Past projects 2
Music and Dance Units Us All
Funded Jan 23, 2023We are beyond grateful for your generosity and kindness in contributing to our DonorsChoose project; "Dance and Music Units Us All".
This year has been extra special as our dancers immersed their minds and bodies in movement and dance activities with the items listed in our project.
Student's concentration, motivation and focus has grown with the help of our "Best Behavior Board". This item has assisted students to become more familiar with daily movement schedules and routines. Our Calming Cuddle Ball" has been a wonderful addition to the room for students to have when they need to take a break.
We use our scarves, ribbons and wands in daily dance classes as we explore the space around us and in the room.
Our "Yoga Movement Cards and Yoga Books" have helped students strengthen their bodies and gain more flexibility. We love twisting and bending in and out of our yoga shapes.
Thank you again for all your kindness.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gerstel
This classroom project was brought to life by A New York City Parent and 5 other donors.Pre-K Learning With Fitness And Fun In Dance And Music!!!!
Funded Feb 7, 2017Thank you so much for your heartfelt generosity and compassionate donation towards the preschool students at the Ezra Jack Keats Jamaica PreK Center. During the past few months the preschool dancer's faces would light up with joy and surprise, as each box would arrive at the school. Their excitement would grow, as I would hear them ask "Ms. Halley, is that for us? Ms. Halley, What is inside? Can we open it now?" I would explain to them that a special group of people had heard about how much they love to dance and play music, and that they wanted to send them a gift which would help them learn more and more about joys of dance and music. The dancers faces would continue to beam with happiness and interest as I opened each box and introduced a new piece of equipment, its purpose and the different ways we could use the equipment in class. There is no greater joy, as a teacher then to see the wonder and curiosity manifest within their students as they deepen their engagement in a lesson.
One of our favorite routines to begin class is with a hello song, followed by a movement activity in a circle. The students' participation in the circle time activity has reached a whole new level as they experiment with different rhythms and speed using their Doug and Melissa-Band In A Box and 6 Piece Rhythm Instrument Set. Before the musical instruments arrived some students would be reluctant to sing, dance or clap with a song. Many students in the beginning of the year were shy, and spoke little to no English. Now the students have blossomed and feel a sense of purpose and belonging, as they now have many different options such as playing an instrument, singing, or experimenting with one of the fitness dots. The energy and excitement in beginning of classes continues to build as we use the new 9 Fitness Spot Action Warm Up Set to help prepare and warm up our bodies for larger gross motor movement activities and games. Tuesday and Thursdays are our Yoga Days, and students have been enjoying learning the new yoga moves on the HotSpots Yoga Genuine Fitness Spots. Some of the benefits which have come from using these forms of equipment during activities include students' broadened understanding in the importance of sharing, taking turns and the value of teamwork. I can see the students have also developed a greater sense of self-control, spatial awareness as well as increasing their own physical strength. They have a deeper understanding of their own bodies, both physically and mentally. In the past few weeks we have learned how to build our core and abdominal muscles, through the use of new Stability Ball and Ball Hoppers.
One of the highlights of the year happened a few weeks ago during our monthly dance family engagement. Students and their family's are invited into the dance room to experience and learn more about theme related dance activities the students have been engaging in. The students and I shared the new 18 Handle Parachute with the families. It was amazing to see the all the families and students interact and engage with each other as we sang songs with the parachute, and called out colors and names for students to switch places underneath the parachute. The room lit up with sounds of joyful signing and laughter from all ages!
Your contributions to DonorsChoose will continue to impact my students as their year in preschool is coming to an end in a couple of months. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, my students' bodies and brains are better prepared to enter the wonderful world of Kindergarten in September. The important life skills learned and experiences we have shared in dance classes with the new equipment, will continue blossom in the students as they continue to grow and become the next generation of leaders.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gerstel
This classroom project was brought to life by Forever 21 and 4 other donors.