This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one. - Charles Horton Cooley
Teaching in a high poverty area has shown me the value of art education at the elementary level. Many of these children honestly do not know the personal satisfaction of creating something beautiful with their hands.
My students, while in a high poverty school, are much like children anywhere.
They love positive reinforcement, enjoy knowing they matter and experiencing the fun of just being a kid. However, reality is often very stark and sometimes cruel to these kids. School is often the only true safe place many ever experience in their daily lives. Often, you can see in their eyes the need to be accepted unconditionally and given the opportunity to prove themselves capable.
My Project
Clay. It really seems so simple. It's basically dirt and water, something most kids experience on a daily basis. Given in the right proportions, suddenly that dirt and water become the medium in which inspiration and beauty can occur.
These projects will range from harvest pumpkins and Thanksgiving turkeys to fish and mandalas. Each of these projects are for different grade levels, and require more dexterity and skill as the grade level increases.
In addition to the sheer joy of working with clay (when do children NOT enjoy something messy?), students will also be learning art terms, mixed media techniques, as well as math and social studies correlations.
Funding in education is as tight as I have ever seen in my 15+ years of teaching.
Supplies and materials deemed 'extra' are always the first to go. These clay projects are important to my students for more than just the standards covered. These projects allow the children in my school to create something of duration and beauty with the simplest of ingredients.
I appreciate your time and applaud your choice to make the difference in a child's life by logging onto donors choose.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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 Ms. McDaniel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.