Past projects 6
Flying into STEM
Funded Aug 18, 2023The generosity of your drone donation has already made an impact. Even seeing the drone boxes in my classroom sparked excitement. All of the students are eager to try a new skill and eventually learn how to work the camera as well.
I have been using the drones with at-risk students who need an outlet to pursue other interests outside of the classroom. The students had to build the drones and learn how to fly in a closed space (it is winter).
Once Spring comes around and we can move outdoors. I will be including a much larger percentage of the student population, teaching them how drove technology is changing the landscape in different fields. Some have even expressed interest in becoming a drone operator in the future.
Your donation has sparked curiosity and imagination in our STEM program and we are grateful that you chose to connect with our school.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Sandler
This classroom project was brought to life by United Airlines and one other donor.Back To the Classroom and Back to Nature!
Funded Nov 3, 2021Thank you very much for donating the planting supplies to our school. With the equipment, we constructed two small greenhouses to be kept and maintained by the students. The greenhouses are set up to grow a variety of flowers, herbs, and vegetables. The setup has heated lights and is covered by a transparent sheet so students can observe at any time during the day.
Our first and second graders are very excited about being able to monitor the growth of the plants from seed to flower. They are currently involved in a Project Based Learning Unit that incorporates the steps of the plant life cycle. With our greenhouses, they can compare the grow time of different plants and observe the differences in leaf and stem structure.
All of the students are grateful that we have added a touch of green to our school during the winter months. Thank you again for your generous donations.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Sandler
This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 5 other donors.Another Dimension of STEM
Funded Nov 27, 2018The new 3-d printer that we acquired due to your generosity has added a brand new, exciting element to our STEM curriculum. It has engaged those students that are somewhat hesitant about using technology to present ideas. By being able to create small, lifelike items for our STEM challenges and presentations, the students are able to take imaginative ideas and bring them to life as models.
In addition, our students have been able to access and learn how to use different kinds of software associated with 3-d modeling and printing. The software experience allows those who are visual thinkers to develop more confidence in programming.
The school has been putting the printer to good use so far and we look forward to using it to extend our learning in the sciences for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Sandler
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 2 other donors.Coding for Our Future
Funded Mar 13, 2016The Computer Coding Club I have developed, with the use of the new Raspberry Pis, has opened up a whole new technological world for those who are participating. I get a lot of questions from students about creating new websites, apps, and building their own games and, until now, all I could do was direct them to YouTube. Now, these students are physically engaged in learning the language of the computer and challenging themselves to create their own designs from scratch.
A big part of the challenge of this program was learning how the Raspberry Pi works and how it interacts with peripheral devices. Having the students use trial and error to set up the system provided a great engineering experience to begin the program. Now, the students have access to Python, Scratch, and even Minecraft. They are learning to carefully progress and recover from mistakes along the way. Most of the students are now confident in using Python to make designs, graphics, and mathematical functions.
A large percentage of the Coding Club is female. This is another wonderful part of the experience as girls who are normally computer shy are gaining the confidence to code as well as the boys and their technology skills are developing at a rapid rate. Most of the students had a preconceived notion that coding would be a boys hobby but many girls are finding it incredibly engaging and the positive vibe is spreading throughout the school.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Sandler
This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and 2 other donors.Seeing the Stars in NYC - Developing a Passion for Science
Funded Dec 14, 2015The telescopes that were donated have provided great experiences for both the students and their parents in the school. During our astronomy unit, students in the upper grades played a part in putting the telescopes together and, thus, learning its parts and functions along the way. They were very interested to know how a detailed image is created using lenses and mirrors. As a community based activity, our school had a stargazing night, in which we invited all students and their parents on to the school roof to gaze at the stars. After a brief information session, all participants were given professional star maps detailing the night skies for that evening. Each person had a chance to view a 3/4 moon and its surface in great detail, as well as Jupiter and four of its small moons, which is a rare sight for any basic stargazer to see. The event led to a lot of questions, discussion, and teachable moments and gave the students a chance to engage in an exciting school activity with their parents and connect further with faculty and administration. Overall, the telescopes have been a great addition to our science lab and will continuously be used in conjunction with the curriculum for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Sandler
Making STEM come alive with robotics
Funded May 16, 2014Thank you so much for your generous donation to our school. The robotics kit has been a fantastic addition to enhance our STEM curriculum. We are focused on integrating math, science, and technology into our school's focus and development and this Robotics program have given students the opportunity to branch out from the regular pencil and paper classwork they encounter regularly. The new club we have created around the material has been intricate in teaching the kids teamwork (through collaborative building), discussion, and trial and error. The students are currently using the computer software to program their creations and learn the importance of computer skills in and out of the classroom.
The feedback has been fantastic. The students are eager to learn new steps about engineering and are constantly asking great questions about the process. It also has allowed me to create lessons that are student centered and open to discussion and debate. We look forward to developing more rigorous projects along the way with the K'Nex set and helping establish STEM as a part of the school culture.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Sandler