Past projects 8
Colors of the World
Funded Jan 27, 2022Thank you so much for the markers. For the first time students had an abundance of materials to use to create their own masterpieces, which is something that we always fall short of finding enough available in the classroom. Students usually have to borrow, but because of your generosity, students had an opportunity to just get lost in their craft and not worry about sharing a particular color. The multicultural colors were an especially big hit with students, because for the first time they could accurately depict what they envisioned in their heads.
We used the markers to create Romero Britto hearts, and do art lessons featuring artists Alma Woodsey Thompson and Aaron Douglas. We used them to create our own board games.
Next year we will be able to use the same markers to create more masterpieces. Thank you so much for your generosity, love, and support of my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Miller
Pastels and Paper for Masterpieces
Funded Mar 24, 2021The chalk and oil pastels have helped my students experience awesome implements in creating their own masterpieces. I can not begin to tell you the excitement they all expressed upon tearing off the cellophane and opening the boxes to the deep rich colors underneath. The paper is thick and welcoming as students have started working their creativity in various art projects. I am so thankful for your generosity especially during this pandemic. My students have all been touched in some way by the pandemic and continue to be affected by it, so to help students reach a creative solution in dealing with the stress has been a real blessing. On behalf of my students and myself please accept our sincere thankful hearts in giving us the gift of art and an opportunity to express ourselves creatively.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Miller
This classroom project was brought to life by T-Mobile and 3 other donors.Chromebooks Keep Kids Captivated in Class
Funded Feb 3, 2018On behalf of myself and my students, I want to thank you so much for the Chromebooks. Students have been using them as an immediate resource to find necessary websites, which have been used to develop their Socratic Seminar topics. Students have also been utilizing the Chromebooks in class to search out science fair project ideas and then complete their research as needed. While many students have not really taken advantage of the opportunity to take home the Chromebook, One student was able to finish her science project report early ahead of her peers, by taking the Chromebook home and using it. I thank you for your support and I believe these Chromebooks will be a great resource for incoming students over the next few years.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Miller
This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 18 other donors.The Kings and Queens of San Pedro
Funded Oct 21, 2016What an impact chess has had on the students hear at school. We get together once a week after school and I will give a brief lesson and then students will have the opportunity to play against each other. During Chess Club, I find that the playing field is pretty even. Some students come in with previous experience while others are true beginners. Students that struggle academically or lack some physicality are blossoming into their own identified expertise or natural abilities to play the game. Some students fear others based on the reputation some are acquiring for the quick work they make of their opponents.
I want to express my deepest gratitude in helping my students learn the basics of chess here at our school. It truly is a foundation that will be with them for life. On behalf of them, we thank you all”
With gratitude,
Mr. Miller
Take Your Best Shot
Funded Jul 13, 2015Students have loved using the cameras in and out of the classroom. When we were studying ratios and proportions, several students tried their hands at forced perspective photographs. The creativity of the children was really impressive. The next lesson we used the cameras was in the contest, "Take Your Best Shot." Students used a lot of the school environment to take their pictures, and some wanted to take the cameras home as well. The Christmas Tree with lighting and ornamentation is so fantastic. When the student returned the camera the next day, she told me she just took the one photo. I responded with, "That's all it took." Other students tried to use the elements of dusk and dawn to provide the dramatic effects of lighting in their photographs. We learned about the importance of light during these times of day from the book, Shooting Kabul.
I want to thank you all so much for providing my students with a tool that is overlooked in art. The photograph is an important visual tool and speaks to us in all kinds of ways. I wish I could bottle up the excitement they have had for using the cameras. They walk out with them so proud and can't wait to share their stories. That is what I wanted to really give my students the opportunity to do. I wanted them to have the opportunity to speak through the camera lens. Again, on behalf of my students and myself, I truly thank you for your generosity and support in improving the quality of education my students received.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Miller
iPad in the Classroom
Funded Feb 22, 2013Using the iPad in the classroom has been such a great tool for us in preparation for the CST, but it has also allotted us some portability in allowing students the chance to play various apps outside or project the apps on the in-class projector.
Let me just say that the apps have proven so helpful with student understandings of the big ideas. We were able to expand our understandings in number sense and algebra, and in language arts we learned about different kinds of figurative language. We worked on memorizing our states and capitals by playing some of the various apps out there. We now have a much better understanding of the technology out there and if a class set was ever available, students would be able to develop those understandings at a much deeper level.
On behalf of my students, I want to express my gratitude to you all who made getting an "iPad in the Classroom" a reality. A lot of the children have benefited greatly from its use and are now talking to their parents about how much it helped them understand difficult concepts. Your generosity to our community helps us all look to a much brighter future, and so I too thank you for your donation and support of this classroom and this group of fantastic future leaders.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Miller
Powerful Voices Need to Be Heard
Funded Dec 8, 2011I want to officially thank you for your support of this incredible resource that I have been able to use in the classroom. It has proved to be useful beyond measure.
Originally, I had intended to play different music from around the world, and to expose my students to some of the beauty waiting to be found. Just some of the countries we looked into were China, Australia, Cape Verde, Vietnam, Peru. We listened to some Glenn Miller and some Scott Joplin as well as some soothing sounds of nature to help our focus.
What I had not realized was the impact of various applications that were available for students in helping them master some of the standards in all subject areas. The pictures reflect those opportunities throughout the day when students had an extended opportunity on a particular lesson, or they were playing some math or language arts game that reinforced one of our California state standards.
My students loved the opportunity to use the technology that they forgot they were learning or developing better understandings on particular concepts. My students and I have used this iPod every single day and we appreciate your generosity. Because of your support, my students have gained a deeper understanding of the standards and the power of technology in the palms of their hands. ”
With gratitude,
Mr. Miller
This classroom project was brought to life by Wasserman Foundation and 16 other donors.Photography and Art
Funded Dec 30, 2010I want to thank you for the generous gift of these cameras, because they have had a profound effect on the way students visualize their world. When they first started to use the cameras, they were excited and happy with the images of flowers on a black back drop. It was very experimental, but we soon realized that if we manipulated the light source the image produced would have varied and profound effects not previously known. Soon students were grabbing the light and directing their image to reflect a certain quality.
We also created opportunities to use the cameras to focus on the animate and inanimate in and around our school. It was fascinating to watch the intrigue with which my students pursued such tasks. They were looking at school murals in a new way, the tools of our school plant manager, a lone pistachio shell, but they also found blossoming flowers they hadn't seen before. Some students took pictures up into the trees, animated their shadows on the wall or ground. I remember specifically one image that a student was very proud of capturing and was of a small tree framed in between some bungalows and a small patch of grass. He loved it, and was quite impressed with himself.
In closing, I would like to share my gratitude. The generous gift of the cameras was very appreciated and embraced by my students. I know that they will take the lessons they learned in using these cameras with them to the next creative opportunity that should cross their paths, so you have truly impacted the children in this community. One of the great aspects of the cameras are that they will be available for the next group of students coming in, so your gift will continue to enrich the lives of many more. Thank you so much for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Miller
This classroom project was brought to life by American Express Members Project and 7 other donors.