Past projects 29
SEL Book Club
Funded Feb 10, 2021Thank you! The books for the guided book clubs are helping support staff meet students' needs. The titles are focused on social issues and emotional learning which stimulate conversation. Partner reading and book club conversations focus on communication between people. Students are reflecting and identifying with the characters in the stories and are building empathy skills. Reading together and talking about the emotional issues the characters confront is teaching understanding of others situations. Seeing the struggle the characters go through is good empathy practice.
Having empathy for others creates kinder environments and just as importantly, empathy for ourselves! Take care of yourself.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
This classroom project was brought to life by Allstate Foundation and 3 other donors.Student Book Requests
Funded Mar 16, 2021My students feel honored to have their personal title requests appear on the shelves. They are excited and loving the new selections. Peer lead book talks and recommendations are more stimulating and encouraging to readers than always hearing about what I think they might like to read. When the students see that the librarian values their opinion and takes their recommendation they are even more engaged in the library's activities.
My book suggestion / request box is fuller than it has even been!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.Pride & Voice
Funded Jan 27, 2021Thank you for supporting the hopeless despair many LGBTQIA+ students experience when trying to understand their gender and sexual identity. Having the library be a place of open exploration and conversation about identity will hopefully decrease the frequency of sexual related bullying on our youth. As society recognizes and provides resources confirming the importance of an individuals self worth, my hope is to see suicide rates decrease. Thank you for recognizing that everyone deserves a voice.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
Ew~ Cool!
Funded Dec 15, 2020Thank you for providing access to 3D biological models. It has increased our understanding of how the our mind and body work together. As we study our emotions and how our brain receives information we enjoy handling and exploring the models. Understanding our sensory inputs creates awareness about the complexity of our brains and our ability to control our mind and body (mood and behavior) connection.
Learners definitely say, "ew, cool" when engaging with the models. Having hands-on activities in the library has increased learner engagement levels.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
Equal Justice
Funded Sep 28, 2020I appreciate your dedication to education and teachers during this unprecedented event in our history. These books will provide our library with much needed texts about diversity. As we navigate the trauma our country is experiencing, reading about democracy will help keep us grounded. Even though things are changing on a hourly basis, one thing that does not change is my dedication to access to education for all children. Open access to quality, diverse and relevant reading material is my job as librarian.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
This classroom project was brought to life by Equal Justice Initiative and one other donor.Every Human Has Rights!
Funded Sep 29, 2020I appreciate your dedication to education and teachers during this unprecedented event in our history. These books will provide our library with much needed texts about diversity. As we navigate the trauma our country is experiencing, reading about democracy will help keep us grounded. Even though things are changing on a hourly basis, one thing that does not change is my dedication to access to education for all children. Open access to quality, diverse and relevant reading material is my job as librarian.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Classroom Supporter and one other donor.Teach Me To Think!
Funded Mar 16, 2020Thank you for your continued support of our schools and learners. The funds you provided for "brain break" games have been well liked. The favorite item seems to be the independent shape puzzles. They are small, handy and keep hands and minds focused while relaxing and listening to read aloud stories. The Master Mind game has proven to be the most challenging, but students are motivated to break the code and are excited when it is a "choice" option. I like to use the Banana-grams game for spelling practice and word formations. Students appreciate the hands on tiles for a change from pencil work.
Again, many thanks!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
Mindfully Bringing Awareness
Funded Mar 16, 2020The supplemental supplies you provided were a huge hit with the students. The fancy, high-quality snow globe is a favorite. It is an excellent model of how our brain feels under stress. I think it will be on some "wish lists" this holiday season. Likewise, students are enjoying the scientific brain model - especially since the model opens to reveal two labeled halves. We have not used the heat model yet, but students are anticipating it becoming available for study with the hands (not just the eyes).
The students and I appreciate your continued support of our schools.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
Biography of a Hero
Funded Aug 13, 2019My students needed access to grade-level appropriate biography materials to read for research information. You helped provide that access to materials. In fifth grade, students explore the lives of heroes from the Civil War era through Modern Today. After a year of historical events study, students choose one inspiration hero from our timeline to dive deeper into; researching, reporting and portraying for a wax museum.
Thank you for helping to keep materials modern, diverse and available to all students. Students are taught to recognize there is a great diversity among cultures and individuals who have made a difference in history and the significance of personal character. Your support makes these lessons more enjoyable.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 6 other donors.Civil War to Civil Rights Wax Museum
Funded Apr 16, 2019Thank you for supporting education. Meaningful experiences are often thought up, but not carried out do to finances. This well-loved rite-of-passage project is a culmination of social studies, fine arts, language arts, reading, and writing. Each student painted their stage on an extra large canvas. This is the LARGEST canvas they have ever painted at 48" x 48"!
After a year-long study of our history from the Civil War to Modern Day Civil Rights, students selected a historic, heroic figure to represent in the "Hall of Heroes" wax museum. They dressed in costume as their figure and stood like a wax statue in-front of their painting. Their corrugated cardboard canvas sat upon an easel for the performance.
Honoring another human being by researching, writing, painting, and embodying them is a moving experience to participate in as well as witness. This project not only embodied the heroes of the students, but it embodied the true purpose of our fifth grade goals.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hanson