Past projects 8
Library Rotations at Lakewood
Funded Nov 29, 2022Thank you so much for supporting my students by helping to provide resources they can use to help them learn literacy skills. Students are enjoying being able to work with new online materials. They are able to receive more support from me since we are working in small groups and they fully take advantage of this.
Being able to work with students in small groups allows me to get to know students better. I have learned personal things about students that I would have never known about otherwise (how they learn, their favorite book genres, hobbies, etc.). I am also able to support students with their learning much more easily by teaching smaller groups. When students need assistance with their Google assignments, I am immediately available.
When students are working at the independent station, they are given choices on what they will be learning for the day. This gives them freedom, they take more responsibility for their learning and are much more engaged. Some examples of their choices have been independent reading, independent research and their favorite, creating bookmarks!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hastings
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and one other donor.Literacy Skills in the Library
Funded Oct 10, 2021Thank you so much for your contribution to my project. My students have started learning how to research animals. They have loved using different books, websites and reference materials to learn more about specific animals. The excitement on their faces as they learn new facts is priceless.
Using the graphic organizers that were purchased, students were able to organize the new information they learned and share it with others. Their work has been displayed in the hallway and they love seeing it there.
Thank you again for contributing to my project. My students are learning many literacy skills that will help make them successful in life!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hastings
Building Library Skills
Funded Sep 22, 2021Because of your donations my students have had the opportunity to recently listen to folktales, tall tales, myths and legends, then complete a hands-on STEM project to go along with the story. Students have created musical instruments, tridents, towers and wigwams. They have really enjoyed these projects and the challenge of making them.
Students have had to work in teams, which prepares them for the future in working with others. They had to come up with a plan to complete the challenge. If their plan did not work, they had to reflect and figure out where they could make improvements. This has greatly helped with their communication and social skills.
Thank you so much for helping to provide these exciting materials for my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hastings
Makerspaces and Library Centers During COVID
Funded Oct 22, 2020The students were so excited to use the new Makerspace and Library Centers. They were very interested to use the digital formats to complete assignments that otherwise they would not be able to do due to the pandemic. I could barely finish my mini lesson because they were impatiently waiting to try out the new digital materials.
We have completed two projects so far. The first was a digital breakout room in which students were given clues in a photo to help unlock a combination lock. Students worked in small teams to unlock each lock. It was challenging, but they persevered and were able to figure out the combinations to most of the locks in the short time frame we had. The latest project the students worked on was created box pop-up greeting cards. They watched a video to get creative ideas of what other kinds of cards students their age had created. Then they followed the step-by-step instructions to put their own creative twists on a holiday card.
Without your donations, none of this would have been possible. This project has definitely shone a light on a weird school year. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hastings
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Donor and 5 other donors.Traveling the World in the Classroom
Funded Jan 30, 2019I decided to create a Donor's Choose project for VR goggles in order to help build background knowledge for my students. I felt that using the virtual reality goggles would be an innovative way for students to travel to places we discuss and learn about in class and to see things they may never see in their lives.
We read two differing opinion articles about whether or not Pluto should be considered a planet. So what better way to help form our own opinion than to travel there ourselves with the virtual reality goggles. We also have learned about friction, so students were able to experience the lack of friction by riding on a roller coaster.
I love watching the students as they travel to new places and experience new things. They often talk aloud with comments such as, "Wow!" or "Oh my gosh! This is so cool!" They want to use the goggles everyday, and we are all so appreciative for this experience.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hastings
Making Rainy Days Fun
Funded Oct 11, 2018We have had many rainy days lately, so this project has tremendously impacted our classroom already. The students are really enjoying all of the games we have available to play in class. It's not only keeping them entertained, but teaching them life lessons, such as teamwork, problem solving and strategical thinking skills.
When the packages arrived, it was like Christmas morning. The students could not wait to open them. During our first inside recess after receiving the packages, students struggled trying to decide which game to play because they were so excited about all of them.
Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! We truly appreciate you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hastings
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.Mr. Ocax Pellet Dissection
Funded Sep 22, 2016Thank you so much for donating toward our owl pellet project! We were able to go to our school's outdoor classroom to dissect the pellets. The next day we learned a little more about the different types of animals are in an owl's diet and then determine which types of bones we found the day before. Stations were set up around the classroom so students could see the different types of bones (skulls, vertebrae, ribs, hip bones, etc.).
The materials arrived in a non-distinct tube, and the students knew exactly what it was. They were so excited because they had been asking about the materials every day. They were amazed to find as many bones as they did in each pellet.
The project in our classroom now is patiently watching tadpoles become frogs. We have had the tadpoles for about two months now and every student is taking a turn feeding them and cleaning out their tank. We can't wait for them to become frogs!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hastings
Dissecting Owl Pellets and Seeing the Life Cycle Process
Funded Sep 4, 2015First, we used the caterpillars to watch the life cycle process. The students were eager to see the caterpillars every morning and the changes they were undergoing. They even got to witness one caterpillar messing with a chrysalis and one chrysalis that didn't make it. Once the butterflies hatched, we kept them for three days. Students brought orange slices and flowers from home to feed them. When we released them, the butterflies did not want to leave their habitat. Students had to get the butterflies on their fingers to coax them out and then watch them fly away. Students also kept a daily journal of the changes that occurred during the life cycle.
Next, we dissected owl pellets after reading the book "Poppy." Surprisingly only one boy found this disgusting until we were really into it. Many students found ribs, femurs and even a few intact skulls. The kit came with bone sorting sheets, so the students actually got to see what kind of animals their owl had eaten. A few days later I overheard some of the students talking about how this was the coolest project they had ever done in school.
These projects worked so well with my literacy unit that I am planning on doing them again next year! I hope to hear my third graders telling the second graders that this is one of the highlights to look forward to for next year! Thank you again for your support, I couldn't have accomplished this without you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hastings