Past projects 239
Yahoo, Back to School Pt2: Young Scientists Need Equipment!
Funded Jul 12, 2014Hello! Thank you so much for supporting my classroom. Your generosity has helped me provide additional materials that my students will use to investigate, experiment and explore!
In my classroom, I integrate Science throughout the curriculum. While I have the basic curricular materials to teach, grants like this one allow me to give my students additional opportunities to learn and grow.
When the materials arrived, my students couldn't wait to get their hands on them. They immediately picked up the hand lenses and began looking at their current science projects (we are studying seeds and plants right now). They wanted to use the goggles so of course I let them and later I heard one of my students say "I feel like a real scientist!" Music to my ears!!!
Thank you again for supporting my classroom and my students. The materials and resources you funded will enable me to provide my students with many meaningful experiences throughout the year. We are very, very grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
Alert! 21st Century Students Need a Technology Upgrade Pt.2
Funded Aug 2, 2014Hello all! I'd like to first say thank you so much for your support with this project! In this climate of 21st Century Learning, students need all of the resources available to them in order to succeed. You have helped get closer to the goal of becoming technologically literate!
When school started this year, I told my students about the Donors Choose grants I wrote and what materials would be coming. Before this grant funded, I had 6-8 old, outdated and slow laptops in my classroom. Students would get so frustrated when they would drop off line or a program wouldn't open. Before I could finish telling them about the materials that were coming, one of my students said "I hope the nice people who helped you will help us get some new laptops!" I informed them that was indeed the case and they all shouted with delight! When they finally arrived, my students
were so eager to get their hands on them!
My students use these laptops everyday. They rotate to them during center time and can go on them when they finish their seat work. I will be teaching them how to make PowerPoint presentations in the very near future, and they will be writing science labs and other reports as well.
Thank you so much for helping me add this much needed resource to my classroom. I truly appreciate your generosity and my students certainly do too!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
This classroom project was brought to life by 100 Women in Hedge Funds and 42 other donors.How Does Your Garden Grow?
Funded Apr 17, 2014Hello all!
First I would like to take a few minutes to thank you so very much for your generosity and your support. Because of you my students are enjoying a wonderful outdoor space and are learning to appreciate where food comes from!
When the materials arrived at the school, my students were so excited as they were ready to expand our literacy garden! During the school year we revived two existing raised beds and decided to expand our learning space so that more students at our school could reap the benefits. When the boxes were delivered to my classroom we had to stop everything we were doing and open them, because if I didn't they would have exploded!
The package contained 10 HUGE bags of soil, and the makings of eight more garden spaces! My students were given the challenge to do the following: decide where their table's beds would go; draw a blueprint/plan showing the length and width of their bed to determine if they had enough room where they wanted it to go; figure out how much soil they would need in their beds. I must say, they took to this challenge quickly and diligently, as they made decisions about the space. It was a joy to see my students working collaboratively to get this task done.
The result was phenomenal! We had open house few weeks later and my students proudly showed off their literacy garden to family and friends, and to anyone who came any where near the space! They love the garden and every aspect of taking care of it.
Thank you again for helping me to create a learning space that my students will remember for years to come. Your generosity had made a tremendous impact on my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 6 other donors.Alert! 21st Century Students Need a Technology Update!
Funded Mar 24, 2014Thank you so very much for your generous donation! When I told my students about this funding they were extremely excited!
Children today are expected to be technologically literate and use technology as a tool to enhance learning and complete assignments. As districts try their best to close the digital divide, smaller urban schools like mine are the some of the last ones to receive extra funding. Our principal is very supportive and we have a technology plan in place, but it will be a while before it is fully realized. That is one reason I wrote this grant! My goal is to have at least one computer for every 2 students in my classroom! (One to one would be the ultimate!) Because of you and your generosity, my goal is closer to being a reality.
Since the arrival of the Chromebooks, my students have been inspired to complete work assignments and create presentations. They are used EVERYDAY and are such a great resource in my classroom. I have 6 older laptops that are very slow...they work but really need to be retired! My students would rather wait an hour to use the Chromebooks than have to do their work on them! They have made such a huge difference in my classroom and with my students. The delight on their faces when it is their turn to use the computer is priceless.
