Past projects 7
Wiggle Seats for Wiggly Kids
Funded Aug 29, 2024Thank you so much for your contribution to our early education classroom. Having seats that allow our young students to fidget, actually helps them stay more focused on their tasks. They are naturally squirrelly and active at 4 years old, and very inquisitive! As soon as we put out their new wiggle seats, they couldn't wait to get to the teacher table to do their "work"!
In addition to being able to move around a bit, these stools are also height adjustable, which is a huge bonus! We have children of all sizes, and we are now able to give them a seat that matches their size. This means that every child can reach the floor while sitting, which helps them anchor themselves, improving their core strength and supporting their development and coordination.
Thank you again for your donation to our class!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rivas
Size Matters-Flexible Seating For Our Youngest Students
Funded Aug 14, 2024Thank you for providing our little learners comfortable flexible seating for the classroom. The kids were more than excited to have their new soft chairs that not only are more comfortable, but by being more appropriate in size, they help them stabilize themselves by being able to put their feet on the floor.
This more appropriate seating also allows the children to stay more engaged in their learning. Kids can spend more time doing what they love the most- exploring, experimenting, engaging with the materials they have at their tables.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rivas
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Hands on Science Center
Funded Aug 8, 2024Thank you for providing us with tools to create hands on learning experiences for our inquisitive 4 year old students. We have been able to experiment with magnets, solar paper, and even used our digital microscope to enlarge plant samples and even take pictures to share on our Smart Board!
Each time we are able to introduce a new resource, it ignites a world of curiosity and exploration. The kids were so intrigued by using rocks and solar paper to make a print of the first letter in their names. With the magnet kit, they were able to discover how magnets work, as well as develop their motor skills and hand eye coordination by manipulating magnets with their magnetic wands. Then, with the digital microscope and wood circles, they were able to see how old the tree was, take pictures of the rings and texture in the bark, which deepened their learning.
Thank you again for giving us these wonderful opportunities!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rivas
This classroom project was brought to life by United Airlines and 5 other donors.Clean Sand For Our Kids!
Funded May 8, 2024Our program was set up to have learning through play, in which children explore different learning centers including the use of sand. It seems like something so basic, but provides so many learning opportunities. Unfortunately, our old sand had become infested with spiders, and we were unable to clean it out effectively. Before your help, we had no sand to use, our sandbox was sadly empty. When the children saw the new sand come in, they were ecstatic and eager to use it!
We poured our new sand into our outdoor sandbox, as well as our indoor sensory play area. We use the sand to hide letters in and have children search for all the ones they need for their names. We use it to hide numbers in and match them to charts. We use it to scoop, pour, and measure. We use it for exploration and play by adding in toys, or mixing in water. Again, the ideas are endless, and very often guided by student interests.
Having this new clean sand has been so much fun for our little learners!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rivas
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and one other donor.Time To Build With A Lego Wall!
Funded May 6, 2024Upon installing our new LEGO wall, our students were beyond eager to start building! It has been such a wonderful experience watching them experiment with different shapes and strategies, whether building independently or cooperatively.
This amazing resource not only helps foster their mathematical reasoning and spacial awareness, trying to fit shapes together to make new ones, but also supports their language and literacy. The children try to build letters, their name, and even create images to which they create stories along with it!
Thank you for helping us incorporate such a great resource into our educational setting. We will have so many students benefit in the years to come!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rivas
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 3 other donors.TK Learning Through Play
Funded May 2, 2024Because of your contribution to our classroom, we now have soft and comfortable seats for our TK kids. We have been able to adjust the tables to make it more accessible and appropriate for our youngest students. It is such a delight to see them actually able to sit at a table and put their feet on the ground, knowing that this is made just for them! They were beyond excited to start using them!
In addition to them being more comfortable, these seats help them improve their posture, as well as their ability to write. Having their feet firmly on the floor allows them to use their body more efficiently and effectively.
The loose parts toys also allow for open-ended creative experiences which not only foster critical thinking skills, but also helps develop language as the children share what they have made.
Thank you for your help, it has made our early education classroom so much better, ultimately impacting 20 students a year for many years to come!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rivas
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 2 other donors.Home Away From Home … Taking Care of the Whole Child
Funded Jul 26, 2023Thank you again for your contributions to our TK classroom. The children were so excited to open up the shipping boxes, it was like Christmas came early! I truly wish that I had taken a picture of their adorable faces that simply lit up with joy. Once we had opened the boxes, we discussed ways to be responsible with the new materials. The children quickly came up with rules for their use and where they should be kept. I love that this whole experience gave these 4 year olds a sense of ownership in it all!
We have been using our new couch and pillows on a daily basis! The floor pillows allow us to create whole group seating, as well as partners and smaller groups, which is key to implementing our math program. The cute pillows were a great addition to the few we had. Having enough for every child to sit comfortably while working on the floor, creates an inclusive classroom environment. It really helps with my little ones who wiggle a lot, to stay focused for longer periods of time and supporting them in respecting the space of others around them.
As for the couch, it fits perfectly into our dramatic play area, and is always occupied by a friend or two. They absolutely love feeling like a grown up, often tending to babies (dolls) and they love to sit and "read." It is simply heartwarming! Thank you again, for making this possible. Not only will it benefit this year's students, but it will help for many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rivas
This classroom project was brought to life by Lakeshore Learning and 9 other donors.