With these funds I will provide an in-school field trip for my pre-k students. I work with a team of special education teachers to serve 3-5 year old students with special needs. Our students are enrolled in this program to learn basic communication skills, self-help skills (feeding, toileting, etc), social skills, and pre-academic skills. Many of our students also require support in regards to their gross- and fine-motor development. We serve a diverse population of students from around the world and our classrooms include students who speak Spanish, Amharic, Vietnamese, Chinese, French, and English. Our school serves a low-income population and more than 65% of our students receive free or reduced meals.

All students benefit from hands-on learning experiences, and this is especially true for young students and those with special needs. When the students are able to see and touch real objects connected to our curriculum, it increases their engagement, enhances their understanding of the concepts, and promotes communication. These opportunities also allow for teachable moments related to social skills (waiting for a turn, sharing, learning to how to care for living things, etc.). Bringing this experience into the classroom also supports our students' social-emotional needs as they are learning. Our students learn best when they are in a safe, familiar, and structured environment. By introducing a new experience within their familiar classroom, the students will be more available for learning. 

Our students recently completed a curriculum unit all about animals. They studied animal life cycles, how animals grow, and animal homes. To support this learning, we would love to have the Maryland ZOOmobile visit our classrooms. The ZOOmobile will provide two 30-minute presentations that include 3 live animals! The students will learn about animals, while also practicing the ABCs, in an interactive way. Many of our families are not able to take their children to the zoo due to financial concerns, transportation needs, and/or long work hours. This in-school field trip will provide the up-close experience with animals that all young children deserve. Our families are being asked to contribute a small fee towards the cost of this program, and we hope to fund raise the additional costs in order to reduce the burden on the families. Thank you for giving our young learners this opportunity! 

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