Words cannot fully express my sincere gratitude. I am so very thankful you share my vision for helping children succeed and hope you will consider supporting my students in the future.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
This classroom project was brought to life by 100 Women in Hedge Funds and 2 other donors.Publish Please!
Funded Oct 23, 2013Hello! I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so very much for your donation to this project. My students and I are very appreciative of your generosity.
Whenever a box arrives for my classroom, my students are filled with anticipation. Because I have written a few proposals, they have come to believe that a new resource arrives every time! Well, this time, they were right! As we opened the box together, my students' eyes opened wide when they saw the printer! "Now we can print every story we write!" one student shouted. "I can't wait to learn how to use it!" said another. I could go on and on with their comments, but there is only so much space to write!
In my classroom I am trying to provide my students with as much access current technology they need to succeed. I am teaching them how to use computers--how to write stories, save them, add pictures, etc. Up until now, any piece of writing they produced had to be sent to a printer in the teacher's work room, so students had to wait to see the fruits of their labor. Well now, thanks to you, that is all in the past!
Having a printer in the classroom has been so motivational! My students want to write and publish now more than ever! It really is a joy to see students willingly go through the steps of the writing process during writing workshop time so they can get to the "publish" stage and print out their work. I cannot thank you enough for providing this extra added push and excitement in my classroom.
Once again, thank you so much for donating to this project. I hope you will consider helping us again in the future.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
Stories In A Flash!
Funded Jan 5, 2014Hello all! Thank you for donating to this project!
When I told my students about the proposal, they were so very excited! They asked me almost everyday if it was funded and if the flash drives had arrived! The day I told them "yes" they could hardly contain themselves! And when they arrived....well, I think you are getting the picture!
Integrating technology in my classroom is a priority. I am teaching my students how to write and publish stories and reports and how to save their work on the computer's desk top. With the addition of the flash drives, I have taught my students how to save their work on this device, explaining that they now can work on their projects from any computer! The first thing they wanted to do is take them home, so of course I let them! Several of them brought them back with a number of self initiated stories and other types of projects! They are having a blast and are also teaching each other "new tricks"! It is truly a joy to watch!
Thank you again for contributing to this learning experience. My students will leave third grade with an electronic portfolio of stories, reports, and power point presentations that they will be proud to share with their family and friends.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
Planting the Seeds of Knowledge With a Literacy Garden!
Funded Aug 6, 2013Hello All!
First I would like to thank you again for your donation to this class project!
When the packages arrived the students were very excited and full of anticipation! They knew we were going to start a garden project and were eager to get started. Our school year began mid-August, so our materials did not arrive until the middle of September. However, the minute they arrived, I could not keep my students away from space!
I inherited two abandoned raised beds when I started this year. The soil, and I use this term loosely, was as hard as rock and I really had my doubts as to whether or not anything would grow. My students, however, were totally optimistic and when the materials and supplies arrived the first thing we did was turn the soil over and over again...trying to get it in shape for planting. As you can see from the pictures, my students worked very hard and it took a few weeks, but the soil was finally in good enough shape for planting.
The initial plan was to create a vegetable garden and a separate flower garden, but the students wanted to plant it all so I divided the beds into 24 "plots of land" and let them plant whatever they wanted! Our overarching question was "What seeds will grow?... the fastest....slowest....not at all?" My students observe and take care of their "land" every day, and when the first seeds sprouted they were ecstatic! It is a slow process but now that there is life in the beds my students have a new found interest! And, yesterday we harvested our first vegetable! I hope you saw the picture of my student holding the radish in his hand! He was so happy! Now everyone wants to plant radishes....
This project is an on-going science laboratory for my class, one that enhance learning for the rest of the year. My students and I are so appreciative of your generosity so that this outdoor space can be come and will be an extension of our classroom. As the year progresses, the space will be enhanced with more planter boxes and bird feeders as we plant and harvest. Please feel free to contact me for updates as this project develops. We would love to continue to share our learning's and wonderment's with you.
