Past projects 13
Seeing the World in Color
Funded Dec 6, 2024On behalf of our students and staff, I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of a color printer for our makerspace. Before receiving this incredible gift, our students lacked access to high-quality printing for their projects, which limited their ability to bring their ideas to life. Now, thanks to your support, they can fully realize their creativity and take their work to the next level.
Technology in education isn't just about convenience—it's about providing students with the tools to express themselves, solve problems, and prepare for the future. The color printer has already made a significant impact in our makerspace by allowing students to create vibrant game boards for a service-learning project, enhancing the experience for those they are helping. It has also been a game-changer for students preparing for a recent job fair, as they were able to design and print professional business cards, giving them a sense of confidence and pride in their presentation.
The most exciting thing for our students is the ability to see their ideas come to life in full color. Whether they're designing posters, creating visual prototypes, or refining presentations, having access to professional-quality printing makes their work feel more polished and meaningful. They take greater ownership of their projects, knowing they can produce something that looks as impressive as their effort deserves.
Some students have especially embraced the new technology, including one who had never designed anything digitally before but was inspired to create a board game from scratch, knowing they could print it in high quality. Another student, who was nervous about networking at the job fair, felt a boost of confidence after designing and printing their own business cards—something they never thought they'd have access to before.
Your generosity has not only provided a tool for learning but has also created opportunities for students to build skills, confidence, and pride in their work. We are incredibly grateful for your support and the difference you've made in our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
Fund Our Esports Team!
Funded Oct 5, 2024I want to personally thank you on behalf of myself and my students for your generous donation of a video game system to our Esports team. Your support has made a significant impact on our students, providing them with an opportunity they wouldn't have had otherwise.
Technology plays a huge role in education today, and for our esports team, it's more than just playing games—it's about teamwork, strategy, and problem-solving. The video game system you provided has allowed our students to practice in a competitive environment, develop critical thinking skills, and build camaraderie in a way that wasn't possible before.
One of the most exciting aspects for our students is finally having access to equipment that allows them to compete! They are thrilled to have a setup that is beginning to mirror what they see in professional esports, and it's inspiring them to take their gameplay and teamwork to new heights.
We've seen some incredible moments already. One student, who was hesitant to join at first due to a lack of experience, has grown into a key team player thanks to the opportunity to practice with the new system. Another student, who previously struggled with confidence, has taken on a leadership role in strategizing for matches. The impact goes beyond gaming—it's helping them develop real-world skills like communication, perseverance, and collaboration.
Your generosity has not only provided equipment but also opened doors for students who might not have otherwise found a place where they truly belong. On behalf of our entire team, thank you for believing in them and supporting their growth.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
This classroom project was brought to life by United Airlines and 4 other donors.Transdisciplinary Co-Designed PBL
Funded Apr 2, 2024Being able to provide teachers who are new to Project-Based Learning (PBL) a comprehensive guide will have a significant impact on both their teaching effectiveness and student outcomes. For teachers unfamiliar with PBL, the concept of facilitating open-ended projects can feel overwhelming. The guide you donated offers clear instructions on how to design, manage, and assess projects, which will boost their confidence. It will help them understand the pedagogy behind PBL, ensuring they can implement it with purpose, rather than trial and error.
We will use this guide as the key tenet of a PBL professional learning community this year. The collaborative planning we will engage in will allow teachers to share insights, troubleshoot challenges, and brainstorm ideas for cross-curricular projects, enhancing the overall learning experience for students. We have had our first meeting, and it was so nice to be able to give teachers a resource right off the bat. Our second meeting is scheduled for the end of September, and I can't wait to see what kinds of projects the teachers have come up with.
When teachers are well-prepared to implement PBL effectively, students benefit from engaging, meaningful learning experiences. In Project Based Learning, teachers design projects that resonate with students, tying them to community issues or current events. By working on real-world problems, students can see the relevance of their studies, which increases their motivation and participation.
Your donation has helped to ensure a smoother transition to this instructional model, reduce teacher anxiety, and ultimately improve student engagement and achievement. It equips us with the tools and strategies we need to succeed in fostering a collaborative, inquiry-driven classroom, aligning with 21st-century educational goals. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
This classroom project was brought to life by LOFT.iPads for STEM Technology Integration
Funded Jun 8, 2024First of all, thank you! This is an amazing donation and it will truly be appreciated on a daily basis. Students will be allowed to check out an IPAD to learn coding and robotics, along with Green Screen technology, stop motion animation, and Drone piloting. None of those things would be possible without the IPads as they simply don't work on the Chromebooks available to students. Moreover, my students come from disadvantaged families and do not have their own devices, so school is the only place they have to build digital skills.
I know you didn't ask for thank you letters, but some of the students wrote them anyway. Ka'Myrah says, "Thank you so much for donating the iPads. We will take care of them, especially since our school hasn't had any. We really appreciate it and are thankful you spent your hard money getting us it."
Jalisa says, " Dear IPad Sender: I'm a student from Chicago Vocational Career Academy. I just wanted to say thank you, and I want you to know that we will put it to good use in our makerspace. I myself have already used one to make a stop-motion video which was really fun. I would not have been able to make that video without your Ipad."
Once again, thank you for your generosity. We are truly grateful for your support and are thrilled to have donors like you who are willing to invest in the future of students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
This classroom project was brought to life by Michael Jordan and The Jordan Brand and one other donor.Dynamic Remote Learning
Funded Dec 1, 2020Once again I want to profusely thank you for your kind and thoughtful donation. Teaching during the pandemic has been one of the most challenging things I have faced in my career.
