Past projects 271
Art From the Start
Funded Sep 11, 2023Thanks so much for your generous gifts. The Kindergarten students have used these materials while creating so many projects (perhaps most memorably near life-size self portraits) and will continue to do so throughout the year.
Our school district is facing significant financial challenges and has already redirected thirty million dollars of funds earmarked for the arts to general expenses. Without the support of donors like you, we would be far less able to provide authentic, memorable arts experiences.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
Investigations into Arts and Crafts
Funded Sep 7, 2023Thank you so much for these materials! We've already used the diffusion paper to explore color theory and create fall leaves and projects to celebrate Día de los Muertos. The tag board helped us make covers for our first pop-up books - each planned, drafted, and built by students themselves.
This spring, we will be using the yarn to build our classrooms addition to our school's permanent art displays: hanging sculptures inspired by Ruth Asawa. We will also be creating small stained "glass" mosaics and other extended, student-led projects.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
Writing for Ourselves, Our World, and Each Other
Funded Aug 18, 2023Thank you so much for providing this new curriculum for my students! This is parent teacher conferences week, and so many families told me how much their child loves to write. Kids are writing books, sharing their feelings in notes, and making to-do lists in their spare time because they feel empowered to use writing to make themselves heard. Your generosity provided them a lifelong gift.
Our first writing unit is an identity unit about ourselves, our cultures, our families, and the people, places, and things who matter to us. We use writing to build community! I hope you enjoy these photos from the culminating self-portrait project.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Pop Up and Learn
Funded Mar 30, 2023Thanks so much for providing us with so many cool pop-up books! My students LOVED exploring these, and were so excited to practice their growing reading skills while using these books. They also learned cool new craft moves for their own writing - how to use zoom-in pictures and details to enrich information writing, how to grab readers' interest with use of italic and bold lettering, and how to label diagrams to share important information. They even learned some paper crafting techniques that let them make their own simple popups!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 2 other donors.Crafty Restock
Funded Mar 21, 2023Thank you so much for restocking our arts and crafts supplies! We definitely made the most of them during the last few months of Kindergarten. We painted silk, scratched stars to accompany our graduation ceremony self-portraits, made mandalas, beaded necklaces and bracelets, and painted nearly every day! When children have the opportunity to craft, they develop important fine motor skills. They also have the chance to build confidence and a sense of self as artists! These are such important early experiences.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
This classroom project was brought to life by A Northern California family and 8 other donors.Readers for Life
Funded Jan 31, 2023Thanks so much for generously supporting Kindergarten readers! My students LOVED these new books, which provided myriad opportunities for shared, partner, and independent reading. Shared reading is so important; not only do children develop reading skills through questions and wonderings, they also build a shared vocabulary of plot elements, story structure, and craft moves. Then they can refine these skills with their partners and practice on their own reading independently!
When children can choose from a wide variety of books, they are independently motivated to read. Your support makes a huge difference!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
Outdoor Materials Ready to Go!
Funded Apr 22, 2023Thank you so much for providing the K-1 team with an outdoor shed and lock. We are now able to store our scooter boards, gardening tools, painting smocks, and outdoor easels safely and neatly. This means that it is far easier for us to share and use them, so children benefit from more opportunities to explore the physical world, engage in projects too messy to do inside, and enjoy physical education activities. Without the support of donors like you, we would be unable to provide these rich learning experiences.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and 18 other donors.Art From the Start
Funded Nov 30, 2022Thanks so much for your generous gifts to early arts education. My students had a blast using these resources. We painted, silkscreened, sculpted, decoupaged, folded, colored, and created so many exciting, child-directed projects. Through the support of donors like you, my students had the opportunity to develop their confidence and sense of self through the arts. They explored new media and vocabulary to plan, create, and discuss their endeavors. And they developed critical fine motor skills while having a wonderful time!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 2 other donors.Scoot for Strong Abs
Funded Jan 24, 2023Thanks so much for providing scooter boards! My class loved using these. We had a very wet winter and spring and it really cut into our outdoor play time, so it was especially wonderful to have an especially exciting activity for those days when we could play outside. Since we had twelve scooter boards, we were able to share them with the other Kindergarten class. All of the children got a fun opportunity to build core strength, develop proprioception and vestibular skills, and have fun in the outdoors!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer
Paint a Rainbow
Funded Dec 17, 2022Thank you so much for these supplies, which provided a great deal of joy and arts over the last few months of Kindergarten! We used the paint sticks to paint lanterns, robots, and other craft projects. They provide rich, saturated color with little effort and next to no mess, which makes them gratifying for Kindergartners and a snap to use. The class also loved using scented markers to add life and color to their projects, and the bonus of the scent inspired children to take their time and color with detail and style.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jennifer