Past projects 10
Leap and Learn!
Funded Oct 8, 2013My students love, love, love their technology. They were so excited the day we got the package! I let them help me unpack, and they got more excited as we unpacked each LeapPad!
Next, I set up a chart so everyone could have a turn using the new technology. It was very hard for the ones didn't get the first turn because everyone wanted to use it right away! They soon learned about taking turns. Now, every day they come into class and read the technology chart to see if it is their day use a LeapPad.
I have seen an improvement in my students' learning. They learn so quickly and easily when they are using technology designed for them. They love the learning games and stay engaged as long as they are using them. I have loaned my LeapPads to other teachers and they have had great results. We are now working as a grade level to get more technology for other classes and more students.
Thank you for being a vital part of our community. I appreciate your gift to our classroom so very much. All of my students' parents know of your generosity, and they, too are appreciative. My husband, myself, and my children have been US Cellular customers for many years and we intend to continue for many more. Thank you again for your support.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
Bones, Blood, and Brains!
Funded Jan 13, 2012Thank you so very, very much for your support for my classroom. I am so appreciative of your generosity, especially towards students and a teacher that you don't know and will never get to meet!
My students enjoyed the human body kits you purchased for them. We studied the human body and then put together the skeleton and heart models. Now the kits are being placed in the library for check out for the rest of the school.
Thank you again for your purchase, and thank you even more for caring about my students and their education. They are a wonderful group of students and I know you would love each and every one of them if you knew them.
”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
Sensational Symmetry!
Funded Oct 29, 2010Thank you very much for the wonderful math materials you sent to our classroom. The miras, workbooks, and other hands-on materials were a welcome change from worksheets and paper and pencil drills. The students absolutely loved the materials and asked repeatedly to use them . Best of all, they learned very quickly and thoroughly when they were able to manipulate and experience math concepts rather than merely fill in the blanks. In a single day they gained a good understanding of concepts that usually take a week to learn.
I have been a U.S. Cellular customer for over fifteen years and I am glad to see your company giving back to our community by funding projects through DonorsChoose. Many students in my class have parents or other relatives whom are customers as well. When I told my students which company sent materials, all of them were familiar with the name "U.S. Cellular" when I said it to them! They were surprised that a big company was giving them materials for their classroom and they thought it was cool!
Thank you again for your support in our community. Your company made a difference in my classroom and with my children. Since my materials are nonconsumable, I will use them for many years to come and your impact will continue! ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
Art Smart!
Funded Oct 5, 2010Thank you, thank you, thank you! The art supplies you purchased for our classroom have been well used this year. We did several projects with the watercolor pencils, including learning how to use the pencils, some cross-curricular reading projects, learning about famous artists and their work, and recreating artwork by the masters.
All of the supplies you sent were completely new to my students. We do not have art class at our school and resources from home are limited, so using color wheels, transfer paper, and watercolor pencils was an education in and of itself! My students were amazed the first time they used the watercolor pencils and saw the colored pencil drawing turn into a watercolor painting! They quickly learned art skills such as shading, layering color, mixing colors, adjusting the amount of water they applied, and using appropriate brushstrokes for detail work.
Their artwork turned out beautifully and they are so proud of themselves and their accomplishments! The principal is very supportive of our efforts and plans to frame and hang several of their pieces in the school building.
You made art experiences a reality for my students. Thank you so much for caring about my students and for our little school in the rural South. You truly made a difference in my classroom and in the lives of my students. The materials you sent will be used every year in my classroom, so your impact will continue as long as these supplies last - which will be a long time because we are all very careful with them! This letter does not, and cannot, adequately express my appreciation and gratitude for what you have given my class - yet "thank you" is the only thing to say. So, again, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
This classroom project was brought to life by Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation and 5 other donors.Hands-On Habitats!
Funded Oct 20, 2010Thank you for the wonderful materials you supplied for our classroom! We have been using them for several months. It is a joy to have such nice materials and see learning boosted by implementing them.
We set up our classroom zoo and had a total of five cages with animals. We had an anole, two hermit crabs, a corn snake, two turtles, and a hamster. The students loved each and every one of our animals - although some were a little apprehensive about the snake. We learned how to care for them and how their habitats were different. We also learned where they fit in their food chains.
The classroom zoo was supplemented by books and games about animals and their habitats. My students loved playing the games, in fact, they even chose to play them during inside recess on rainy, winter days! Materials like these are such a blessing to have in the classroom.
Thank you, again, for your generosity towards my students. You have made a life-long difference in my students' lives and learning. My students are better off and our environment will be better off, too! I am a Disney and a UPS customer, and I am happy to do business with such corporations as yourselves.
”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
This classroom project was brought to life by UPS Foundation and one other donor.Native American Math
Funded Sep 13, 2010Thank you, thank you, thank you! My students absolutely loved the beading looms! The project was a huge success.
I invited some guest speakers to come and share examples of actual Indian beadwork as well as other aspects of Native American culture. Next, we looked up examples of beading patterns, noting the differences in patterns, symmetry in the patterns, and the need for precision in math in order to create and execute a pattern.
