Past projects 49
Houston, Just Keep Swimming!
Funded Oct 2, 2017Our beautiful freshwater ecosystem sits proudly near the front doors of our school. While it is a work in progress (great things, including healthy ecosystems, take time) it is already captivating. The students stop by on their way into school. Visitors sit and watch the animals on their way by. And our kids elect to calm themselves down with a few minutes of aquarium viewing.
The tank is home to 2 blue and gold guppies (our school colors), 2 glass catfish, 12 shrimp, 2 leopard catfish (we are the Longfellow Leopards), 2 algae eaters, 4 zebra snails, and some live plants. Soon, we will get to watch the life cycle of guppies as they reproduce and grow. The plants are already spreading and we have discussed how they help to keep the algae away.
Thank you so much for generously supporting our school after Harvey did its best to wipe us out. The fish tank is exactly what we need for science and for a calm, cool-down spot.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
Petropolis Pet Lending Library
Funded Mar 23, 2017Thank you so much for making this Petropolis project a reality. Many classrooms, from preK to 5th grade, have cared for a pet for a week or more. Each class researched the animals' basic needs, as well as opportunities for enriching the animals' lives with play or realistic behaviors from the wild. They also researched the animals' anatomy, special features, and adaptations.
So much learning has happened from a longer-term, hands-on experience with the animals! My pre- and post-tests show that 100% of the classes learned at least one thing new. For every class that adopted and cared for the millipede, they were surprised to learn it's number of legs. For every class that adopted and cared for the chickens, they were surprised to learn that they each had different personalities.
I have also found that the children who interacted with the Petropolis pets in their classroom are more aware of animals around them in general. They are more gentle and approach animals with an inquisitive attitude.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
This classroom project was brought to life by Overdeck Family Foundation & Simons Foundation and one other donor.Move! Learn! Improve!
Funded Feb 2, 2017It is with great appreciation that I write to thank you for your generous donation of wobbly stools to our classroom. It seems like such a silly thing, focusing on what the kids sit on during instruction. But it makes such an amazing difference!
As you know, a few of my kiddos got to sit on the stools you provided in a previous project. They quickly became the favorite seat in the house, with students doing rock-paper-scissors to figure out who got to use them each day. That's when we started to understand their power.
Now, thanks to your significant donation of stools for the entire class, mornings are quick and easy. Yesterday, we found ourselves with 10 to 15 extra minutes at the end of each subject. I was skeptical that the stools could be making that big of an impact on our focus. But today, we are again finding ourselves with extra time. The simple act of being able to wiggle while they sit, helps them focus and stay on task.
The focus then directly impacts their achievement. My handful of kids that typically struggle with every single math activity blew through their work this morning. Again, I am somewhat skeptical that sitting on a stool instead of a chair could be this magical. But the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.
It's unbelievable. And I could never have done it myself. Thank you is not enough, but thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
Move! Learn! Improve!
Funded May 29, 2016Dear Donors,
We are fully into the swing of the new school year and are implementing flexible seating, thanks in no small part to your generosity. With your help, the students have 6 wobble stools and a plethora of other opportunities for their bodies to be comfortable - so that their brains can stay focused and engaged. The stools are the "best seat in the house", according to them because they can move around without getting in trouble. They have discovered that they can not only wobble on them but do full 360 degree spins while reading. What an added bonus!
The stools are so popular, and so clearly useful for my kids with ADD in particular, my goal is to get many more of these stools over time to integrate into the classroom. Even the kids who enjoy using their desks find the stools to be a better seat than a standard chair. After everyone got a day to use the stools, two of my stools are permanently assigned to a particular student. The others are free choice stools and get shared among the other 21 kids.
Thank you so much for believing that change and choice can be a good thing. And for backing that support with funds to help my class work smarter, not harder.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
This classroom project was brought to life by Orkin and 4 other donors.Yay, Science Again! Science Rocks, Ms. Howell!
Funded Dec 15, 2015I am so pleased to be sending you this thank you letter and photos of Longfellow's fifth graders DOING hands-on science! It is primarily because of the supplies you gave us that we have explored properties of matter, motion and force, plants, and animals. The kids have had a blast learning about integral processes in the world around them. They are enthusiastic through each topic and many now say they love science and that it is their favorite subject. It makes my heart skip a beat every time they do so because I too love science and it is my favorite subject.
