Past projects 15
Ready, Set, Play!
Funded Feb 4, 2024In our classroom, the introduction of new resources like whiteboards, markers, crayons, and educational games has sparked a wave of creativity and engagement among my students. When they first laid eyes on these materials, their faces lit up with excitement, and a buzz of anticipation filled the room. The whiteboards became instant canvases for their imaginations to run wild, as they eagerly grabbed markers to bring their ideas to life. The crayons opened up a world of vibrant colors, allowing them to express themselves freely and add depth to their artwork. Educational games provided a fun and interactive way for them to learn and reinforce key concepts, turning lessons into lively competitions and collaborative challenges.
One memorable project that emerged from these resources was a collaborative storytelling activity. Each student was given a whiteboard and a set of markers, and they were tasked with creating their own character and contributing to a shared narrative. As they took turns adding details to the story, from fantastical creatures to daring adventures, they not only practiced their storytelling skills but also learned the importance of teamwork and compromise. The room was alive with laughter and excitement as they watched their collective tale unfold before their eyes, showcasing the power of imagination and collaboration in learning.
With the new resources at our disposal, the markers and crayons will be used to color code and label different elements of a story, providing a visual aid that enhances their understanding. Additionally, we will incorporate educational games that simulate real-life dynamics. Through these hands-on activities, my students will not only gain a deeper understanding of a story but also develop critical thinking skills and a lifelong love for learning.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
This classroom project was brought to life by Connecticut State Department of Education.Documenting Our Success
Funded Feb 20, 2019Thank you so much for the document camera! This will enhance our lessons to another level and give the students a more interactive learning experience. This is especially exciting for my special education students who need extra support. We will be able to zoom in on all of the lessons and see brighter and sharper images. I can even record the lesson so that if a student falls behind, they can listen to the lesson later and finish.
This document camera is going to change how I teach in a great way and I am so appreciative that we are able to receive this!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
Charge Up the Future
Funded Mar 27, 2018I can't thank you enough for supporting my students with this project! Having a storage and charging station makes life so much easier to use the devices when we need them, knowing they are ready. It is also much safer than having cords and plugs all over the place. The students were so thrilled to be able to take turns putting the charging cart together.
The Chromebooks will now be ready to research our colonies project and create a new colony. They will no longer have to rush through their work if they see that the Chromebook is running out of battery.
Thank you again so much! Both the students and myself are beyond thrilled to have our new charging cart!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
This classroom project was brought to life by Dalio Foundation and 6 other donors.Successful Seating
Funded May 10, 2018Thank yo so much for all of your generous donations! These seats have made such an incredible difference in the way the students can learn and pay attention. I have may students with ADHD and they have a hard time sitting still. These chairs allow them to move around while still focusing on their learning. They also give a nice reward for the students who just want a little break every now and then.
The students really could not be happier and seeing their faces light up when they get to use the bouncy ball chairs really makes it all worth while.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 2 other donors.Supplies for Success Part 2
Funded Apr 25, 2018The students could not be more thrilled that we were able to have new and exciting supplies for our classroom. When that box comes through our door, all the students run to the table with such enthusiasm. They immediately began organizing the supplies and planning on what kinds of projects we can use them for.
Since we were completing our poetry unit, the students first used the crayons and glue to make origami animals with poems. They then created amazing projects for our school Festival of Arts. Without these supplies, our classroom wouldn't have been able to participate like we did. Thank you all again so much for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
Storytelling in a Digital World
Funded Feb 27, 2018Thank you so much for this incredible donation to our classroom. The need for these Chromebooks and for the technology that comes with it was incredible. We can now use these devices for researching our Colonial America project where the students become someone from that time period. They can also go on Epic where the books are leveled to their specific needs. These Chromebooks make them feel important and like they can be part of something bigger. It excites them and introduces them to a new era of learning.
We all couldn't be happier to have the Chromebooks!! Thank you!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
This classroom project was brought to life by AT&T and 3 other donors.Teaching Acceptance Through Literature
Funded Jan 25, 2018Thank you so much for this incredible surprise gift! Having Good Morning America and Donors Choose give these books to our classroom is amazingly wonderful. The students are so excited to finally be able to have their own book to read instead of sharing with others. The message that Fish in a Tree conveys of tolerance and acceptance is something that the students can carry with them for a lifetime. This novel offers hope to those who struggle academically and demonstrates that a disability will not hold you back.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 5 other donors.Inviting Chromebooks into the Curriculum
Funded Jan 25, 2018Words truly can not express how thankful our whole class is for these Chromebooks. Being recognized on television with Good Morning America was amazing, but then to have Donors Choose surprise us again by funding all of our projects was out of this world! Before this donation, our resources were very limited and students were sharing all of the technology. Now, with these 5 extra Chromebooks, the possibilities are opening up!
Recently, were able to use coding to make new Google signs. The students loved this and we can continue working on one for Valentines Day. We also used the Chromebooks for Kahoot, which I can make quizzes on to help the students study. The technology came in very handy while we were researching our Explorer projects as well. They could save and print pictures out in addition to researching some interesting information.
Finally, I believe this addition of technology to our classroom has really helped with disengagement and absenteeism. The students don't want to miss a day because they will miss using the Chromebooks and completing an exciting activity! Thank you again so much!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
This classroom project was brought to life by Dalio Foundation and one other donor.Supplies for Success
Funded Dec 19, 2017Thank you so much for this incredibly generous donation! This project in particular has brought life back into our classroom. Our projects were beginning to become dim and the students were uninterested in completing them. With the new markers, colored pencils, glue and construction paper, the students have livened back up. We have made craftivities for main idea and theme and for our explorer project. It is truly thoughtful of you to donate to this project and to our classroom. Both the kids and myself are extremely excited and grateful to use these supplies for the rest of the year!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
Chromebooks for Creating
Funded Oct 27, 2017First of all THANK YOU! I have so much appreciation and gratitude for your donation of our classroom Chromebooks. With this new technology, my students are able to type up projects and reports, use Google Docs and Slides, and perform necessary research for ELA and Social Studies. They have also participated in online games and programs. As you can see, this chromebook is used for a variety of activities!
What is even more exciting, is that 45 students now have access to technology that encourages them to come to school. As soon as they walk in the door, the first thing they ask is if they can use the Chromebooks today. It is a great feeling to be able to provide them with this outlet for their creativity. We recently typed up persuasive letters to our Mayor convincing him of various topics. The kids were so thrilled that they could type them up and that they were actually going to be sent!
Thank you for making it possible for me to ensure the very best educational setting for my students! People like you make a difference in our children's lives!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Pinkerton
This classroom project was brought to life by Dalio Foundation and one other donor.