Finally, we created our patterns, strung our looms, and got busy with beading. The task of beading was more difficult than the students realized it would be, but they were diligent and all learned to bead successfully. It was an excellent lesson in perseverance. I was also pleased to see that some of my students who do not always excel in traditional studies (i.e. pencil and paper worksheets) were the first to grasp the knack of beading. They enjoyed being the leaders in the class for a change, and their self-esteem was boosted as they helped their classmates learn to bead.
My students felt a connection to their Native culture, as most are part Native American. It is difficult to bring cultural activities into the classroom in such a way that core subjects are taught as well, but the beading looms allowed me to do that. It was an excellent way to teach math concepts in a cultural context.
I will use these looms in my classroom for many years to come and I have invited all of my colleagues to borrow them if they wish. It is a joy to find people such as yourselves who care about education and are willing to help our students. You are rare and special people! Thank you again, so very, very much. You have made a difference in my classroom and in my school. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands
Funded Apr 22, 2010The supplies you purchased for our classroom were absolutely wonderful! We had the pleasure of pulling them out every day for a few weeks to work at centers and in groups to complete many projects about Earth Science.
Students learned so many things! They studied the rock cycle and were very excited to learn about volcano eruptions and earthquakes. I also taught them about sand dunes and how they are formed, which was completely new to my Midwestern, landlocked students! Most of them have never been to the ocean, so learning about sand dunes was completely new to them. Each day I allowed three or four of the students to take the book set to the library to sit on the beanbags in the reading nook. They enjoyed this immensely and read the books intently.
Thank you so, very, very much for funding my project! I am always overwhelmed at the generosity and kindness of strangers towards my students. I am so glad there are people like yourselves that care about my classroom and about underprivileged students enough to do something. You have definitely made a difference in the lives' of my students. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
This classroom project was brought to life by Pershing Square and 5 other donors.It's Electrifying!
Funded May 5, 2010Thank you again for the SnapCircuits kits you purchased for my class. The students have used them almost every day for three weeks. Even though they made most of the circuits in the kits, they still want to get them out and keep building circuits! Some of the other teachers plan to use the kits in their classrooms, and I am thrilled to share with them so other children will benefit. My class learned about atoms, matter, and electricity. They also understand simple circuits and the function of switches, batteries, and resistors. I want to share my favorite student definition of what a resistor is, because it is so funny, yet accurate, "A resistor calms down the electrons so they don't start a fire." I know that real learning has taken place when students are able to put concepts in their own words. Gifts such as yours turn my classroom into a learning laboratory! Thank you again, for the kits, and thank you even more for believing in me and my students. With help from generous benefactors such as you, my students are going to do wonderful things.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
Science Shutterbugs!
Funded Apr 17, 2010Thank you again for supporting my project and purchasing a digital camera and accessories for my classroom. My students loved using it! They took pictures of their latest science experiment, which explored the difference in the amount of water an apple looses when it is chopped or peeled as compared to the amount of water an apple looses when it is not chopped or peeled. Using the camera put a lot of extra "zing" into the experiment. It also increased the educational value of the project.
My students were better able to write their observations and conclusions when they could review the photographs of their experiment. The photographs helped them organize their experiment according to the scientific method. Finally, they were able to share their experiment with their parents and other family members. This was the best outcome of all! When parents and family members get involved with students' education, learning rises exponentially!
Thank you for making this possible. Benefactors such as yourselves make a huge difference in classrooms across America. You personally have made a huge difference in mine! We treasure our new technology tool and it will be used for many more classes of 4th graders. Each time I use it, I will remember your gift to my present and future students. Thank you for caring about us and for caring about education.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White
Simple Machines Made Simple!
Funded Mar 3, 2010My class used the K'Nex Levers and Pulleys kits. They built a see-saw, a wheelbarrow, a lift and other things with their kits. They were ecstatic each day when I handed out the kits and "let" them learn! At the beginning of each day, they asked if we were going to work on the kits. It was a joy to have my students so excited about learning.
In the conclusion section of their science notebooks, they were able to correctly use words such as load, resistance, and fulcrum in their writing. They were also able to correctly write about newly introduced science concepts in their own words. Their illustrations of the simple machines were accurate and complete, and they were able to label each essential part. Every student was engaged, and completed their work at an above average level.
When I received notice of your generous donation, I immediately told my students and explained to them that complete strangers cared enough about their education to provide them with extra learning materials that neither the school system nor I could afford to purchase. When we received our materials, we opened the boxes as I reminded them that they were purchased by donors who cared very much about them. They were extra careful with the materials, ensuring that no pieces were lost and they tried to completely "live up" to the generosity of their benefactors. They gained a new awareness of the importance of education because of your gift.
Again, thank you so much, from both me and my students, for giving us this gift. I will share the fun and learning we had in our classroom with you via digitally posted pictures and you will shortly receive word from the students via their thank-you cards. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. White