Past projects 7
Nature Day Necessities!
Funded Jan 11, 2023Thank you all SO much for your generosity and support! A special thanks to ABC’s Abbott Elementary for doubling the donations! I cannot wait for the kids to receive these materials and get exploring. They are going to be so inspired to go on new adventures and excited to help push our new wagon.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shannon
Muddy Buddies for Our Muddy Buddies!
Funded Nov 30, 2021Your donation to our Muddy Buddy project has benefited almost 50 children to date. We are in our second year of using these muddy buddies as regularly as the weather will allow. Due to the high quality of the coveralls, I have been able to loan the set to other classes who were inspired by what the children were sharing about their nature explorations. I wasn't sure how the muddy buddies would be received at first but the kiddos were so excited and confident to get out there. They first practiced independence and and coordination getting them on in the classroom. They strutted down our 1/2 a mile walk to Prospect Park with lots of smiles from people we passed on the street. We get those smiles and double takes every journey we take in our muddy buddies. The comfort level for exploration at the park has increased tremendously! The kiddos stay mostly dry and warm with the extra layer of protection. Please enjoy the photos and I hope they bring you as much joy as the kids have wearing them!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shannon
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 10 other donors.Table Toy Refresh: New Manipulatives for Prek Kiddos!
Funded Mar 1, 2022Thank you so much for our table toy refresh. Our children were so excited to receive the new manipulatives and toys that they couldn't even wait to take their jackets off to get started!
We saw sparks of creativity, outbursts of conversation and increased attention spans. New friendships formed and tiny fingers got stronger.
These toys are now in play for a second school year across the same three classrooms. We are all so grateful still to have had your support in expanding our classroom materials. Please enjoy a few photos of your donations in action!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shannon
This classroom project was brought to life by Valhalla Foundation and 14 other donors.Blended Learning: Together, We Can!
Funded Aug 11, 2020The materials you helped purchase for my class this year have been instrumental to the success we're having. The books about social distancing and mask-wearing has made the children feel comfortable adjusting to these new routines. The children especially loved decorating their project cases and are so independent with their materials. They know they need to use their own playdough and other materials and know to get them on their own. It's encouraged a high degree of ownership over their tools as well as how they spend their time in the classroom. They don't wait for a teacher to put out the tools, they choose when and how to use them. The individual materials and cleaning supplies help keep our classroom safe.
As anticipated, NYC schools moved to remote learning as rates rose in November. Though disappointed by the announcement, we were prepared. In the spring, a main challenge in remote learning was the availability of materials to support the children's learning. Some families didn't have basic supplies like paper and markers, let alone printers or playdough. In the early weeks, we were unsure if it was safe to even order packages so we had to make do with what we had. Being able to send my students home with organized resources, consistent across each household, made this period of remote learning so much more effective. We return to school next week and it feels like we barely skipped a beat. This is because of your contribution to this project. THANK YOU SO MUCH!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shannon
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 8 other donors.Replacing Our Classroom Library!
Funded Sep 16, 2020I am SO THANKFUL! Storage has always been a challenge at my school. We have no closets and broken, dirty high school lockers are not adequate or convenient storage for books and supplies. It’s taken me 7 years to get the 2 shelves I had that were damaged during the school closure. In 2 days I have quality replacements thanks to you. With severe cuts to school budgets, I had no other alternative but to call on my friends, family, and community for their continued support and generosity. THANK YOU!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shannon
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 10 other donors.Learning With Loose Parts
Funded Mar 4, 2019Thank you so much again for your generous donations to our classroom project. With all of the new books, tools and supplies, our loose parts investigation was unbelievably successful. One text, Alphabet Everywhere, inspired a month long alphabet investigation where we searched for letters on our daily journeys. We took photos of letters found on the sidewalk, in the trees, and at at playgrounds. Next, we moved on to numbers and the shapes. This one story invited children to engage with letters in a developmentally appropriate, playful, creative and hands-on way. Through these photos, we built an alphabet wall in our classroom which strengthened their letter recognition and knowledge of letter sounds.
This same enthusiasm for letters was mirrored in the classroom with the new materials such as the connecting links and the cupcake cups. Children interacted with children they don't typically play with in centers that they don't frequent, invited by the open-endedness of the materials. These materials invite new channels of creative thinking, where children approach their play navigating many outcomes rather than one directed path.
These materials will offer students in my class these same opportunities for years to come. Chances our, what emerges next year will be completely different and equally as valuable. That is the beauty of exploring with loose parts.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shannon
We Are Scientists!
Funded Jan 25, 2018Thank you all so much for your generous donations to fund this project for our classroom. The materials we receive have had a tremendous impact on the learning of the students in Class 128 and will continue for the next school years to come.
The meeting area is one of the most important areas in our classroom. We start and end our day together as a class on our rug and the new rainforest rug has given us a fresh, comfortable, and inviting place to meet. We spend time together as a class discussing our feelings, learning songs and letters, practicing counting, reading stories about everything from colors to to communities to outer space to pigeons who aren't allowed to eat hot dogs. Our forest rug is used in our block area where we not only engineer and construct, but practice teamwork and collaboration.
The other materials have inspired new ways of building and exploring scientific concepts. The cornerstone of our robot inquiry was incredibly accessible with our new projector, where as a class, we were able to watch videos of all different kinds of robots in action.
There are not enough words to express my sincere gratitude, on behalf of my co-teacher and the curious 4 year olds in class 128- thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shannon
This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 5 other donors.