Thank you again and I hope you will consider donating to other projects in the future.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
Building Literacy With Science and Math Centers
Funded Jul 9, 2013Hello all!
First I would like to thank you so very much for donating to this project! My students love the resources you have helped me give them!
Learning centers are a focal point of my classroom environment. When these materials arrived at our school my students were so very excited! They were eager to get their hands on the materials to see what they could discover and learn! Of course they wanted to use all of them all at once! However, the thematic nature of each packet (which I absolutely LOVE) means that the materials are introduced to students gradually, as the topics correlate to the topics we are focusing on in the classroom. Therefore, your gift will be a major part of our classroom the entire school year!
To date, my students have mastered four of the learning center materials, two focusing on Mathematics and two focusing on Science. I cannot tell you how much having these supplementary materials and supplies have enhanced teaching and learning in my classroom. Students constantly make connections to the learning center activities with day their "regular" subject matter throughout the day and have even developed additional questions and wonderings to explore based on the activities they experienced while using these materials. Additionally, my students invite their parents and other siblings into our classroom and "teach" them the content they have learned. It gives me great joy to observe my students explaining Science and Mathematics concepts to others, demonstrating to me that they truly understand what they have learned!
Thank you again for donating to this project. It is a gift that I will continue to use with my students this school year and one that I will be able to use with students for years to come! You will be a part of my classroom for a very long time! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
We Are Scientists Exploring The World Around Us! Part 2
Funded Jun 25, 2013Hello! First I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for donating to my project. Your generosity means so much to me and my students!
My third graders absolutely love the science resources your generosity has helped us to receive. Every opportunity they get, they go to their "Science Inquiry Backpacks" and use their tools to observe and experiment!
When the boxes first arrived, I shared with the students that I had a delivery in the office and sent several office monitors to go and retrieve them. As they returned, we gathered on the rug area in my room and opened each box, like we were opening gifts at Christmas! This donation was the "part 2" of this project so my students were eagerly waiting for the backpacks to arrive! They carefully and thoughtfully placed their science tools in them and could not wait for the opportunity to use them.
As you can see from the photos, the LOVE using the backpacks to learn and explore. In my curriculum, the children are assigned a "Science Question of the Week" where they ask and answer questions about science topics, learning how to implement the scientific method (practice for the science fair in the spring!) They use these tools to observe, predict and experiment. In addition, my students take their Science Inquiry Backpacks home, where they share their findings and investigations with their families. They are quite the little scientists and thanks to you they have the resources they need to succeed! Thank you again for donating to this project and helping my students develop and nurture a love for Science.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter
We Are Scientists Exploring The World Around Us!
Funded Jun 20, 2013Hello! First, I would like to thank you again for your generous donations to my classroom project! Because of you my students have begun to explore, investigate, and develop a love for Science! When my students first saw the boxes they were intrigued and excited. I told them (and their parents on Back to School Night) about my projects and they were anxious to get started!
I placed the unopened boxes in the middle of the rug area in my classroom while my students were at recess. When they came in the room and saw them they screamed in delight...literally! Some of them said "Yay, now we are going to be real scientists!" I thought I was going to cry! I was as happy as they were! We opened each box and examined the materials. Many of my students have never had the opportunity to use hand lenses, goggles, etc, so as each science tool was opened I did a "mini lesson" telling them what the items were and how they are used. After all of the packages were opened, I let the students loose to explore!
We use these resources almost every day. If students see a spider they run to their kits and get their magnifying lenses so they can observe it more closely, they pull out their science journals and write down their observations and wonderings and draw pictures of what they discover.
As part of my curriculum, my students receive a "Science Question of the Week" where they explore and investigate a science question they want to learn more about. With your generous donation, my students have embraced this assignment and look forward to using their tools whenever and where ever they can! They also take their materials home and share their experiences with their families. I cannot thank you enough for contributing to this project!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gaiter