Past projects 6
Kindness Rocks!
Funded Apr 14, 2025We appreciate your funding of this project that will promote kindness within our school community. Your generosity shows my students that others care for them and want them to succeed. I cannot wait to paint with them and design a space for the rock garden to go in our outdoor area. Again, thank you so much for your kindness.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Allen
This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation.Innovative Minds Change Lives
Funded Mar 17, 2025Thank you so much for supporting our students as they build their prototypes inspired by Black inventors. The imagination of my gifted students is limitless, but their focus on designing items that are beneficial to the community is impressive. We appreciate your generosity and commitment to allow our students to experience hands-on projects.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Allen
Join the Blanket Brigade!
Funded Nov 9, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donation to support warmth and safety in our school. My gifted classroom is in a large room at the back of the gym. It gets quite chilly in here during the winter and when the air conditioner is running constantly. Because I pull kids to my room during the day, they often do not have their jackets, sweaters, etc. to put on when they are cold. The blankets donated to my students have been the best additions to our "home away from home" learning environment. Not only do the kids enjoy being warm and cozy, they also like having their own unique space. The blankets are used when we spend time in the family center, when students are working at their tables, and when collaborating on a carpet. At first, we needed to set some ground rules. No one could use it to cover their head, no one could claim a color, and everyone must fold their blanket neatly after use. Teaching 73 4th graders to fold blankets was quite a challenge. But, they helped each other and worked together. No one escapes folding duty!
Thank you also to Amazon for a credit on our account earned by completing a Career Tour. The kids enjoyed it and were amazed at the different music careers available.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Allen
Want to Play a Game With Me?
Funded Sep 3, 2024As an educator of gifted children I see the unique characteristics and needs of this special population. One thing I noticed right away, and was taken aback by, was the broad range of emotions they display. "Big brains, big emotions" is how it was described to me. This project was designed to help students with their social skills and how to manage their emotions.
The items funded by this project have made a significant impact on my students and how they interact with others. They have diverse interests so the variety of games is perfect for them. Soon after our supplies arrived, a new student joined our class. A couple of girls ran to get the Jenga game, and a couple of new chairs, and asked if he wanted to play a game with them. Seeing their smiles and hearing their laughter warmed my heart.
During center time, my students love to use the floor cushions and the foldable chairs. They also like pulling out the new rug as a puzzle, robotics, or game area. Thanks to our new carpet sweeper, kids have clean spaces to interact and learn. They have even organized a cleaning rotation and always know who is next with the sweeper.
Your donation has helped teach social-emotional skills that go along with our class theme of "Thinking, Feeling, Creating" and supports our gifted outcomes. Thank you for investing in the future and well-being of my students. We are appreciative of your generosity and the matching funds from The Compassion Project.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Allen
This classroom project was brought to life by The Compassion Project and 5 other donors.Building Our Future One Book at a Time
Funded Oct 4, 2024Gifted students love to play in unstructured environments where their creativity and imaginations flourish. Harnassing that creativity to follow laws of physics and rules of design are often challenging. The books that were donated to our class will help students understand structure, purpose, and function.
By using materials such as magnatiles, wooden blocks, Leggo, Vex Go, and K'Nex, students can model forms of architecture and created structures of their own using ideas from the books. One interesting aspect of this project that I did not foresee was simply reading to gain new information. My idea was to partner the books with tactile experiences. To my amazement, some students just wanted to enjoy the words and pictures to gain knowledge.
These books also tied into our art unit as a form of expression of ideas and emotions. One special aspect of this project was to explore how viewing different aspects of architecture makes us feel.
Thank you for inspiring my students to read, explore, imagine, and create.
Thank you also goes to the SONIC Foundation for matching all donations given to this project. Together, we can impact more students for the benefit of all.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Allen
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Foundation and 3 other donors.Trunk or Treat for Literacy Community Service Project
Funded Oct 3, 2024Teaching gifted students to have empathy, compassion, and humility is sometimes difficult. Through community service projects, our students learn to give of themselves, donate their time, and serve others.
During our fall Literacy Night "Trunk or Treat", about twenty students and their parents volunteered to welcome members of their school and neighborhoods to our "Spotlight on Good Health" table. Each person was free to choose the items they would like to have. All night, I heard students interact with others, laugh, and give directions. About four hundred children received shampoo, body wash, soap, toothbrushes, combs, and lip balm.
With the leftover materials, students put together gift bags to donate to a person of their choice or to peers through our Counselor's Closet. They made close to 100 gift bags that will be used by people who need them. Ideas for a spring service project are being led by the students. I am proud of what they are learning and will accomplish.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Allen
This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation.