Past projects 2
Dry Erase Board Stands
Funded May 8, 2023I cannot begin to thank you enough for the Dry Erase Board Stand. The stand has impacted my instruction daily and I cannot wait until the students are able to use it during small group. The stand is adjustable enough so that I can lower it for my smaller students and raise it to adjust to my taller ones.
During the first week of school, my students and I created numerous anchor charts to help establish our routines and expectations. As students came up with ideas, we would add them to the Dry Erase Board. This has been a visual for the students so that they constantly know the expectations and routines of the class. The students and I have enjoyed how the stand can roll around the classroom to adjust to small group or whole group lessons. I have used it for whole group ELA instruction and for small group math.
As we move forward through the school year, the students will be utilizing the Dry Erase Board during my Math workshop. Students will be paired to solve math problems. Students always feel like a "teacher" when they are able to use the tools the teacher uses. I am so excited to see how they flourish.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Davis
Circuits and Magnet Exploration
Funded Aug 20, 2021We have just started our unit on electricity and magnetism. As an introduction to the unit, I allowed the students to explore the snap circuits with very little guidance. Some students had used them before so they were eager to help and show my other students how to use them. To hear the chatter between the students was simply exciting. When they were able to complete a circuit to make a light turn on, a fan move, or a propeller take off, the excitement in their voices and on their faces was worth every second of the exploration.
As we progressed through the unit on electricity, the students made connections with the snap circuits and understood more of how electricity works. This allowed them to understand how lights turn on in our home, how ceiling fans move, and how the flow of energy moves through the circuit. We have used the snap circuits throughout the unit and this has allowed the students time to create different circuits so that they understand how they work.
As a follow up to the snap circuits, the students built an actual circuit that is used in homes to power lights. They manipulated different size batteries and different types of bulbs to see how much power is need to make a light bulb shine.
Our next unit of study was encompassed around magnets. The magnet sets, iron filling have allowed the students to explore magnets in an entirely different method. The students were excited when we made magnetic oobleck. During magnetic stations, the students were excited to make cars move using magnets, explore how magnets can float, and how magnetic shavings can be combined with oobleck to create a magnetic substance. The students were excited to begin the rotations and the interaction and discussions between the students was full questions, laughter, and tons of exploration. Using hands-on manipulatives always help to create a concrete understanding of concepts. Using these stem tools has done that for my students. Thank you for allowing my students this wonderful opportunity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Davis