Past projects 8
Creating a Welcoming Social Studies Classroom
Funded Sep 3, 2024Our students have been using all of the materials regularly - highlighters have been used nearly every day as we engage with primary and secondary sources and work to deepen our understanding of historical developments and its impacts.
Students were so excited to receive the materials - one group of students helped to assemble the cart of drawers and then used the washi tape to mark each highlighter so that we could identify them and make sure they stay in the room.
Currently some of our AP World students are working on a project about the Columbian Exchange. For their presentations, students are creating a poster board (in addition to videos, skits, and a written component) using the markers, sticky notes, and all of the materials our donors were so gracious to contribute to. Thank you again for supporting our classroom and the learning of our students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kimmick
Poster Paper and Markers for Success
Funded Feb 27, 2024Thank you so much for your contributions to our classroom. Our students are always so surprised and grateful for the generosity of others, especially those they haven't met. As we approach the end of the school year, these resources have been especially helpful keeping students engaged in learning in fun and exciting ways.
When I had students help me unpackage the items, their excitement and awe at having brand new materials, paper, markers and otherwise, was unmatched. Not only does it increase their engagement and excitement but it improves the quality of their work too. They seem to be more inclined to take their time, and their desire to impress us with their output and neatness and the overall quality of their work.
Our next steps for these products is to use them as we begin to prep for our end of year exams. Students are creating thinking maps that help them generate new ideas, timelines of topics we've covered, and get creative with studying for their upcoming assessments. We are grateful that you value the education of our students and have contributed in such a valuable way to our classroom and community.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kimmick
Getting to Work in Global History!
Funded Dec 13, 2021Thank you again for your support this year in our global classroom. When the box arrived, students were chomping at the bit to open it up and see what was inside. We opened it together during our 8th period class and they poured over the stickies, the pencils, and one goofy kid exclaimed "You get a pencil, you get a pencil, you get a pencil!" like Oprah's favorite things. We all laughed and the kids still talk about it months later.
Each year we have students complete a propaganda project during our unit on WW2. They can select the format - brochure, poster, google slides, or otherwise. One student used the colorful card stock to create a brochure, using sticky notes to create flaps with questions on the sticky note, and answer to the question underneath, making it interactive. Other students used the paper and the markers to get started on drawings, decrying the Nazi party and embracing democracy and freedom. Some students even made connections to the conflict in Ukraine - it's exciting to see them getting excited about global and current events.
We've used the exit tickets for various classroom activities, having them write down rumors like "I heard the rise of the Nazi party started because..." and sharing what they think and what they've learned from their peers. Our next step is to use pencils, paper, and stickies for an essay on the Cold War. Students will draft an essay and use sticky notes to give feedback in the form of a "glow" (something their peer did well) and a "grow" (something they need to improve upon). This has been a difficult year for many students, especially now that they know they have to take their end of the year state exams. Students are nervous, but these materials have helped them reach the finish line. Thank you again for your generous contributions to our class.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kimmick
Girls Who Craft!
Funded Dec 3, 2019Thank you so much for funding our project. Each time a donation came in, I shared with my kids and the excitement would build. Sharing with them today that the entire project was funded by individuals they may never meet really moved them - the kindness and generosity you have shown will not soon be forgotten by my students or myself. Our art club does not have much, so having these resources will give them an opportunity to engage in activities we might not have been able to otherwise. Your donations are appreciated beyond what we can put into words. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kimmick
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 9 other donors.Urban Gardening at All Girls School
Funded Apr 30, 2019Our students cannot get enough of gardening club. We've been lucky enough to have partnered with Battery Park in Lower Manhattan, and have our very own garden plot. Students planted lavender, zinnias, ground cherries, peppers, tomatoes, and various herbs. Many of these started out as seedlings, cared for in our classroom and nurtured until they were strong enough to grow up in Battery Park!
Many of our students considered gardening to consist of water, dirt, and seeds. To see their reactions to the heating mats, watering spikes, labels, trays, and other materials needed to raise seedlings was so special and rewarding. They were amazed to learn that you could re-use an old plastic water bottle, pair it with a terracotta spike, and keep a plant efficiently watered for weeks.
