Mrs. Gatts' Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 5

• Our Class Materials Feel Outdated, Time for a 'Refresh' Button!

  Funded May 8, 2024

  This project has had a transformative impact on our once outdated classroom. These donations have breathed new life into the learning environment for our students. The addition of STEM materials, flexible seating, storage solutions like clear storage boxes, a rolling cart, and a new cabinet for cleaning supplies, have all significantly enhanced the functionality and organization of our 3rd grade classroom. These updates have made it easier to manage and access materials, thereby reducing clutter and creating a more efficient learning environment. The magnetic light covers provide a calming nature ambiance, along with new decorations, cushions, and a clock, have also contributed to a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making the classroom a more inviting place for our students.

  Moreover, the new supplies have refilled our hands-on learning supplies, particularly in STEM and art activities. The surge protectors have organized our iPad station, while paint supplies, glue, markers, and other craft materials have opened up a world of creative possibilities for our students. The addition of much-needed science supplies has brought back the excitement of engaging, hands-on experiments, which are crucial for fostering curiosity and innovation. With many of our previous items being over 12 years old and in poor condition, these new resources have been essential in restoring the classroom's ability to support dynamic and interactive learning experiences.

  These materials are not only improving daily classroom activities but also extending their benefits to indoor recess, center time, and after-school programs. By providing access to high-quality, up-to-date resources, we are empowering our 65 third-grade students to be creative, problem-solvers, and engage in innovative thinking. The availability of games like Connect Four and various art and craft supplies has made learning fun and inclusive for everyone. Overall, this project has rejuvenated our classroom, setting the stage for a more vibrant and engaging school year. Thank you so very much!!!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Gatts

  This classroom project was brought to life by Wing 2 Wing Foundation.

• Walk, Listen, Learn - Podcasts for Outdoor Learning!

  Funded Jul 8, 2021

  We received our podcasts in the middle of September. The company generously matched your donations from donors choose and so we received double the amount of devices (32 total) to share for all our classes-grades 3 through 5!

  We began walking immediately with our podcasts. Let me just explain how cool these devices are! Each device fits in the palm of your hand. The kids all pick the same number of story to listen to, the stories are called Podcasts. We then press the volume that we want and the lock button so it stays on that story while we walk for 15 to 20 minutes, all listening to the same discussion. We then walk around the school, around the playgrounds, down to the football field and even on our outdoor trail while we listen and learn!

  Each device comes preloaded with over 160 different lessons spanning from positive character lessons, friendship, being considerate, empathy, staying focused, confidence, reliability, optimism, individuality, patriotism, ambition, perseverance, sense of humor, forgiveness, life goals, bravery, fairness, self-respect, being helpful, good choices, etc. There are language arts, social studies, and science related talks where young kids their age discuss what they are learning about, sharing facts and opinions about educational topics. We have listened to Dr. Martin Luther King, Trail of Tears, Native American mound builders, Abraham Lincoln, Statue of Liberty, Christopher Columbus, tornadoes, water cycle, meteorology, hurricanes, volcanoes, Layers of the earth, food chains, and sun, stars, and galaxies. We plan to listen about Thomas Edison, Neil Armstrong, The Ocean floor, Mountains, Continental divide, animal classification, food chains, the human body, Rosa parks, the dust bowl, westward expansion, Benjamin Franklin, and similes and metaphors in the next couple of months as we continue to walk around our campus. There's a little lanyard connected to them, the kids wear them around their neck as we walk, and the kids each got their own set of earbuds.

  When we return to the classroom we have a class discussion about what we listened to, learned, and remember. We discuss new terms and vocabulary. There are a variety of supplemental activities we can pair up with these podcasts from the Walking Classroom website, puzzles, small quizzes and even hands on science experiments. The weather tools, paired with tornadoes, and hurricane podcasts were some our of favorites so far because we were reading about weather and tools scientists use in our textbooks, then we listened to the podcast, completed a puzzle with vocabulary words that matched the discussion and also our class story. Then we opened up our science kits and got to explore different weather tools, collect data using thermometers and weather calendars, plan safety strategies for extreme weather like tornados and hurricanes, and we even tested properties of water on surfaces such as wax paper, foil, and paper towels. The students built paper houses and had to help keep them intact as wind (tornados) would get near them. The students ended to project with an erosion activity where they had to problem solve together and come up with strategies to save some houses near the bottom of a hillside that began to have mudslides. We got to get out sand, and dirt, and rocks for this one and they loved it.

  These podcast devices are fun for the students because they get exercise while they are learning. The kids ask every day when we plan to take our next walk. These podcasts keep kids moving, allowing them to be active, and use the energy they have. It gets them out of the classroom and into the fresh air. We are providing them a chance to build strong minds, bodies, and educational experiences. Thank you so much for donating these to our classrooms. We very much appreciate your support and dedication to health, education, and futures of these young children!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Gatts

  This classroom project was brought to life by Born This Way Foundation and 4 other donors.

• Comfort of Home

  Funded May 2, 2021

  Our carpet came to our classroom early. The students were so very excited to get a new carpet that is colorful and large enough for everyone. They helped me unwrap and set it out. They say on it as we reviewed end of the year morning work, read chapters of Charlotte's Web together, and watched Magic School Bus & Disney Nature videos.

  When it first showed up in a large wrapped up cylinder, the students were confused. I explained that because they had asked for a new carpet, I wrote a grant in hopes that their wishes would come true. They were so very excited to know that others out there in our community and beyond were listening to their ideas. They said to tell everyone who supported our class a big "Thank you!".

