Past projects 4
Our Love of Reading
Funded Apr 23, 2020Words can not express the gratitude and joy that this brings to myself and my young scholars! I will make sure to post the read alouds on Youtube and send the link to share visually my love of reading and how happy this can make others too! You are appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Dimsey
Yoga and Social Emotional Learning
Funded Jan 1, 2020I am extremely excited to surprise my Hummingbird Charm with the phenomenal news! We have been trying for a while now to get our project funded (this has been reposted after it didnt get funded the first go around)! We will have the proper equipment and great books to start our new year together! Words can not even Express the happiness and excitement I feel for the young scholars!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Dimsey
Bright Light That's Just Right!
Funded Mar 24, 2019The shift that has taken place in the past year and a half has been phenomenal. As a class, we decided to see if there was a difference in the way we were able to learn, focus, and filter out unnecessarily bright lights. Last year several students including myself noticed a trend in headaches, anxious behaviors, and loss of focus. When we covered half the lights in the classroom the difference was a short lived sense of calmness and serenity. However, the adverse affects still were present. Therefore, we decided to cover all the light fixtures. When that happened we could use more natural lighting from the windows and less overhead lighting. Over a period of months, less and less students and myself noticed headaches and loss of focus. It is also a place of calmness when students are participating in mindfulness activities and low lighting activities. We are interested in following up and removing some covers to see if the difference in lighting changes our current state. We are always wondering and experimenting! Other teachers have jumped on board and have also covered their lighting fixtures last year and this year. It is amazing how just one little change can make such a BIG impact!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Dimsey
Inspire a LOVE of Learning Through Engaging and Meaningful Experiences
Funded Nov 30, 2018The Hummingbirds are buzzing with excitement on a daily basis in our classroom! The joy and learning that takes place academically, socially, and emotionally is phenomenal. The resources that were donated to our classroom spark curiosity and build a sense of creative movement. When all the boxes began to arrive before and after the winter holidays the Hummingbirds could not wait to open them! During their holiday break, I set up the kitchen, puppet theater, Lego land, sensory station, exploration station, and blocks. When the students walked in after a long time away from the classroom, their excitement level hit the roof! We brain stormed all the different ways we could create, imagine, and use our new materials and resources in and out of the classroom.
Immediately, the students began putting on puppet shows for other students and parents to watch; they set up chairs and made their own scripts. Lego land became the talking point during the day and at recesses. "What space station are you building today?" The art easel and paint set sparked our Art Club that lead to an art showcase lead by the students. Our sensory station is a cornerstone of calming and finding letters to make words. While the blocks are used in a multitude of ways, my favorite was when a group of students thought of using the blocks to build corrals and ramps for our new toy animals. Their imagination only grows as they explore and learn!
Our next step in the Hummingbird charm, is to use all of our materials throughout our expedition activities and science investigations. The students are looking forward to figuring out how to use blocks and Lego's to build mini-ramps, cars, machines, and creations that encompass force and motion. In addition, they are preparing a puppet show and art collection in the weeks to come that reflects our expedition unit, Children Around the World. We are so very grateful for all the donations and love every minute that we have the materials necessary to engage in meaningful learning!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Dimsey