I recently took a small group of students, some of who had joined gardening club last year, others who were brand new to it. The "alumni" were astounded at the growth that occurred in our garden plot over the summer. Some plucked ripe tomatoes right from the vine and others were crawling along the ground searching for the best ground cherries! The new gardeners were touching and smelling everything, asking "what's this!?". Students left with their hands dirty, backpacks full of produce, and smiles on their faces. Next on our agenda is to partner with our school's cooking club to learn fermentation! The garden has yielded more than we could have imagined, and we want none of it to go to waste. Thank you for your contributions to our students. Their joy and excitement as they learn and grow themselves has been such a gift.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kimmick
This classroom project was brought to life by Johnson Ohana Foundation and one other donor.Small Groups, Great Leaps!
Funded Nov 30, 2018Since receiving our classroom computers and headphone splitters, learning in our classroom has evolved in a number of ways. Students are able to engage with material in a variety of formats. Learners of all styles and preferences, from audio to visual and more, are able to utilize the resources you have donated to our classroom.
Recently we held a socratic seminar where students discussed whether or not the atomic bomb should have been used at the end of WW2. While some students engaged verbally and used the notes they had written by hand, others used voice to text to show their written answers, while still others used the computers to view video and interactive maps to demonstrate the true impact the bomb had on Japan.
Some students have been happy to simply have a permissible form of technology to listen to music while they independently complete their work. This may seem insignificant, but it has meant a lot to my students that they have some agency and control over how they learn.
We are so grateful for your generosity and commitment to the learning of young women. Thank you from all of us.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kimmick
Material Girls: Supplies For Success
Funded Sep 6, 2018Thank you for supporting our classroom and our school. When our boxes first arrived in the main office, I had 2 students come running to find me because they were so excited to get organized for the new school year. We unpacked, got everything organized, and I started distributing materials to each student. Having brand new items to keep different classes separate and organized has been a huge motivating factor for my students. I have students who I don't even teach coming to find me for some much needed supplies, because my students have told them about all of our wonderful supplies!
In my resource room class, which is geared towards special needs students who need additional support in getting organized and refining their study skills, each student received a folder and a small "goodie bag" full of colorful pens, pencils, and other items. Their faces and excitement as they got to writing in their agendas, decorating their folders with designs using their new markers - it is priceless, and beautiful to see kids getting so excited about new school supplies!
Our next step is to begin refining our study skills using flashcards, DIY study guides, and color coded vocabulary for each content area. Your supplies are essential in these next steps, and we would not be able to complete this very important work without your help. Thank you so much.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kimmick
This classroom project was brought to life by Neukom Family Foundation and 6 other donors.Creative Expression Through Craft Club
Funded Nov 8, 2016I cannot thank you enough for how you have enriched the lives of my students. In the months since our materials arrived, the girls have blossomed creatively and cannot stop coming up with ideas for different projects - knitting, cross stitch, embroidery, painting, drawing, and more - these are just some of the ideas they've had, and the ways in which they've carried them out in their own unique style has been a joy to watch.
Since the materials first arrived, the excitement in our small but mighty craft club has not waned one bit. Once the boxes had been opened and the materials had been sorted through, the girls were mesmerized by the knitting and crochet needles. "What are we going to make with these!?" they all asked me. Once they decided on scarves, it was obvious that we needed to arrange an after-school trip to Michael's Craft Store to select our yarn. I now have students lurking outside of the teacher's lounge asking me if we can knit together, or stopping me in the hallway to show me a new yarn they're thinking about getting, or fixing a slipped stitch, or asking me about different patterns.
The thoughtfulness that goes into the crafting and artwork that these young women produce has become one of the best parts about my job. These young women have bonded over the joys of mixing the right acrylic paint colors, the frustrations of a slipped stitch, and for two students in particular, the luxury of having lefty scissors! Thank you for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kimmick