Past projects 39
Magna-Tiles for Magnificent Learning
Funded May 8, 2024Wow! Thank you for your kindness! Your financial support will help an awesome group of kids have fun while learning. I am honored that you chose my project, Magna-Tiles for Magnificent Learners, to support. Donors like you, make teachers like me feel supported and appreciated for the work we do.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and 3 other donors.Building Bridges, Homes & Vehicles
Funded Nov 28, 2023You have made a difference! My students thrive with hands-on and open-ended experiences. YOUR support of Building Bridges, Homes, and Buildings has allowed my students to imagine, create, and problem solve- all while having fun. Many of my preschoolers have learned to connect the flat tiles, some request support (amazing!), and a few are persevering and working through the challenges of building structures.
This project has had a positive impact on my students' fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, attention to detail, focus and creativity! It was great to hear and see my students sharing these materials.
The excitement in my preschoolers' eyes when new toys are introduced into the classroom is wonderful. Thank you for being AWESOME and helping to bring joy into my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 7 other donors.Cloth Books
Funded Apr 8, 2024A huge THANKS for your kindness and generosity. I am honored and delighted that you selected my Cloth Books project to fund. Your financial support will put books directly in the hands of a wonderful group of students. These cloth books are much needed; and they will be explored often.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 7 other donors.Preschool Art Supplies
Funded Sep 20, 2023Thank you for helping me provide more open-ended art experiences for my preschool students. Your financial support has led to more art exploration, creativity, and social emotional growth.
It's exciting to see my preschoolers explore and create with a variety of art supplies- paint rollers, spray bottles, colored rice, watercolors, and finger paints, etc. It's especially heart-warming to hear them say, "Look what I made!" Their delight is my joy and your support has had a tremendous impact!
During our Buildings Study, they readily painted pretend houses with paint rollers. It was nice to see the focus and concentration they had while moving the roller back and forth, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Recently, my preschoolers explored painting with spray bottles- they were ALL fascinated by the running and dripping paint! My next step with the spray bottles is to encourage them to stand in different distances from the painting easel to explore the effect it has on their artwork.
Many thanks for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 6 other donors.Bells for Music Needed!
Funded Jan 17, 2024Thank you! Your generosity amazes me. I am so appreciative of your financial support and kindness. I can't wait to see my students' eyes light up wirh surprise and delight when the new bells arrive. Having more than one bell for our music exploration time will make a huge difference!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
Sturdy Books for Little Hands, Part II
Funded Oct 30, 2023You have made a wonderful impact on the lives of my preschool students. They begin each school day exploring books! Thanks to your kindness and generosity, my young students have access to a variety of sturdy lift-the-flap books! Some of my preschoolers are eager to discover what's behind each flap, while others are content with looking and pointing at objects in the picture.
Your generosity is helping my students gain and improve their book handling skills. They orient books the right-side up and turn pages from left to right. Three of my students have discovered favorite books. These budding readers request and/or seek out their favorite book each morning.
Thanks again for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by A Donor Who Loves Teachers and 5 other donors.Sturdy Books for Little Hands
Funded Jul 8, 2023Your generous support of "Sturdy Books for Little Hands" has given my preschoolers daily access to board books. Yay! These sturdy books have become an integral part of my preschoolers' arrival routine. After putting away their belongings, putting their name on the attendance chart, and sitting at a table, my preschoolers select a board book and begin "reading." Thanks to you, they have had daily opportunities to explore books with their peers, our Special Education Paraprofessionals, and me.
These books have helped to improve their book handling skills and overall interest in books. Although a few pages may be skipped, most of my students are turning the pages from left to right and are engaging with the book right-side up. They are learning to point to the pictures to make comments or ask questions. Yay! I continue to have a few students who are new to books and continue to explore them by simply holding or mouthing them. In time, they, too, will be opening the books and exploring what's inside.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 11 other donors.PreK Engineers
Funded Jun 16, 2023The Stand-Up Magnetic Design Center, the Engineer-A-Coaster Activity Kit and the Turn Learn Magnetic Gears have become a special feature in our Discovery Center. My students have spent several weeks exploring the magnetic properties of the tracks and gears. They've put the tracks and gears together, pulled them apart, removed them from the magnetic design center and searched for other surfaces around our classroom to put them on. They've spun the gears round and round with their hands; occasionally creating connected structures on the Magnetic Design Center and spinning them.
Recently, one of my preschoolers put a magnetic track on the Stand-Up Magnetic Design Center and then added a disk. He pushed the disk along the track with his hand until the disk fell through the slot. He repeated this several times. Then he added another track below the first track, positioning its slot directly below the slot above. Once again, he pushed the disk along the top track until it fell through both slots. He was having the time of his life based on his smiles, laughter, and focus. He continued playing with the Engineer-A-Coaster for several more days. Then, he placed a track at an angle! I'm not certain if this was intentional or inadvertent, but the look on his face when he realized that he didn't have to push the disk along the track was priceless.
Thank you for providing my students with these tools. They are making new discoveries and learning through their play.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 3 other donors.Sand and Water Play
Funded Jun 16, 2023My students absolutely LOVE playing at the sand and water table. They continue to explore the different types of sand using their hands, shovels, and pails. They repeatedly scoop and pour the sand, improving their eye-hand coordination and social skills. Occasionally, water is added to the sand and a few of my students promptly use the scoops, cups, and pails as molds to make scoops of sand ice cream and sand cakes.
Some of my students can now scoop sand with one hand and hold or stabilize a container with the other hand as they pour sand from the small scoops and cups.
Currently, they are learning how to use bubble wands to blow bubbles. It has been challenging to get a few of my preschoolers to blow air out. But they will get it in time. They are also developing positive peer relationships as they practice trading and taking turns with the sand & water tools and the bubble wands. Thank you for supporting my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 3 other donors.Preschool Artists
Funded Jun 13, 2023Your support of my project, "Preschool Artists," has brought more fun and interest to our art center. My preschoolers are exploring the tape with enthusiasm and focus. They are becoming more independent and confident in their ability to pull the tape from the dispenser. I love that they are learning that there isn't one way or a "right" way to explore and create designs. My students vary how they apply the tape to paper- long strips, short strips, crumbled balls, twisted strips, etc. Some of their "oops" have become part of their artwork. One day, a student had difficulty managing the sticky tape, became frustrated and balled the tape up. I asked if I could have it. He watched as I added the ball to my paper; he then proceeded to create more balls for his paper. The look of pride on his face was priceless.
I'm certain that my students will soon begin to combine their tape strips to create 2-D shapes and letters- I've already seen it emerge during their play with playdough, popsicle sticks and geoboards.
The dough scissors have also been helpful. Currently, they are practicing loading scissors and snipping playdough. A few have already mastered how to load the scissors independently. Having scissors dedicated specifically for play dough use is a godsend. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sloan-Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 3 other donors.