Mr. Mundell's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 5

• Competing in the "Field" of Robotics

  Funded Mar 16, 2017

  Thank you for the donation you made to the Irvington Robotics Team. It allowed for the purchase of competition field for our robotics team. This has allowed us to produce higher quality robots through recreating the specific testing conditions that we would see at competition.

  The students are so excited about this addition, because it not only gives them the opportunity to improve their robot performance, but also because it makes them feel like a real "team" complete with a home field. We have used the field to not only support our team, but also have offered the use of some of these resources to help other teams.

  Thank you again for this contribution. I cannot really put into words the impact that this program is having on our students. I'm sure it is not only helping them today, but will also provide inspiration for their future careers.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Mundell

  This classroom project was brought to life by Overdeck Family Foundation & Simons Foundation and 10 other donors.

• Custom Mini-Sumo Robots!

  Funded Nov 22, 2016

  Wow! My students are currently in the middle of building their mini-sumo robots, and from what I can see they are really enjoying it. At first they were very intimidated by requirements of the project, but we are breaking it down into smaller steps and their initial apprehension has turned into real excitement. A project like this in invaluable in building self confidence and teaching students to keep working at something, even if it's hard. A few of the groups have reached to milestone of building a working chassis, and they are really proud of themselves.

  This project has been a great way to incorporate so many lessons into one cohesive unit. We had a great discussion on gear ratios and considered the costs and benefits of high or low ratios in our sumo bots. Now we are discussing following directions and meeting the constraints within the context of the engineering design process. While each group's gearbox and control board is similar, the groups are starting to get creative and unique in the other aspects of their designs. I have already had two groups use the 3D modeling and printing skills they learned last semester to create wheels to their desired specifications for this new project, so we are also making connections to previously learned material. Everyone is having a great time learning, and we are so grateful for your support in making this possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Mundell

  This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 4 other donors.

• Learning About Electricity Is A Snap

  Funded Nov 28, 2016

  Today we used the Snap Circuits and Digital Multimeters in class, and the students had a blast! They were required to create specific circuits and then analyze them in terms of voltage, amperage, and resistance. This data was then compared with what we had learned the previous day when studying Kirchhoff's Laws. It was great to see the students eager to confirm the knowledge that they had only been able to discuss the previous day.

  In the coming weeks we will explore even more about electricity. I really look forward to having the students design their own lab that will explore the connection between the resistance and current in a circuit. This year, I won't be telling them about Ohm's Law, they will be DISCOVERING it. I feel proud as a teacher to provide them with a hands on experience that has real-world skills they could use some day. Perhaps we have some future electricians, electrical engineers, and do-it-yourselfers in this class! Maybe the next Elon Musk!

  I was especially impressed with a few students, who don't normally show enthusiasm, working diligently through the tasks. I told them that once they finished the requirements, they could explore the pieces and create their own circuits. They were learning right up until the bell rang. As they were leaving, many asked if we would be using them again in the future, and they seemed stoked when I said, "Yes."

  Thank you again for your generosity. It has made an immediate and clear impact on my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Mundell

  This classroom project was brought to life by Tom's of Maine and 2 other donors.

• 3D Printer for STEM classes and Robotics Team

  Funded May 19, 2016

  Dear Donors,

  I cannot thank you enough for the generosity you showed by donating to our 3D printer project. My students have been having a great time this year exploring 3D modeling, and the 3D printer allows them to make their digital objects into tangible objects that they can hold in their hands and show their friends. The 3D printer bridges the gap between the digital world and reality, and we all know that learning is most effective when students can see real world applications.

  Currently my students are working on creating puzzle cubes with the 3D printer. We are starting off by using a basic modeling program called TinkerCad. Eventually we will be moving to more advanced programs and creating more complex 3D models. The students are working in teams to plan their puzzles, and each member of the team is in charge of creating an individual piece. This task requires planning, cooperation, and precision to ensure that their finished project fits together.

  I can honestly say that excitement is higher this year in my class than I've ever seen, and the 3D printer is a significant reason for that. Students are entering my class and getting immediately to work, motivated by a desire to see their creations made real. The students are already pushing the boundaries of this project, adding their own creative flare to their piece. This real learning, and real joy, could not have been possible without your generosity.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Mundell

• IPA Mr. Mundell Classroom Calculator Set

  Funded Apr 5, 2016

  My students were immediately ecstatic when they walked into my classroom to see the new set of calculators that were available to them. Test days are stressful enough for students without having to scramble to borrow a calculator from a friend or teacher. We were able to focus on a quick review before the test, rather than trying to locate enough calculators for everyone to have one.

  In order to ensure that this donation is usable for a long period of time, I purchased a wall organizer for the calculators. When a student borrows a calculator, they leave their student ID in the slot where they took it from. This way students have a motivation to put the calculators away. Also, if a student accidentally walks out of my classroom with the calculator, I know which student did it and can quickly locate the calculator. So far the system has worked great.

  I look forward to an increase in scores in my class. Before this donation, many of my students took notes but did not actively solve the problems as they were done in class. Now I have a much larger portion of my class working problems out simultaneously with the notes using the calculators at their desk (instead of just waiting for me to do the work and put the answer on the board). It is better for learning, more engaging, and just makes sense that everyone has the proper materials.

  Thank you again for the donation! It is being put to good use.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Mundell

  This classroom project was brought to life by Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and 3 other donors.