Past projects 16
Let's Write and Read a Newspaper
Funded Jun 23, 2014I have been teaching at the elementary level for over 15 years. For most of those years we just had a standard newsletter that was photocopied onto white paper that went home. Because it was plain Jane and "runoff the Mill" many of our students didn't read it and if they did it did not resonate very well what it was that they actually had in their hands. We get the regular newspaper in the building and we tried to convince them that what they wrote in the newsletter equated to what was in the newspaper. We were way wrong.
I visited another school and saw that they had full-color newsprint paper that had regularly printed editions; I just knew that was something that we had to have; if for no other reason to promote literacy in the printed form. So that's what we did, we had our newspaper club established but with the support of Donors like you recognizing the efforts and needs of our students they now had something more concrete to look forward to.
This was by far the single most successful publication that has ever been produced by our students. It gave them a voice to address some issues that was a concern to them. This year, their recess was nearly eliminated and they wanted to write letters to the principal detailing their concerns, those letters were published and with them being published out came an opportunity for a face to face meeting between the students and school administration to discuss the reasons why reason was shortened. We have had a couple of editors and writers from local newspapers come to talk to the students about careers in print media, cartoonist that have been published in newspapers are scheduled to come to give some words of encouragement for possible career choices.
This has become much more than a student newspaper; it has become an outlet for potential success stories. Your commitment to education is second to none. I thank you for choosing to support educational initiative such as this one. We are forever grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
Who's Got the Power
Funded Nov 17, 2013With my students' working on the MacBooks your generosity gave them the power to explore. The new power cords for the MacBooks will allow the students to look beyond the classroom and utilize technology to enhance their learning.
The student's will not be restricted to the classroom with the computers that are here. They will be able to take them home, have sufficient power and protection. One of the projects that the students will create almost immediately is an original video story based on a pre-selected topic. In today's technological-driven society, visual storytelling is a favorite classroom tool, and the affordability and accessibility of technology software provides opportunities that only a mobile computer would provide. Video storytelling integrates technology and literacy and not just the arts; an exciting unit that we would not have otherwise explored without the full use of the MacBooks.
Technology in the schools even at the elementary levels promotes student's total learning and explicitly to the place technology has in facilitating that learning. Its importance becomes critical at the as we begin to have student learning begins to be more self-directed and prepares the student for life beyond schooling becomes a reality.
The students have used the first few days to use the MacBooks at their leisure; they choose their favorite apps modified backgrounds and created new screen savers. With the new found interest in mobile access they not only have a new direction for career paths but a direction in the "techy arts" as well. The new addition to the resources in the art studio will enhance the students' awareness and appreciation of the value of the arts in all of the disciplines.
I can not thank you enough for your generosity as it pertains to my students. Your donation will be a corner stone not just in our art program but the school for years to come as a constant reminder that the community understands and values the arts in education.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and one other donor.Painting like the Masters
Funded May 17, 2011Thanks for the donation for our school. The easels have transformed my students from art room students to masterpiece artist right before our very eyes. When I construct my lessons, I no longer have to worry about the teaching a lesson as a teacher, they are so comfortable I fell as if I'm in Leonardo's studio witnessing one of his apprentices hard at work. The easels have given them the opportunity to take real ownership in their work and with ownership comes pride and with pride comes continued effort and a quality product
Students from pre-kindergarten all the way up to my fifth graders have had the opportunity to use the easels in doing at least one painting. One of the first assignments was for the students to go through and use the easel to support a classroom mural.
It is donors like you that take time out of your busy schedule to acknowledge the short falls that are currently taking place in classrooms across the country; and make a difference. Your contributions to my classes are welcomed and appreciated. These easel will become a staple of my art program for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
Art Has Order Too
Funded Jul 3, 2011Thanks for the donation for our school. The print racks have helped the students organize and browse the prints faster and more efficiently than ever before. When I construct my lessons, I no longer have to worry about the down time that will be needed searching for the prints to go with the lesson. In fact I now make that a part of the lesson.
Students from pre-kindergarten all the way up to my fifth graders flip through the prints on a daily basis. One of the first assignments was for the students to go through and find their favorite print and be able to tell the class about the print. Most of them had chosen prints that I had not introduced to the class. This immediately turned into an art history moment for both me and the classes.
It is donors like you that take time to recognize the short falls that are currently taking place in classrooms across the country; and make a difference. Your contributions to my classes are welcomed and appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
Tracing The Masters' Work
Funded Mar 29, 2011For the past month now because of your generous donation my students have been able to mimic the masters of Art History. This is an accomplishment that would not have been achieved if it were not for your generosity and understanding of the visual arts as it relates to history and the total development of the child.