Having an updated computer meant that I was able to communicate with my students without reverb, or breaks, or going in and out. It meant that I was able to stream video without any issue at all, allowing me to share my screen so students could see my face and my expressions. This enabled my students to connect better to me and helped the overall cadence of my lessons. I was also able to stream videos from YouTube, allowing my lessons to have multimedia components.
My new updated computer allowed me greater creativity in creating lessons because I wasn't limited by the scope of my technology. I was able to design with the students in mind and I am confident that we all had a more fruitful year because of it. Your donation was a bright spot in a dark year and I truly appreciate it.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 2 other donors.After School STEM
Funded Nov 21, 2019Thank you so much for gifting these resources to my school and my students. Before the school shut-down, I was able to use the robots with a group of students and the legos in a staff meeting. Having this kind of equipment on hand really makes the differences in what instruction can look like, and it helps us to better move towards Experiential learning, and important aspect of a STEM education.
When my students first saw the Cozmos, they were obviously delighted. One student said "I've seen these on TV!" They could not wait to start investigating! I gave them time to just explore freely and figure out how they work, and then we used them to play an academic game. The students were completely engaged; they could not wait to take their turn at the controls.
I am very excited to fully implement the Cozmos and the Legos as part of our brand new maker space once schools are open again. Based on the experience I have had piloting the Cozmos with students, and utilizing the legos in a STEM challenge with staff, I know that this equipment will go a long way towards making sure our students have hands-on STEM experiences. Thank you for your support - the students would not have the same access to materials without you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
Time Travel in Our City
Funded Nov 13, 2013Once again I give a heartfelt thanks to you for donating so that my students were able to read Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. They were very excited to read about the nation's first serial killer, especially because most of the action takes place right in the midst of where we live and go to school. (They also thought the parts about the World's Fair were interesting, lol).
I love that students are going to be able to keep the books, thanks to your generous contribution. When students first saw the book and read the first page, they were slightly intimidated, but they ended up loving it before too long. This happens with many titles worth reading, and I think having the book in their possession will be a physical reminder of the fact that perseverance pays off. Not only that, when you love a book, sometimes you just want to have it on your bookshelf, where the mere sight of it can remind you of the good feelings you had while immersing yourself in another world. Thank you for giving this to my students.
Because we had these books and were reading them in class (increasing our critical reading and writing skills), we were able to take a field trip to a museum to visit an exhibition on the World's Fair. The students had a great time, and it was wonderful to get out of the classroom to take advantage of what our city has to offer.
Words really can't express how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness and selflessness. It takes a very special person to support young people they've never met, and your kind action will not be forgotten any time soon.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
The Nuts And Bolts
Funded Oct 29, 2009Vincent Van Gogh is known to have said, "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." The batteries, ink and pencil sharpener that you donated for use in my classroom may all be minor things in themselves, but put to use are enabling students to do great things.
We are using the batteries to power flip video cameras, audio literature centers, and a classroom camera. Students are able to use these materials in a variety of ways, and in ways that increase their enjoyment of school and their understanding of the material being taught. Some students are audio or visual learners, and really benefit from being able to approach an assignment in an alternate way.
The ink might be the most appreciated by the students. Throughought the past month, I can't tell you how many seniors have used my printer (and the ink you provided!) to print college applications, essays, personal statements, etc. You actually may be indirectly responsible for helping a student be the first one in their family to attend college.
Thank you so much for your support of this project. Your donation is being felt almost every single day, and will have a lasting impact on my classroom. I can't really put into words how much I both respect and appreciate what you've done. You're great!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
Audio Literature Circles
Funded May 26, 2009I am very grateful that you funded this project. The listening centers and books are being put to use in my classroom on a weekly basis, and now the students are much more involved in their reading. During independent reading, I used to have students who would struggle through the period, or randomly choose a book off the shelf in order to complete the assignment. However, this year, students look forward to reading time, and keep commenting on how good the books are.
My favorite part of having this project funded is that the new equipment that you donated has allowed me to truly differentiate instruction. Because you enabled me to give students a greater choice in reading material, and a choice of whether or not they want to listen to the text while reading, the needs of each student are able to be met. Students can now choose an appropriate book and an appropriate method of delivery to fully engage in their reading. This gives support to struggling readers, while also allowing advanced readers to move at their own pace.
I am so thankful that my students are able to have positive interactions with text under my guidance. This will make them more confident readers of the texts they will encounter outside of the classroom. Thank you again for your donation!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders
Looking Through the Other Side of the Lens
Funded May 10, 2009Thank you so much for funding this project. Having the cameras has made a huge difference in the way I teach my film class. Where before students were only able to imagine or infer what goes into making a movie, this year they were able to actually experience the process. The students loved using the cameras and filming their own movies. We spent two weeks on the process, from planning to shooting to editing, and the students remained engaged the entire time. At the request of the students, we even hosted a mini "academy awards" to honor the work they had put into their films.
Since the completion of this project, my students seem to have a greater appreciation of the film genre. They approach the study of film in a much more serious and mature manner. This is because, thanks to your donation, they were able to become directors, producers and actors. In turn, this has made them more critical viewers of all media, which will benefit them well into their adulthood.
This project was so successful, and so enjoyed by the students, that we are going to repeat the process in the spring. I keep hearing the students talk among themselves as to what they are going to do for their next film. Again, thank you for allowing me to add such a dynamic element to my film class; these materials will be well used for years to come. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Anders