I am also pleased to report that our fifth graders are projected to have high scores on their end of year summative assessment, the Texas STAAR test. While I attempt to minimize the impact of standardized tests on our learning environment, this test provides an excellent measure of how much information the kids have retained. The fact that they are doing so well points directly to the hands-on experiences provided to them by your donations.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
Circuits Are A Snap!
Funded Jun 21, 2015It is with great appreciation that I write to thank you for your generosity. My students and I unpacked the Electronic Snap Circuits box, chatted briefly about which pieces were which and how they connect, and I turned them loose.
I usually measure the success of a hands-on science activity in the number of "Ms. Howell! Look at this!" statements I hear. Clearly, the Electronic Snap Circuits are a resounding success. The students, simply by putting things together, determined on their own the need for an energy source. They figured out the need to synergize in order to build bigger "circuit cities" as we called them. They tinkered and tested and learned all about opened and closed circuits without a single bit of direct instruction from me.
This is science at its best and I applaud you for being a part of it!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
Flat Stanley Trip Would Be Flat Amazing!
Funded Dec 30, 2014Words cannot express the gratitude from our 2nd grade teachers, parents, and students for the opportunity that you provided us. The Flat Stanley books study was a raging success, hooking many of our students on the series (which *secretly* teaches social studies lessons while keeping the kids engaged - but don't tell them).
The Flat Stanley play was even better than the book! The theater itself was small and private and we were one of only two schools there. It truly felt like a personalized exhibition just for us! The actors were great, many of them switching roles during the performance. It was great fun to see the kids trying to process the costume changes and role changes as they watched. And the play was definitely written to captivate a young child's sense of humor. It had the kids rolling in their seats more than a few times
Our favorite part was that after the play the actors were available for a q & a session. Our 2nd graders asked thoughtful questions and were delighted to learn about staging, costume design, and differences between play writing and book writing.
Many of my students declared that the field trip was their favorite activity of the year! They have decided that they would like always read a book and then see the play. Personally, I think that's a fabulous idea and I'm sure that you agree!
Again, thank you so much for your generosity and know that 125 little lives have been touched by you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
Just Say NO to Science from a Textbook!
Funded Oct 28, 2014I am so pleased to be sending you this thank you letter and photos of Longfellow's second graders DOING hands-on science! It is primarily because of the supplies you gave us that we have explored properties of matter, motion and force, plants, and animals. The kids have had a blast learning about integral processes in the world around them. They are enthusiastic through each topic and many now say they love science and that it is their favorite subject. It makes my heart skip a beat every time they do so because I too love science and it is my favorite subject.
As a side note, I also wanted to share the impact that your DonorsChoose gifts have had on our non-science teachers. My five co-teachers of second grade are all looking forward to our new science topic each week and eagerly come for their plans and supplies. So your gift has not only made an impact on 150 students, it has also made an impact on many future students for years to come through these talented teachers.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
Hands-On Science Tools Needed
Funded Oct 11, 2013I am so pleased to be sending you this thank you letter and photos of Longfellow's second graders DOING hands-on science! It is primarily because of the supplies you gave us that we have explored chemical reactions, magnetism, motion and force, and measurement. The kids have had a blast learning about integral processes in the world around them. They are enthusiastic through each topic and many now say they love science and that it is their favorite subject. It makes my heart skip a beat every time they do so because I too love science and it is my favorite subject.
As a side note, I also wanted to share the impact that your DonorsChoose gifts have had on our non-science teachers. My four co-teachers of second grade are all looking forward to our new science topic each week and eagerly come for their plans and supplies. So your gift has not only made an impact on 125 students, it has also made an impact on many future students for years to come through these talented teachers who hadn't previously been exposed to fun hands-on science.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
Hands-On Science Tools Needed A.S.A.P.
Funded Sep 3, 2013I am so pleased to be sending you this thank you letter and photos of Longfellow's second graders DOING hands-on science! It is primarily because of the supplies you gave us that we have explored chemical reactions, magnetism, motion and force, and measurement. The kids have had a blast learning about integral processes in the world around them. They are enthusiastic through each topic and many now say they love science and that it is their favorite subject. It makes my heart skip a beat every time they do so because I too love science and it is my favorite subject.
As a side note, I also wanted to share the impact that your DonorsChoose gifts have had on our non-science teachers. My four co-teachers of second grade are all looking forward to our new science topic each week and eagerly come for their plans and supplies. So your gift has not only made an impact on 125 students, it has also made an impact on many future students for years to come through these talented teachers who hadn't previously been exposed to fun hands-on science.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Howell
This classroom project was brought to life by Southeast Area Kia Retailers and one other donor.