Mrs. Smith's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 10

• Science is Magic that Works

  Funded Sep 5, 2023

  Gertrude Stein said that silent gratitude isn't much to anyone. I am shouting for all to hear, THANK YOU so much for helping improve science at my school.

  The students have been using their notebooks daily to keep track of experiments and notes to support their learning. Our school has a beautiful garden and greenhouse. The students are looking forward to growing seeds in the soil and then transferring some of them to the garden to see how large they will be able to grow. The solar cells are going to make a huge impact on learning about how solar energy can be harnessed and used to keep electronics going.

  All of these amazing learning opportunities are possible because of the kindness that you have shared with these 5th grade students. Thank you again for your generosity. It is very appreciated!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith

• You Can't Have a Fraction of Pi

  Funded Dec 15, 2016

  "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."

  ― Winston S. Churchill What a powerful statement that expresses how wonderful I hope your life must be. You have not just helped the students I personally work with, but all of the students in my school. I plan to share the die cut patterns that were purchased so every teacher in the school can have access to them. One thing that the students at my school have a difficult time doing is understanding fractions. To them, it is very abstract. Giving them each an individual set of fraction pieces takes forever to cut out by hand. I can now cut out a class set in less that 5 minutes. The pieces can also be glued down or can be taken home for additional practice. This is all possible because of your generosity!

  The students were so excited the first time we used these fraction pieces when I told them they could take them home to practice and to use for their homework. Many of them came in the next day telling me how they used the fraction pieces at home and they were able to show their parents how they use the pieces. This is such a huge deal, because many of the kids who never do homework, came back excited about their homework.

  I look forward to using these die cut patterns in the future, especially when it comes time to review for our state test. Now to conquer the world of probability!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith

• An Electric Eel Can Produce a Shock of Up to 650 Volts

  Funded Jun 15, 2016

  Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. - Helen Keller. These are such wise words and very true. Thank you so much for helping me be able to do so much for my 5th grade scientists. All of the students were so excited to wear the science aprons and kept saying that they are real scientists now. They are also more engaged in the "not so clean" science lessons. Previously, students would complain about getting water or other items on their clothes during our scientific investigations. Now, the students have no problem getting there hands dirty and their clothes clean. The pictures show the students trying to separate 2 substances to find if it is a mixture or a solution. They loved being real scientists and had no problem exploring all of the different strategies.

  In the next few weeks we will continue to wear our science aprons. We will be exploring owl pellets, create elephant toothpaste, and creating clay to form a model of the ocean, to name a few of our upcoming messy science labs. I know both the students and their parents will be happy to know that we will be able to learn with hands on experiences and continue to keep our clothes clean and in one piece.

  I greatly appreciate your support! Alone, I would not have been able to have enough aprons for every student to wear one, but with your support, I am able to provide security for my students. They may not be able to afford many things, but they take great pride in what they do have and with your help, I am able to make these students no longer feel nervous about getting messy and having fun learning!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith

• An Engineer Created the Slippery Part of the Water Slide

  Funded Oct 7, 2011

  It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart. -Unknown

  Thank you so much for sharing what is in your heart and helping my class. It is very kind of you to think of children that are striving for a better future. These children show so much promise. Each day I see the children grow and they are becoming independent thinkers and problem solvers. The use of Legos in our class room helps the children think on their own and build structures with a purpose without the fear of failure.

  The Legos have been such a huge hit with my students. We are able to incorporate them into almost all areas of our curriculum. They are used in math for counting and adding. In reading, we use the blocks with letters to make words and put the alphabet in order. We put words on the sides for the more advanced students to create sentences. It has also been a huge part of our scientific method. The students are problem solving by building structures to hold certain objects.

  Without people like you, our class would be learning with paper and pencil. With your help, we have a kindergarten class full of engineers. Thank you so very much from the future bridge makers, rollercoaster creators, and from the person who will build the next largest building in the world!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith

• 80% of US Families Did Not Buy Or Read A Book Last Year

  Funded Dec 31, 2010

  One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind. - Malayan Proverb

  My kindergarten students love, love, love the books and the storytelling kits that you supplied for us. They have so much fun retelling stories using the storytelling kits. They have become actors and their comprehension skills are improving every time they use the storytelling kits.

  Your kindness has sparked the kindness in my students. After being able to read stories and then reenact the stories with the storytelling kits, my students wanted to give back to someone else. Our class collected canned goods and donated them to the food bank. It is amazing how the kindness of a stranger can spark the kindness in us. Thank you so much for not only helping us with literacy but also with the lifelong lesson of giving donations and helping others. ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith

• Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader

  Funded Dec 22, 2009

  I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom. ~Author Unknown

  Thank you so much for making a donation to my class. We are very grateful for what you have done to help increase my kindergarteners' love of reading. When the package came full of books by our favorite authors, the students faces lit p with excitement. The students' faces lit up when the package cam that was full of books by our favorite authors. There was immediate excitement for Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. I cannot begin to tell you how many days are ended with the story of Lilly and her fabulous purse.

  When I search for a book to read in the store or at the library, I often search for the latest book by one of my favorite authors. When a child goes to the library to search for a book to read, they don't usually have a favorite author or even know what an author is for that matter. With your help my students' are developing a love for authors. When they come back from the library each week their faces are full of pride when they are carrying books by Kevin Henkes, Ezra Jack Keats, Maurice Sendak, or any of the other authors we have studied. Now they can read books by these authors in our class whenever they would like not just on days that they can find them in the library.

  With our school's budget cuts it becomes more and more difficult to get supplies for our classroom. Basic class supplies, like pencils and paper, take priority. When it comes to brand new books for our children to read and enjoy, sometimes the books have to take the back burner. Thank you so much for helping my class get the books off the back burner and into our class.

  Thank you from the bottom of 16 bottomless heart.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith

• You Can't Break The Ties That Bind

  Funded Dec 14, 2008

  The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard

  Words cannot express how grateful I am for the help you have given my students. There are 40 little kindergartners that will now be able to track their learning and learn the life skill of being organized. There are 40 little hearts that will be thankful for the gift you have given our class. We may not be able to get even with you, but we will think of your kindness everyday while using the binders to organize and track our learning. Thank you so much for your generosity.

  Sincerely,

  Rache”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith

• A Googol is a 1 Followed by a Hundred Zeros

  Funded Jan 25, 2008

  Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim. ~William Feather

  Thank you so much for coming in to help when my students were in special need of better supplies for our math centers. Trying to teach students on all different levels with a minimal amount of supplies and resources to create activities can be very challenging. With your help and assistance I can now create more interactive centers. Also, with your help all of the students will be able to find an activity that will be challenging enough for them. Thank you so much for your kindness.

  Sincerely,

  Rachel ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith

• Crickets Have Their Hearing Organs in Their Knees

  Funded Dec 13, 2007

  The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard

  Words can not express how grateful I am for the help you have given my students. There are 36 little ears that will now enjoy listening to the story of their choice. There are 18 little hearts that will be thankful for the gift you have given our class. We may not be able to get even with you, but we will think of your kindness everyday while using our high class listening center. Thank you so much for your generosity.

  Sincerely,

  Rachel ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Smith