Past projects 3
Cooperation Makes it Happen
Funded Sep 4, 2023The Cooperative Learning books you purchased for our project made a big difference for my students. They enjoyed the games and independent stations I used from the books throughout the year. It made a difference in their conceptual knowledge and application of skills. Furthermore, the cooperative learning structures helped students get used to working with each other.
My students enjoyed the tasks because it helped them connect concepts throughout the curriculum. For example, students who struggled to understand the concept of making equivalent fractions had an Ah Ha moment when we practiced items from the "Fraction Fun Cooperative Learning" book. Practice with the tasks like the multiplication table helped them connect the meaning of equivalent fractions with skip counting.
Students appreciate variety and the plethora of relevant activities presented by these tasks helped me to keep students engaged with the learning and with each other. The variety of cooperative learning structures from learning stations, and activities like Round About and Travel Around or Pairs Compare were useful to keep students challenged, engaged, and learning. The best part is that students worked with each other in these tasks and realized they could do well in math with practice.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Aja
Technology Access and Hands on Labs for Great Students
Funded Oct 14, 2019Thank you very much for your gift. We used the resources to model how DNA codes for proteins in blood and students came away knowing that not every change in DNA causes illness. They were able to explain the process involved in how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins through the resources you provided.
When they first saw the materials, they asked, "What is this?" They then asked how do we put it together? They especially enjoyed that they could play with the magnets and figure out how to construct the models independently. Now that this biology class has learned how proteins are the building blocks of the cells and tissues of their bodies, they are moving on to making models of organs to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems.
In the physical science class, the students were very excited to sort cards independently and liked the initial idea of sorting types of dogs as described in the initial phases of the project. Some groups chose to sort the elements based on size, and then other groups sorted the cards based on color. In our next lessons about how different elements are more likely to bond with each other their understanding of sorting the elements and how the periodic table will change and we may revisit this card sort.
Having the headphones has also made a huge difference in students' ability to use technology to learn from youtube and lessons on EdPuzzle. They really like using headphones to listen and attempt lessons and questions on EdPuzzle until they mastered it.
Thank you again for all of your support. It helps me use resources that my students haven't been exposed to and helps us all feel valued members of a learning community.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Aja
This classroom project was brought to life by Livia & Biz Stone.Colored Pencils Markers and Mints
Funded Dec 31, 2019Thank you and thank you again! A love of math and science does not happen easily when you have no books to reference on your own. Your support gives every student at my school materials to help develop their own reference materials. While working at my school for the past 6 months, I have heard many of our students say they “don’t get it”. But since we started implementing more interactive notebooks, I’m seeing my students reference their own materials to solve problems and help each other without complaining. My goal is to provide every student with one set of solid notes to reference per day, so that they can build a solid foundation that they personalize and beautify in every moment that they are in class. My motivation is to increase their love of learning. Without a color, how can your notes pop? Without a little treat, how can students stay motivated? Thank you for giving and helping me reach my goal.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Aja