Thank you for your recent gift to purchase light tables. Your commitment to helping children in our community understand then arts is appreciated by all of our school stakeholders, most importantly, by the students who will have a greater knowledge of the details in major [and minor] works of arts. The intricate and elaborate details of the work of the renaissance artist or the obscure elongation of the surrealist artist or just the simple for of a local photo journalist, the students can follow there ever brush stroke to copy the exact angle of a building or the curvature of a human figure.; or to copy a font that the computer will not provide but the use of 8 light table makes it all possible. These are some of the things that the light table have been able to discover.
The Art masters work, Mona Lisa, American Gothic, Starry Night have always been a main stay in my yearly curriculum, but at times it seemed to be at a higher level, sometimes out of the reach of all of my students to gather how the stokes were made in relation to one another. Or how the proportions of a mother and child or even the one-point perspective of the infamous “I Want You for U.S. Army” cartoon by James Montgomery Flagg . I cannot thank you enough for your generosity as it pertains to my students. Your donation will be a corner stone for our art studio for years to come as a constant reminder that the community understands and values the history and the art making processes.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
Getting to Know the Masters
Funded Oct 27, 2010For the past month now because of your generous donation my student shave been able to connect themselves in art history. This is an accomplishment that would not have been achieved if it were not for your generosity and understanding of the visual arts and history as it relates to the total development of the child.
Thank you for your recent generous gift to purchase a classroom set of "Getting to know the World's Greatest Artist" Your commitment to helping children in our community understand then arts is appreciated by all of our school stakeholders, most importantly, by the students who will have a greater knowledge of the arts. Who would have known that Edward Degas and Mary Cassatt, we good friends and did many work together or that Henri Matisse actually did not like art until he was an adult. I sure didn't and certainly my students didn't, not until now. These are just 2 of the facts that we have unearthed with the books.
Art History has always been a main stay in my yearly curriculum, but at times it seemed to be at a higher level, sometimes out of the reach of all of my students. I can not thank you enough for your generosity as it pertains to my students. Your donation will be a corner stone for our art library for years to come as a constant reminder that the community understands and values the history of the arts in education.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
Murals are for Learning
Funded Feb 13, 2010For the past few months now because of your generous donation my student shave been able to create both radiant and beautiful permanent works of art in the style of the Italian renaissance great: paint, brush and walls.
The students have a new appreciation of what art can do and mean. I have taught them that all of the phases in the creation of the mural was important and that everyone's role regardless of how little or how large was essential and needed for the project to be successful. I wanted them to see that working collaboratively is just as rewarding as working alone.
I can not thank you enough for your generosity as it pertains to my students. They have a new awareness of the "classics" a concept that I had no intentions of covering this year; but with the energy that has been created by this project a teachable moment was formed. Your donation will be a corner stone to our art program for years to come as a constant reminder that the community understands and values the arts in education. Not to mention that the murals are forever embedded in the walls. The school is going to be going through a renovation in the next few years and the architects have assured both the school and the artists that their work will be preserved in fact the designs will work around and incorporate the murals.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
This classroom project was brought to life by The Pershing Square Foundation and 8 other donors.Birding in Washington, DC
Funded Oct 31, 2008Birds are a major topic of study in science for our third graders. The history and demographics for Washingotn, DC is the focus for social studies, so the Birding in DC concept made a perfect fit. Birding in our nation’s capitol is an increasingly popular activity among its citizens and visitors from around the world. With your generous contribution my students will have a head start on this incredible phenomenon while they are still in elementary school. In our studies thus far, we have discovered that there are over 200 different species of birds that are right here in our back yard. The binoculars and the sketch pads along with the help of the birding guide will help us accurately capture the images of the birds and to have a understanding of both their anatomy and the habitat in which they live. We thank you for your generosity support of our educational system”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
Painting Portraits Are EduTainment
Funded Aug 18, 2008Portraits are the one standard in art history that have stood the test of time. Thanks to your interests in not only the arts but to my students arts education they will be able to make their mark on history.
The school system does not provide enough supplies for my students to experience the painted human face. Your efforts will allow 75 of my students to study the human face in a fun eductiotal setting, where they might not have been affored the opportunity.
Because of donors such as yourself you keep the flame of education brightly lit in an otherwise dim environment. and for that, on behalf of my students I thank you”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill
Time: Student of the Year
Funded Apr 25, 2008You you for believing in the students that I teach. Just as Time Magazine has honored those individuals for their contributions to society you now have the unique opportunity to honor the students of my school as they are celebrated for their contributions to their own education.
It is donors such as yourself that remind our students that someone does care in their continuing education. The thanks that I say now does not compare to the thanks that my students will have when they see their name and image in print. So for them I say thank you”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hill