Past projects 7
Going Gaga for Gaga Ball Pit
Funded Dec 13, 2021The funding of the GaGa Pit for our school has been nothing short of amazing. It is rare to find something that fits the large age range of an elementary school, but the GaGa Pit does exactly that thing. Every day you will find kids enjoying this addition to our playground, from 10:30 to well after school. Many days it is tough to get an opportunity to rejoin a game after getting out, due to the overwhelming demand to play.
The whole school was vibrating the Monday morning that they walked to school after the pit was built the previous Saturday. Word spread like wild fire of the new addition to the playground. Sixth graders in my class looked anxiously at the clock, counting down the minutes to recess to get their shot at testing the new pit. The recess that day did not disappoint with the line waiting to play sometimes 30 kids deep.
This project has gone beyond any of my wildest dreams. The joy on the 340 kids faces when they get a chance to play is refreshing. Of all of the projects I have written over the years, the GaGa pit is by far the one that reached the most kids.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mahan
I Thought That's What I Did
Funded Jan 13, 2020Thank you for the awesome donation to allow my students to view their progress and make adjustments when necessary. Without your generous support many of the students would continue to make the same mistakes. It is people like you that make a difference in classrooms and after-school programs. Thanks again.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mahan
Let's Create
Funded Aug 13, 2019With your generous donation we were able to purchase a dedicated Macbook to our 3-D printer. The kids have been so happy to use an updated Macbook that runs at a speed to support our printer. The students' ability to create cool projects on this computer has opened their eyes to new career possibilities.
We hope to be more efficient and get more projects moved from the design to the print process. This will allow more attempts for students to be more creative and improve their skills with modern technology. Without this donation we would still be on project number one.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mahan
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Fore! Let's Swing Away
Funded Sep 3, 2019My students have loved all of the great materials we were able to purchase with your generosity. The indoor putting mat has been a real hit and taught kids that have never been to a golf course about the speed of a golf ball can vary based on the direction of the fibers. We have carried this over from my after-school club into our science class working with the speed and distance experiments.
Another great addition is the cabinet to keep all of our equipment organized and locked away until we need it. The kids get agitated when other students don't put the items back in the cabinet in the specified location.
Moving forward once the weather breaks the students will learn to set-up golf holes with the help of the range finder. They are anxious to be more precise, than stepping off the holes. Once again thank you so much for the generous gifts.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mahan
The King and His Court
Funded Dec 8, 2018The moment I unpacked the first chess board, I could feel the buzz in the air. Many of my students were familiar with the game and were anxious to get started. The other students were a little hesitant to join in, but many were curious to find out what all the buzz was about.
Within just a few minutes of the boards being setup, all the boards were filled with students playing the inaugural games. It didn't take long before veteran chess players were inviting students to learn the game on the chess teacher boards. These boards have exceeded my wildest dreams at their effectiveness. The pieces have number of moves possible and direction of moves for each piece located on the base. These have accelerated the learning curve for the new player. Just today students that had never played chess before, played each other without help from any experienced players. I truly love that students are excited to play a board game with the same excitement, that I see usually reserved for their video games. The buzz about chess in my class is currently off the charts.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mahan
Balance...Do You Have It?
Funded Dec 10, 2018There is a direct correlation between healthy bodies and healthy minds. The addition of the Bosu stax have allowed for my students to add additional exercises to further the strength in their bodies. I will often look to the Bosu balls setup in the classroom and find students working on their core muscles as a structured work break. It is great to see students embrace a new initiative of utilizing exercise in the regular classroom to increase productivity.
The adjustable dumbbells allow for students to adjust their weight quickly and also allows for minimal storage space in the classroom. Students enjoy learning to use new equipment and these dumbbells are no different.
The hope is that these structured brain breaks to strengthen the body will continue to be productive. My students with ADHD are seeing the greatest benefit to date.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mahan
To Sit Or Not To Sit: That Is The Flex
Funded Dec 2, 2018My students were so elated the day the packages arrived at our classroom door. Most of the students couldn't contain their excitement as I brought in the first box. Inside box one were the flexiball chairs. A few of the girls in class commended me on the selection of the green color over the blue. The students could hardly contain themselves as I opened box two and it contained high-top round tables. After the assembly, the race was on for a spot at one of the tables. I had to put a timer in place for the first couple days, so that everyone had an opportunity to utilize the tables.
The standing high-top tables are a favorite for pairs of students working on their Chromebooks. These tables allow for two students to be at a table at a time and have room to take notes or have a white board to work out math problems. I am so thrilled with the initial response to standing at these new tables. I am hopeful that this interest doesn't wane in the coming months and standing becomes a more regular part of the classroom experience in my room.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mahan