Past projects 146
Binoculars To See A More Beautiful City.
Funded Sep 4, 2017As you can see from the photos, students couldn't wait to get their hands on these new binoculars. As a birder, I cherish the ability to bring a distant bird up close. My students quickly realized the same thing during our first trips out to bird in the neighborhood this week. Having this tool available for even a few students to use was transformative, both for them and for my teaching. I'm looking forward now to the possibilities for exploring their scientific questions about birds by walking out the door and literally putting binoculars up to their eyes to see the answers. Now that they've gotten a taste for looking for birds, next week we'll be using the books and cards to become familiar with the species they'll see outside. You've opened a new world of possibilities for us with this donation. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Tom's of Maine and 6 other donors.Chromebooks Are A Modern-Day Swiss Army Knife
Funded Aug 1, 2017Thank you for your incredible generosity. The new laptops arrived, were prepped for students, and are now being used almost daily. The last several years, it was a struggle to get enough working computers for each child to use one. When they are writing lab reports, editing one another's work, or doing Internet research, it's a real headache for students to have to stop what they are doing so they can share the computer with another student who has been sitting idle. Compounding the problem of a small number of computers, every year a few more laptops meet the end of their usable life.
With this donation of chromebooks, we are a step closer to every student having a laptop available to them. Thank you for bringing us closer to equity, when each student has access to the technology they need, when they need it. This school year is shaping up to be a great one, in no small part thanks to you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
A Welcome Way to Say Welcome
Funded Aug 2, 2017The start of the school year has come and gone, and now students are getting into the routines of the year. The first day this year felt extra special, because I was able to give every student a pencil bag full of supplies they will need. Some students come in with very little, and have trouble gathering the necessary supplies. This time around, everyone was ready work from the start. Now, several weeks in, I continue to see lasting evidence of the impact of your donation. Every student has their pencil bag with them at their table, and is ready to go at the start of class. You've made a real difference in the tenor of the classroom and how my new students perceive our school. They see the teachers and the school as allies, ready to provide the tools for success. This is a positive attitude that goes far beyond having a pencil - it opens students up to learning. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
Bugging Out To Learn Science and English!
Funded Aug 5, 2017The first 3 weeks of school are almost in the books. I began and have continued throughout this introduction to use your donation on a daily basis. Students have observed, discussed, written about, and drawn the arthropods you donated. The pillbugs and sowbugs in particular have been the stars of our class, giving students reason to talk in a new language and have conversations with new classmates. At first recoiling and screaming "Ewww!", "Gross!" or even worse, now students are happily allowing the pillbugs to rest in their hands and they are all becoming accustomed to working with live organisms. Students designed their own experiments testing the preferences of the pillbugs - wet and dry, fruit or vegetables, warm and cold, and several others.
This was one of my favorite ways to start a year and introduce the scientific method to a new group of students. All the while they understood that science is about DOING, and studying closely the thing we are interested in. I'm am grateful we have benefactors like you who understand the value of getting the right materials into kids hands. It will be a great year thanks to the great start you've given us.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Sergey Brin Family Foundation and 6 other donors.We'd Breathe Easier With Some Plants
Funded Apr 14, 2017As students prepare their semester portfolio projects, one activity stands out as a foundation for that work. To learn the essentials of photosynthesis, we used the plants you donated in our experiments. Students were fascinated that the once invisible oxygen and carbon dioxide mentioned in their textbooks could finally be seen through the indicator chemical BTB and the simple bubbles that formed on the plants when exposed to light. They even learned along the way the importance of tracking errors in their methods when observations didn't match their expectations, or their setups were unclear. As you can see from the photos, it was a wonderful experience. This week, students are using that experiment to plan new independent studies. Your donation made possible students' new questions, and a firmer understanding of sound science. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
Technology That Will Makey Makey A Difference
Funded Dec 31, 2016Where do I begin? Makey Makeys are awesome! My students and I have just begun to explore the possibilities with these fun tools. In just one afternoon, we were able to play video games with play doh controllers, and play music with apples and even a bean plant. Of all the things I hope for as a teacher, the biggest one is that students will ask great questions. Their curiosity will propel them to make great things when that happens. "What other materials will this work with?" "Could we make our own game?" "Does it work if two of us do it together?" - these came out in the first hour of using Makey Makeys. Thank you for opening up all new possibilities for my students to explore both electricity and their creativity.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
A Love Of Science Starts With Wings
Funded Mar 23, 2017For the last 2 weeks, students have followed me outside after school to find birds. The binoculars and field guides you donated are the tools that made this possible. I always loved science, but watching birds when I was younger was the first time I realized I could do science anywhere and anytime. My students looked like they were beginning to get that feeling, too. It was special watching them get excited over the most common birds - Robins, Pigeons, Cardinals. I realized how with binoculars helping them see a little farther and clearer, they were starting to see the world around them with fresh eyes. We'll continue our trips, and students have already expressed interest in taking home the binoculars on loan so they can continue watching for birds in between our Thursday meetings. Thank you for helping me share my passion with my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Overdeck Family Foundation & Simons Foundation and 2 other donors.After-School Snacks Keep The Learning Going.
Funded Dec 20, 2016Thank you for providing the most basic of needs, food to fill hungry stomachs. When a student's basic needs are taken care of, it is far easier for them to take care of the more complicated stuff, like learning. Since receiving these snacks, I've seen a renewed interest in students staying after school just to catch up on work, but also to get involved in new activities. My after school robotics club has seen a resurgence with new students joining, and next week we will start our Bird Herd club for students interested in getting out and using the binoculars donated through another Donorschoose project. Snacks will be served. Please continue supporting great education, especially today on #Bestschoolday when all donations are doubled!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Quill.com and one other donor.Engineering A Tower Garden Upgrade
Funded Sep 23, 2016Today students and I gathered in my classroom to prepare ourselves for the new year. Not with party hats and streamers, but with your donation of our Tower Garden upgrades! It was a wonderful learning experience for them to read instructions in another language, then try to put together with their own hands this wonderful piece of equipment. The lights, wheels, and cage system made the whole experience complete. Now it is a mobile learning machine with growing capabilities we previously could not study. The best part is, this group of students has ownership over the garden they put together. In the spring, as we are growing plants in the garden, they will be the leaders for their peers. This is only the beginning, and I can't wait to see what we do with it. Thank you so much for giving us this wonderful tool to learn about plants!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and one other donor.Growing Vegetables, Growing Scientists
Funded Sep 2, 2016Today, students and I gathered after school in my classroom to prepare ourselves for the new year. Not with party hats and streamers, but with your donation of a Tower Garden! It was a wonderful learning experience for them to read instructions in another language, then try to put together with their own hands this wonderful piece of equipment. The best part is, this group of students has ownership over the garden they put together. In the spring, as we are growing plants in the garden, they will be the leaders for their peers. This is only the beginning, and I can't wait to see what we do with it. Thank you so much for giving us this wonderful tool to learn about plants!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wolf
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and one other donor.