Past projects 10
Wobble Seats for Wiggly Students
Funded Dec 25, 2022Thank you SO much for your donations. These wobble chairs will make such a positive impact on the learning environment for my students. When their sensory needs are met, they are able to access and engage in learning in meaningful ways. I am grateful for your investment in their future.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
Young Readers and Writers Need Supplies!
Funded Oct 8, 2019I cannot say a big enough THANK YOU! Your donations mean the world to my students and to me. Upon receiving our new writing tools, the students were so excited and wanted to get to work right away! The materials you purchased for us are consumable, and are expensive. You made it possible for my students to have high-quality materials that we would not have otherwise had.
The materials have given my students more independence in their individual writing. The students were immediately interested in their new writing journals. As primary journals, they have spaces for drawings and writing, which is very helpful in learning to write. The kids have spent a great deal of time writing in them since receiving them, and they often ask to use them even when it is not an official writing time! The clipboards have made writing anywhere in our room more comfortable, and have become an engaging item in our classroom!
As a whole class, we have been able to participate in whole class writing activities using our brand new chart paper and special markers. It is incredibly helpful to have these writing materials to model writing and to have the kids practice on. It makes such a difference in our classroom!
Your donations have made a difference in the lives of a number of young learners, and I am confident that the return on your investment will be great. Thank you so much.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
This classroom project was brought to life by District Partnership Program and 3 other donors.Flexible Seating for Flexible Students!
Funded Dec 3, 2019Thank you SO much for your generosity!!! My students love practicing independence and making their own choices in learning, and these seats will help them do that in a fun way. When my students are engaged the learning feels more meaningful and these seats will encourage just that.
Thank you for giving my students opportunities to take even more ownership of their learning. It means so much and is greatly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 6 other donors.Chromebooks for Fabulous First Graders!
Funded Nov 3, 2018Thank you SO MUCH for your donations. Our classroom has been abuzz since receiving our Chromebooks! The kids were so excited to unpack the boxes we received in the mail and have treated the tools with the utmost care and respect-- we are all very grateful.
Having Chromebooks easily available in our classroom has changed the way we do much of our learning. Students are able to access websites that increase their depth of learning in various content areas. In reading, students are able to access sites where they can read and listen to e-books, articles, and magazines, ask and answer questions about them, and share learning with classmates and teachers. In math, students are able to practice new skills learned in a fun and meaningful way. In other subjects such as social studies and science, students are able to access multimedia texts that increase their exposure to ideas and places they may have never seen before. We are able to access new worlds with just a few clicks!
In addition, the Chromebooks have helped increase accessibility of content to all students. Students are able to work with materials that are differentiated to their levels and even language! This is incredibly valuable to the learning of my students. This is particularly helpful for students who do not have computer or internet access at home; they are now able to join their peers and participate in activities that they have not before.
We are so thankful that you gave to our classroom. Your donations have made a significant difference.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 4 other donors.Support the Next Generation with Kindergarten STEM Learning
Funded Nov 4, 2016Thank you so much for your generosity!! My students have LOVED--and still love--using the materials you donated. My class was so excited when the box arrived at our classroom and they had a blast unpacking it with me. After unpacking it, they were so eager to figure out what everything was and could not wait to get their hands on it all. Our STEM focus has been dramatically improved and enriched through your help.
My students have been able to participate in a variety of STEM activities using the materials you provided. One of the best parts has been using the Fairy Tale STEM kits. Using these kits, we followed the process of reading a familiar fairy tale as a class, hearing the STEM challenge, sketching out ideas, and then having the students work in small groups to solve the challenge. We have worked our way through building a bridge after reading "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," creating strong houses in response to "The Three Little Pigs," and making small, medium, and large chairs after reading "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Even after completing the whole- and small-group projects, the kids take out the kits daily during learning center time to come up with new ways to solve the challenges. It has been amazing to see the students engaged in learning and so excited to collaborate and try new things.
Engaging students in STEM learning is one of the most important things we teachers can do for our students to prepare them to be citizens of a scientific and technology-based world. Your donation has helped me create an environment of creativity and learning within the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math, and has helped my young students experience learning in a new way. Thank you for your investment in these students and in the future.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
Learning About Community Workers in a Meaningful Way!
Funded Dec 31, 2015Thank you so much for these wonderful materials! We have had a great time wrapping up our year learning about community helpers. The students learned a lot about roles in the community from the set of books we received. We read and discussed the information in the books-- what a great, meaningful way to incorporate informational text into our daily routine!
The kids have had a fantastic time learning about community helpers through play. The materials we received have allowed us to set up a doctor's office, a vet's office, a dentist's office, a post office, and a police station. The students have loved creating different dramatic play environments and their learning has exploded! This meaningful play made way for meaningful conversations, interactions, and increased writing and reading in the classroom.
