 = $120
https://www.amazon.com/Hydroplanet-Fluorescent-Included-Horticulture-Gardening/dp/B019J3UPRG/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1X9Y8B7WSN7L8&keywords=vivosun%2Bfluorescent%2Blamp&qid=1696131320&sprefix=vivosun%2Bflourescent%2B%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-14&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&th=1

Dog Crate Tray Replacement 35.4"*23.42" Dog Crate Pan for Chew Proof Potty Training-Sturdy, Prevents Flow Over - Perfect for Pet Cages $31.99 x 3 = $95.97
https://www.amazon.com/Crate-Replacement-23-42-Training-Sturdy-Prevents/dp/B0C77K7LXK/ref=sr_1_20_sspa?crid=18S6U6YXBPGXM&keywords=plastic%2Bplant%2Btray%2B24%2Bx%2B36&qid=1696131984&sprefix=plastic%2Bplant%2Btray%2B24%2Bx%2B36%2Caps%2C330&sr=8-20-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

Total $985.60

Budget Narrative

Stainless Steel Wire Shelving Unit - 48 x 24 x 86" $680 + $89.63 Shipping = $769.63
https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-6153/Stainless-Steel-Wire-Shelving/Stainless-Steel-Wire-Shelving-Unit-48-x-24-x-86

HYDRO PLANET T5 Grow Lights 2 Feet 2 Bulbs Fixture with Fluorescent HO Bulbs 6500K | Indoor Plant Lights | Plant Grow Light $60 x 2 = $120
https://www.amazon.com/Hydroplanet-Fluorescent-Included-Horticulture-Gardening/dp/B019J3UPRG/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1X9Y8B7WSN7L8&keywords=vivosun%2Bfluorescent%2Blamp&qid=1696131320&sprefix=vivosun%2Bflourescent%2B%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-14&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&th=1

Dog Crate Tray Replacement 35.4"*23.42" Dog Crate Pan for Chew Proof Potty Training-Sturdy, Prevents Flow Over - Perfect for Pet Cages $31.99 x 3 = $95.97
https://www.amazon.com/Crate-Replacement-23-42-Training-Sturdy-Prevents/dp/B0C77K7LXK/ref=sr_1_20_sspa?crid=18S6U6YXBPGXM&keywords=plastic%2Bplant%2Btray%2B24%2Bx%2B36&qid=1696131984&sprefix=plastic%2Bplant%2Btray%2B24%2Bx%2B36%2Caps%2C330&sr=8-20-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

Total $985.60

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Stainless Steel Wire Shelving Unit - 48 x 24 x 86"	$680.00
2	Shelf - Shipping	$89.63
3	HYDRO PLANET T5 Grow Lights 2 Feet 2 Bulbs Fixture with Fluorescent HO Bulbs 6500K \| Indoor Plant Lights \| Plant Grow Light	$60.00
4	HYDRO PLANET T5 Grow Lights 2 Feet 2 Bulbs Fixture with Fluorescent HO Bulbs 6500K \| Indoor Plant Lights \| Plant Grow Light	$60.00
5	Dog Crate Tray Replacement 35.4"*23.42" Dog Crate Pan for Chew Proof Potty Training-Sturdy, Prevents Flow Over - Perfect for Pet Cages	$31.99
6	Dog Crate Tray Replacement 35.4"*23.42" Dog Crate Pan for Chew Proof Potty Training-Sturdy, Prevents Flow Over - Perfect for Pet Cages	$31.99
7	Dog Crate Tray Replacement 35.4"*23.42" Dog Crate Pan for Chew Proof Potty Training-Sturdy, Prevents Flow Over - Perfect for Pet Cages	$31.99
	Total:	$985.60

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