Mr. Pastora's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 32

• Gray or Grey? You tell me!

  Funded Jan 1, 2021

  The grey markers that were we were able to get are a great example of how a little bit of imagination can go a long way. We did little still lives with tools and inanimate objects. We made the students create a light source to illuminate the image. Because the grey markers have a set of values, we were able to create an image that truly reflect a rendered approach.

  The impact that this donation has made is that students felt special and grateful because they could tell these were nice markers and the idea that strangers would donate so they could have access to these materials has made a positive impression.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and 4 other donors.

• Water Color the Soul!

  Funded Jan 29, 2022

  The students enjoyed the watercolor supplies that you have generously donated to. My students used the watercolor strips and constructed their own booklets and used the brushes that we were part of the Donors choose project proposal.

  This gave my students confidence that they didn't have before.They felt a sense of accomplishment after gluing together some boards and making a palette they arranged to make beautiful watercolor landscapes.

  It is amazing how with the right support and encouragement, students would engage in a complex assignment. It is because of you that that was possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and 3 other donors.

• Sign Painting Skills Founded

  Funded May 6, 2020

  Every year I do a unit on typography. I do a banner where students learn to make letters in a Roman style. Students struggle at first especially the letters with curves. After a little struggle, they do get better.

  This is when we start learning how to paint using tempera paint. Before they start painting their designed banner with their chosen word or name, they have to practice how to hold the flat brush. Then they have to earn how to apply paint to the brush. Finally, they have to learn to make smooth brush strokes with the brush. All of this takes time and practice.

  It is after all of this that student will appreciate the paint that you have donated for. It is of high quality and applies super smooth. It has a great opacity that cheap tempera lacked making painting letters a daunting task. The impact of your donation means that students can make better banners and build their self esteem by accomplishing something they didn't think was possible.

  Thank you.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 7 other donors.

• Cricut Maker of Creativity

  Funded Jul 20, 2021

  I want to share how much we use the Cricut machine. We have used it to create drawing guides and other drawing tool. The students love pressing the button to have the machine start cutting away. We are now planning to use the cricut to cut stencils that the students design.

  This machine is truly an art teacher's friend. Students have even started bringing me they're own svg designs for other uses that they can use for personal use and for their classroom projects.

  Having the students watch the cutting process is truly amazing and it reminds me of how art is fun again.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by Emerson Collective and 2 other donors.

• Blending Whisperer

  Funded May 27, 2021

  The resources that your donations have allowed my students to build their self confidence when it comes to successfully blend colors while rendering objects. Students are going to use the color pencils for two assignments. The first is a banner with illustrations. The second is a cropped image of a vintage vespa.

  The kids were not aware of what they were looking at. I explained to them the difference between student grade color pencils and professional grade. Then I told them that they were donated by generous strangers that care about them. That's when they were really surprised and happy that someone cares for them even without knowing them.

  Well, know that they have excelled at blending with color pencils, they can now apply the same approach to using markers or graphite.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and one other donor.

• Render Me an Image

  Funded May 22, 2021

  Hello everyone. I am excited to mention that my students and and I are working hard to learn drawing skills needed to fully appreciate the donations you made towards the Prismacolor colored pencil. These pencils are very creamy and it takes a bit of effort to use them effectively.

  We are going to use them on many practice skill building activities and will use them on two major assignments. The first will be on our banner assignment where students learn a little of typography and will have 3 small illustrations to jazz up the letters. These illustrations are rendered in color pencil. We will learn about color theory and how to render (blend) color pencils to create three dimensional effects with light and shadow.

  The second major assignment will be done entirely in color pencil. The prior experience will boost their confidence and they will render cropped photos of vintage vespas. The look and composition of these renderings will emphasize the curvature and light and shadows of these objects. They will be amazing and that is thanks to you. My students got to see the boxes of colored pencils and were excited. They were really surprised that strangers donated so they can have nice materials.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and 6 other donors.

• Make a Mark with Markers

  Funded Oct 22, 2020

  I want to thank all the donors who donated to my students in need. We used markers to make marks on paper, but it is more than that. Making marks lets the kids know that they exist. They have a voice and can make a mark using colors and creating images that express their creativity.

  We created small cute food products and personified them. We gave them cute faces and arms. The students made food products that they are familiar with growing up. This allowed students to be nostalgic and it brought memories of good times and that made the process of making art with markers a lot easier.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Donor and 2 other donors.

• Make Art at Home!

  Funded Nov 11, 2020

  During this difficult time of working from home is a tough for many of us teachers. It is more difficult from a student's point of view. Nothing is the same. How we learn is not the same. Because of that, getting materials into the hands of students is even more of a challenge now.

  Having the donations for the materials that my students can use is a wonderful example of human kindness especially during this difficult time for so many of my students. The impact that the materials will have is great. They get to to assignments with markers and colored pencils that many could not afford otherwise.

  We have created real life experiences by having them design and create logos for fictional companies. They start with just pencil and then after some feedback and editing, the logo sketches come to life with a pop of color thanks to the donations for the markers. Once again, I would like to thank all the donors.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and 6 other donors.

• Marker Creates Splashy Fruit

  Funded Jan 24, 2020

  Knowing that education will have budget cuts because of the Covid-19 crisis, I feel that these donation to get much needed supplies will make a huge impact on the curriculum that I can deliver to my students.

  Students will use the watercolor markers to fulfill the curriculum that I lay down for them. Using watercolor markers will allow students to access a medium that many of the students have not explored before.

  My students will have the opportunity to express their artistic abilities through making a watercolor painting depicting childhood food that they remember consuming as a child. This unit on watercolor will engage memories and it will create a snapshot of better more simple time in theiri lives.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Arts Supporter and 8 other donors.

• Parisian Paper Tiles

  Funded Oct 25, 2019

  Your generous donations have given my students the opportunity to design and create a paper mosaic art project. My students do not have a vast background in art and it is my jib to expose them to many different mediums and form of art. Having this nice paper from Blick Art Supplies will give my students the chance to create while not having the anxiousness that drawing can create for some kids.

  Using paper can have a positive effect on my students because they feel that they have achieved something they designed and crafted. The paper is great but I still had to cut the paper into thousands of small equal squares. I decided to have the students take part in the cutting and sorting of the little squares. This was time consuming but it did give my students ownership of the prepping process. This gives my students a stake in the importance of the creative process. Once again, thank you very much.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Pastora

  This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 2 other donors.