Through this project, the students were able to gain an understanding of roles community helpers have by trying the jobs out for themselves. The students have a better understanding of how each individual works together to create a safe, thriving community, and it is my hope that the experience the students had through this project will impact their roles in their communities throughout their lifetimes. Thank you so much for being a part of this learning experience!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
Learning About Healthy Choices Through Dramatic Play!
Funded Nov 19, 2015Thank you SO much for your donations! My students' learning has been tremendously impacted by the supplies we have in our classroom. They have had a wide variety of tools to use to learn about healthy eating and ultimately, healthy living.
Receiving the boxes of materials in the mail was an incredible experience for my students. They were so excited when they learned that others heard about our project and wanted to help them learn! The kids have used the materials each day since receiving them in the mail. We began our healthy eating unit by introducing all types of healthy foods, some of which the kids were unfamiliar with. It was great showing them types of fruits, vegetables, and proteins they had never seen before! We then learned how to choose and prepare healthy foods, and the kids still love setting up a store or farmers' market to sell and buy food, and then taking it "home" to prepare using the dishes and kitchenware they now have. What an authentic way for these precious kids to learn!
I want to express that your donation has impacted the lives of the kids in our class in a tremendous way. Healthy eating as part of a healthy lifestyle is such an important part of what I want to pass onto my students, and you helped make this possible. I cannot tell you how excited I was when students began to identify fruits and vegetables they were unfamiliar with—and then begin to pass their knowledge on making healthy choices onto friends and family! I truly believe that this project has opened up the doors to healthy living for my students and their families, and I thank you for that.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
Encouraging Early Reading in a Safe and Cozy Space!
Funded Mar 17, 2015My students LOVED receiving our new cushions and reading chairs. They were so excited when the packages arrived and opening them as a class was a terrific experience for the kids. As I talked with the kids about the idea of a "donation" and that people chose to help our class, they were excited to know that people who didn't even know them would help our classroom get things we need.
My students no longer sit on just the floor on on chairs for reading-- they are able to choose a cozy cushion or seat and find a quiet spot as they embark on their journey of learning to read. My kids love that they are able to relax and focus on reading in the classroom. I have found that my students' reading endurance has increased and that they are more inclined to choose reading as a "free choice" activity because they now see it as an enjoyable experience.
One of my greatest passions as a kindergarten teacher is sharing my love for reading and opening my students' worlds up to all different kinds of literature and text. These reading cushions and seats help support me and contribute greatly to the amazing reading experience that I hope all my students are able to have.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
We are Big on Reading and Writing!
Funded Aug 7, 2014Thank you so much for the easel and book shelf you helped supply to our classroom. I wish you could see how we use each of these items each day! The book rack helps us to store books in a safe place and keep them neat while allowing students to easily reach them. We use our easel throughout the day for many activities, and it has become a staple in our daily activities!
The easel has helped make learning visible for my students. We begin each day writing a morning message on the easel, and during the rest of the day spend time using it to hold big books as we read them, for student writing with dry erase markers, and using magnetic letters and manipulatives. It is the perfect height and size for my students to see modeled instruction and practice themselves as a class or in small groups.
Because of this donation, my students are able to challenge themselves and spend time working to learn skills and strategies that they will carry with them for life. As a teacher, I spend less time trying to manipulate books and dry erase boards so the whole class can see them, and spend more time guiding my students as they learn. This has been an incredible donation and we are very thankful!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman
Creative Kindergarten Artists Need Colorful Paints
Funded Mar 27, 2014Thank you SO very much for the wonderful art supplies you provided! From the moment we received the boxes in our classroom, my students were buzzing with anticipation and excitement. Opening the packages together and finding colorful paints, smocks, and paint cups was a highlight of our school year that our class still talks about today.
Our supplies were ready for us to use as soon as we received them in the mail, and we have been able to utilize them in several ways. We soon added to the easels at our Art Center with smocks and non-spill cups full of fresh paint, and the children have loved spending time creating their own masterpieces. We have also used the supplies for activities that correlate with our classroom curriculum. We were able to respond to books and study book illustrator styles as we experimented with painting our own illustrations.
One of the most memorable ways we were able to use the supplies was during a unit called "Our School Family Colors." During this time we learned that each member of our class is unique, and even though we all look different, we are still part of a uniting School Family. We concluded the theme by mixing shades of multicultural paint to discover each child's very own skin color. Excitement radiated from of each of my students as we found their own individual shades of skin color and added their handprints to our poster. Both our class and our school community have benefited from our multicultural display.
On behalf of my 26 delightfully creative and grateful Kindergarten students, we would like to thank you for contributing to the learning experiences in our classroom in such a great and meaningful way. You are awesome!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pilman