Past projects 6
Turn Off the Lights and I'll Glow and Learn!
Funded Dec 11, 2024Because of your generosity and kind hearts, I’m be able to start the new year with the items in time for our next obstacle with glow in the dark lights and items. Then use them for the next perfect attendance reward day! Blessings and good tidings to you all.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Poton
I'm Different, but We Can All Succeed
Funded May 30, 2017Thank you for the wonderful opportunity of bringing new and exciting activities to my 420 students! They are thrilled to learn how to throw and catch using a Velcro hand or a baseball glove.
When they came in the morning of our 3rd week of school, they saw the new equipment laid out on the sideline of our gym and they just lost it! It took a about a minute or two to have them calm down. We rode that wave together!
We have new activities that help promote communication, problem solving, cooperation, good sportsmanship, and team work. Thank you all for this opportunity. Our students might not have the resources to join a club or team outside of school to learn about softball and baseball, but they have the attitude and drive to be a team player on a baseball team and with the donations you have all contributed, they now are!
We have the Velcro hands to teach Kindergartners and 1st graders throwing and catching, plus it gives other students who need a little more help tracking moving objects a way to incorporate them into the team. The poly spots and cones help students have a visual spot to stand at or not go out of. Great tools when we are outside on a nice day!
We will continue to practice our throwing and catching skills with gloves, as we have not had much time with this skill, but with the right tools, students will be future baseball and softball champions!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Poton
Awareness and Self Defense for Kids
Funded Mar 22, 2017My students and I are very thankful for your contribution to help keep our Martial Arts Club alive. We didn't have much to start with, but it was something. Now, thanks to our donors, we have plenty of hand held targets that helps our kids from ages 9 on up practice safely developing stronger hands and feet and build positive character through sports like Tae Kwon Do.
The water based punching bags are amazing! Kids help move them where ever they need to so that a group can practice kicking, another group can practice punching skills, two others groups can practice striking the bag with pool noodles, and others attempt jumping kicks. The one piece of equipment that every student loves is BOB, the Body Opponent Bag. It's a water filled punching bag that is in the shape of a human torso, except he has a mean look on his face. "He" gives the feel of punching something solid, but provides the right amount of cushion when striking him.
When students walked in and saw the new focus mitts laying on the ground ready to be unwrapped from their plastic wrappers like presents, their eyes burst wide open!
The following day, when I placed the 6 water filled punching bags scattered throughout the room, they were jumping up and down yelling and dabbing with excitement! Dabbing is the new crazed dance move.
But when we got to day 3 of unveiling new equipment, everyone when nuts! They came in, lineup as they do every day to start warm-ups, and in the corner I had BOB covered with a blanket. I didn't reveal him until it was time for our kicking and punching drills. Once it was time, I had them all form a circle and sit. I slid BOB to the middle of the circle. While I did that one student said "what cha got there Mr. Poton, another punching bag? Cuz we got plenty now!" I said "Sort of, I want to introduce our latest punching bag, BOB," and off came the blanket. Some kids jumped up and down, others rolled on the ground, and one student came up to BOB and said "it will be a pleasure to kick and punch your lights out" and laughed, everyone joined in.
It was an amazing month. Each day that we got together for our club, students were pumped up ready and eager to know what we would be doing that day. Having equipment has brought new and exciting energy. Kids, youth, and grow ups love every thing that has been happening in with our club. We hope the energy and drive stays with all of us for a long time.
My next step is to teach students about what a tournament looks like and maybe even have ourselves a mock tournament. I have colleagues who help me every now and then, or come and make appearances at our classes. They would love to help organize an event like that. It will be an entire new adventure for the kids being part of a tournament where there are judges and referees. I can't wait. That will happen in the future.
Again, thank you all for your support and love.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Poton
This classroom project was brought to life by DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation - Sports Matter and 6 other donors.Moving to the Beat
Funded Sep 22, 2015Having a way to play music in our physical education class has made a great impact on the way students can relax, motivate self and others when exercising, calm nerves and anxiety, inspire and trigger creative ways of movement and dance, and just add a new degree of energy to our games and activities.
Being able to now take music on the go with our pod and Bluetooth speaker, gives us freedom to take music outside to the field when the weather is nice and use this tool as a stop and go cue for activities. I have eliminated the use of the whistle both inside and outside the gym due to having music that I can play when I want students to start an activity or I can stop the music and students know that it is time to Stop, Look, and Listen for the next set of instructions. Students with hearing problems complained about the whistle being sharp and loud, now I can regulate the volume of music and create a visual when students stop because the music has stopped.
Students have been excited that now we no longer have CD's skipping or the need for an electrical outlet to plug in a CD player when we're outside. I just charge the speaker and pod and it's ready to go. Something so small and so inexpensive has made a great impact in student learning. Thank you all so much for your support and generous donation.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Poton
Help Me Strike for Success
Funded Dec 29, 2014I wish you were here to see the faces of my primary students as they walked in the gym and saw the brand new equipment laid out along the walls and EZ Hangers on the cones describing stretches and activities. It was like Christmas morning for them! They love the paddles and birdies. I'm using the EZ Hangers as stations. They read and see the picture and get right to work. If I want to challenge them a bit more, I just flip the hanger and behind it there's a different skill or modified Yoga pose. I spend less time creating pictures or laminating and more time teaching. Having proper equipment for my primary grades has made teaching a lot easier, less accidents, they participate more, less down time waiting, since there are plenty for each student, and we all have fun! Thank you for sharing your hearts and kindness with our students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Poton
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia and one other donor.Incorporating Technology in Physical Education
Funded Sep 13, 2014Ever since our project was funded by your generous donations, my students have been excited to see who will make it on the next monthly PE video at the next school's assembly. They love seeing themselves on the small and "big" screen.
I'm using the Ipad to show students movements during classes, creating electronic assessments, using apps for class recordkeeping and videotaping their movements to point out areas where they can improve their throws, strikes, and performance. Incorporating technology in the classroom has had a greater impact in student performance and achievement regarding their gross locomotor skills.
The use of technology in the classroom has made lessons a lot more fun, interactive, student oriented and student led. It's become easier for students to see what I'm trying to help them visualize and modify by seeing themselves on video.
Our school assemblies now have a 3-5 minute time slot of "What's been happening in PE class" which gives students a short time to be the stars of the show and also including pictures of our volunteers and parents that are involved in our school activities.
This couldn't have been possible without your generous donations. From my students and myself, THANK YOU!!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Poton
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 13 other donors.