Past projects 3
Indoor Farming With Tower Garden Aeroponics
Funded Feb 4, 2017Thank you so much for supporting my classroom community! My students' knowledge and skill set when it comes to gardening, urban farming, and sustainability have grown immensely. Everyday, when they walk into the class, I have students rushing over to the Tower Garden to search for new flowers, buds, and leaves. They're struck with wonder that plants are able to grow so quickly and in such a unique fashion through another soil-less growing system (aeroponics).
The Tower Garden has given my students several learning opportunities that are often difficult to do in an urban space, especially indoors. They've been able to observe and experiment with the process of the plant's life cycle. We were even able to do flower dissections in class in order to understand the different roles for each part of the flower. We've also been able to do several cooking activities. My students have learned to grow salad from "class to table". Additionally, we've taken our bok choy plants and have learned how to pickle them in collaboration with our school's wellness program.
Because this is the third system we've added to our indoor classroom garden, my students have really been able to see the range of soil-less growing systems, from aquaponics, to hydroponics, and now aeroponics. We've been able to compare the benefits and drawbacks from each of the different systems. So far, we've come to realize that plants in the Tower Garden grow the fastest out of all three systems. We've concluded that it is the most efficient growing system in our class.
Once again, thank you to everyone that's supported this project. My students love for gardening, healthy eating, and issues of sustainability have grown so much. Hopefully their passions continue to grow and evolve over the years.”
With gratitude,
Mx. Islam
First Graders Need Storage Space!
Funded Oct 1, 2014I teach 27 first graders in a classroom where space is very tight. You have to be very creative about arranging classroom furniture. My students needed a place to store their notebooks, folders, and books. They use these products on a daily basis. The purpose of this project was to help provide my students with an easily accessible storage space.
The funding of this project has helped to maximize the space in my classroom by providing them with a personal storage space at their chairs. Not only do they have easy access to their supplies, but they've learned to become more organized and they have also learned to become more responsible.
I cannot express enough gratitude for your generous contributions. Your simple act of kindness has had a huge impact on my classroom because I'll also be able to use them for at least a few years due to their durability. You are supporting future classrooms. That truly goes a long way.”
With gratitude,
Mx. Islam
Representation Matters!
Funded Oct 18, 2016Thank you so much for funding this incredible project. We are so grateful for your support. The goal of this project was for my students to have greater access to literature that is culturally responsive. Literature that is culturally responsive mirrors the lives of readers. Because I teach in such a diverse setting, it was imperative that my students could see themselves in the literature that they read and have access to on a daily basis. Being represented, feeling seen, and relating to the people and experiences in these books has incredible power on any individual, especially a young child.
I love the newfound excitement I see in many of my students who weren't so excited about borrowing books from our library before. Now, they have access to chapter books and picture books that they can relate to. For the first time, I have students that can pick up a book from a series that has a character that look likes them, shares a similar name, and has relatable experiences. It's exciting to be able to see yourself represented in the world in a more nuanced way. Even if you can't relate to the character right away, my students are also excited to read these books because it reminds them of the diverse world that they live in. The stories in these books reminds them of their friends, their families, and their neighborhood. It really builds that love for literature and makes them more motivated to read.
At the same time, having a rich library that represents all kinds of people and lived experiences allows an individual to see beyond themselves. It gives my student the opportunity to expand their world view and learn to empathize more with others. Building empathy is a critical life school and it's especially important on a developmental level for my first graders.
Most importantly, my students feel validated and empowered. I've noticed students are taking the initiative to bring in books from home where it's very clear that they can see themselves in the characters and experiences.
Once again, thank you so much for funding this project.”
With gratitude,
Mx. Islam