  At the culmination of our 2020-2021 school year we had our janitors give our new rug a good sweep and wrapped it up safely so next year's class will get to enjoy it as well. In the future we will use it for morning class check-ins, class discussions, STEM small group stations, as well as what we were able to use it for at the end of this year. To have a new space that is clean, and colorful provides an atmosphere of comfort and welcomes the students as they enter their 3rd grade classroom. A big thanks to everyone who helped make this a reality!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Gatts

  This classroom project was brought to life by Lakeshore Learning and 4 other donors.

• Robots & Tinkering: A Student's Wish, A Teacher's Goal

  Funded Dec 25, 2017

  We began opening and exploring the Makeblock Robot kits in February. In small groups we looked at what the boxes contained and drew bird's eye and direct views for each robot they wanted to build. Within their small groups they began to tinker with the tools and pieces to figure out how they go together. We kept STEM centers open so the children could build during free time, recess, and science group time.

  Within their small groups, they learned to work together to build, modify, and complete each robot. A few of the groups said they could not have built the robot on their own. It was amazing to see how some had never used tools before. For example, the boxes contained small screw drivers to attach pieces together. I stood back to observe how they would work together and teach one another. They "needed" their partner's ideas to be able to move on to the next step. My role as a facilitator was to only answer questions as needed so they could learn to problem solve on their own. They showed pride when they completed a step without teacher direction. Many of the groups were very excited to visit the STEM center at recess and continue to change pieces around and build until the robot matched their imaginations or the recommended design. This was their favorite learning activity in class!

  An overview of skills we worked on was hypothesizing how movement works, utilizing a variety of opinions, collaboration with others, designing illustrations and then building what they designed, comparing and contrasting models, and building knowledge of technology & science, and what roles they play in our daily lives.

  •How did your students react when they first saw the materials?

  When our students first saw the materials they could not wait to open them! They were so excited to see that their dreams became a reality. These students took a beginning of the year survey. They were asked in August, "What would you like to see added to your classroom? What would you like to learn about?" There was an overwhelming response of "something to build", "robots", "science", and "technology and robotics".

  We discussed as a class what our options were to be able to fulfill these wishes. I told them we would write a grant and ask for donors to send us some materials. When the children came back from Christmas break and saw what arrived, they were over the moon excited that their thoughts and dreams were able to become a reality!

  -What are the next steps for your students on a current classroom lesson or project?

  Students are taking what they are learning and adapting it, to dive deeper into the world of robots. They have researched the history of robotics in America, how our everyday lives are affected by robots and technology, and how different ideas/designs can be united to form something amazingly useful! Our school recently began implementing Project Lead the Way. Our 3rd grade students now have a creative mindset about technology and robots due to the tinker time and class discussions about their Makeblock kits. This background knowledge will be used when designing and building a model glider to explore how forces affect flight. Following the flight activity students will begin programming patterns using blocks based language on a tablet. The programming activities will lead into students programming their robots to react to a variety of commands. Students are beginning to think computationally about problems, build logic, apply knowledge to design their own models, and experiment/tinker with different opinions while finding ways to combine a variety of group mates' ideas.

  Our next step for the Makeblock Kits will be to dismantle the robots and share with the other 2 classes of 3rd grade students. Many of these students have visited our classroom for indoor recess and were in awe of what our class could build. They all asked if they could try with their teachers. Our class said, "Just wait! It's so much fun! We get to work together and have fun learning!" Our class said they are now the experts and can help the other classes if they need some advice. How wonderful for young children to have the desire to learn, collaborate, and have confidence in what they are learning!

  One of our generous donors said this: Albert Einstein said it best "Creativity is intelligence having fun." Not only did they have fun, their creativity had a chance to shine! Thank you all so very much!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Gatts

  This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron Appalachia and 3 other donors.

• Nationally Recognized "Green School" Needs Books!

  Funded Dec 29, 2012

  My students and I would like to thank you for your generous donation! My language arts and math classes have been reading the math literature collection, western movement, and explorer books every day. I will pick out a book that relates to our math lesson for the week and share it before we start new lessons. The kids say the books help them understand what we are learning.

  As students finish assignments, they pick up carpet squares and choose a comfortable spot around the room, reading one of the new history or math books. It's such a wonderful experience for the kids to share and discuss the stories together. They will laugh with each other, read and discuss captions, and ask each other questions. The books enhance content knowledge and their love of reading.

  We began using the biography books last month. Each student's desk was decorated the week before with a picture of the book they were going to explore, and then covered with contact paper. The students loved the mystery behind the "pictures on the desks". They couldn't wait to get started!

  Students read through their books a little each morning until they completed information on their biography poster. Then, each group reported back to the class about why their person was important to history (using a poster seen in the pictures). The students also tried to persuade others to read their book and explained why their assigned biography was the most interesting. The kids looked forward to asking questions to each group after presentations. The students could answer the questions confidently and talk about how their person felt in various situations. The students learned to relate to the characters, and comprehend on a much higher level because they read with meaning, reflected on what they read, and were responsible for teaching others about what they learned.

  The students asked if they could borrow some of the other books when we finished so they can read about them, on their own at home. I currently have 6 of the biographies signed out. The kids had fun working together and learning about real people from history. They asked when we could start our next book project! I love how enthusiastic they are about reading!

  If it wasn't for donors like you, we wouldn't have had opportunity to expand our classroom library and experience such a wide variety of history and math texts. The kids wanted me to tell you, "Thank you Miss Mary!!" They truly enjoy the books. I can't thank you enough for your support!!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Gatts