Past projects 8
Calming Area
Funded Feb 3, 2023When I set up the Calming Area, my students immediately gravitated to it. The space is minimalistic and beautiful. The alphabet tree carpet defines the area. The bean bag chair and flex-space comfy floor seats are incredibly comfortable and their covers are washable. Finally, the basket of self-reflective and self-soothing books and items are enticing and durable.
When breathing, yoga, and other calming strategies do not fit a student's needs, then the liquid floor tiles provide an opportunity to stomp and jump. Sometimes a release of energy is needed in order for a student to recalibrate.
I want to thank you so very much for making this space possible. It serves my students well.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Simsar
Light on Learning
Funded Mar 2, 2022Thank you so very much for contributing to my DonorsChoose "Light on Learning" project. The light table and light table learning materials you allowed me to purchase are used on a weekly basis and have resulted in special learning experiences for my students. It is so fun to be able to turn off the classroom lights and illuminate numbers, colors, x-rays, etc. with the light table. The light table draws students in and allows them to focus on what is illuminated. It is a wonderful educational tool for increasing attention. Thank you again for making this learning possible.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Simsar
This classroom project was brought to life by Valhalla Foundation and 13 other donors.Loosen Up Our Creativity
Funded Dec 1, 2021Loose parts are materials that are open-ended. They can be anything imaginable.
The loose parts that you funded have been a great many things since they have been added to our classroom's Blocks Center: Armenian barbecue, dog treats, medicine, a roomba, the Three Bears' bowls, and more.
My students' creativity is showcased when using loose parts. It has been wonderful to observe the many ways in which my students have utilized the simple wooden disks, eggs, spools, etc.
I am grateful to you for graciously contributing to my students' growth and development via pretend play with flexible loose parts learning materials.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Simsar
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 6 other donors.Weaving Togetherness
Funded Nov 30, 2021I created this Weaving Together DonorsChoose project to supplement our Creative Curriculum Clothing Study. The Clothing Study defines yarn, weaving, and cloth; however, having the hands-on materials to actually weave yarn on a loom made the vocabulary meaningful. The students commented on how difficult it was to weave. The challenge made them appreciate their clothing in a way that they had not before.
We are currently engaged in the Creative Curriculum Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Study. At the public library, I came across the title Rainbow Weaver by Linda Elovitz Marshall. This book jumped out at me because of this DonorsChoose project. The book tells of a Guatemalan girl who uses plastic bags, which litter her village, to weave sellable goods to fund her education. The students in my class immediately requested to weave with plastic bags. Weaving plastic is even more difficult than weaving yarn. I overheard them encouraging one another. I also saw them use teamwork.
The looms you contributed to our classroom have positively impacted my students' comprehension, fine motor skills, persistence, and appreciation.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Simsar
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.Learning By Osmo, Not Osmosis
Funded Aug 8, 2020I am so grateful for your donations to purchase Osmo hardware and software. I have been able to use the Osmo system as a digital projector during distance learning in order to model hands-on educational activities with my students.
Hands-on learning is best practice and vital in sustaining student engagement especially as they learn at home. The photos I have posted display the range of activities I have been able to teach with use of the Osmo. Without the Osmo, I would not have been able to teach these lessons as well.
I wish I was able to display an ever greater number of photos so that I can display the wonderful creativity and learning of my students. I thank you because your generosity has allowed my students to be able to have incredible learning opportunities even when they are currently unable to physically attend school.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Simsar
This classroom project was brought to life by A Generous Donor and 7 other donors.If They Build It, They Will Learn!
Funded Aug 11, 2019Wow! Our block building center has been transformed as a result of your generous contributions. Thank you!
I witnessed students expressions of awe when the new block building center was unveiled. The block building center has been bustling with constructive play every day since. I have observed students problem solving and working together. For example, I was completely blown away when I saw two students rescue Humpty Dumty by rolling the plastic egg down the wooden ramp from the block wall that they had built.
I love that my students have used the block building materials in ways I had not anticipated. For instance, the arched blocks have become telephones, half pipes and band aids for pretend injuries.
Our block building center is no longer under construction thanks to you.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Simsar
This classroom project was brought to life by Conboy Foundation and 5 other donors.All Hands on Learning!
Funded Aug 14, 2019I want to sincerely thank you for your generous contributions to our classroom. With the sand and water table and exploratory materials, I have been able to add a discovery center to our preschool classroom.
I am thrilled with the variety of hands on educational experiences that I have been able to create to engage my students and reinforce their learning. My favorite so far this school year was inspired by the nursery rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock. I filled the sand and water table with plastic confetti pellets, small plastic clocks, foam numerals and pretend mice. We used the materials to retell the nursery rhyme, play eye spy numbers edition, practice prepositions by hiding the mice and so much more.
My students have responded enthusiastically to the discovery center. I have noticed that they are able to remain engaged with the hands on materials for sustained amounts of time and that they use them in a variety of expected and unexpected ways.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Simsar
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.PAL's On Its Way to Underwood Family Farm
Funded Sep 29, 2016Dear Donors,
With your support, we were able to visit a working farm yesterday.
It was a transformative experience for my students and their family members who were able to attend with us.
We live in an urban setting and we do not get to experience first-hand where our food comes from (e.g. where it grows and/or how it is raised).
We were able to meet a farmer whose job it is to grow plants and take care of animals.
At first, being in close proximity to real, live animals was a bit scary; however, by observing the animals and watching others pet and feed them, my students were able to be brave, participate and were elated by the experience.
And very best of all, my students were able to pick their very own pumpkin to take home with them to remember their terrific trip.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Simsar