Past projects 31
Lunch Bunch Book Club
Funded Feb 14, 2019Thank you so much for your generous donation of the books, AMAL UNBOUND, for our Lunch Bunch Book Club. The book club meets once a week during lunch to talk about a book we are reading. The students have been asking to read AMAL UNBOUND since I did a book talk on the book back in November. They were so excited that the book was purchased for us so they could read it and discuss.
Each week, we talked about a section of the book that we had read the week before. This book has a lot of great conversation starters, as it takes place in a village outside of Pakistan. At first, the students thought that the book took place in the past. They were surprised when the character pulls out their cell phone and they realize that the book is actually taking place in the present.
We were able to have great discussions about life in the Pakistan area and how many girls are not treated the same. The students biggest take away was that they are very fortunate to have the freedom to go to an amazing school.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
STREAM Down to the Library
Funded Nov 15, 2018Our school is already benefiting vastly from the resources that you donated. The first time I brought the tubs out for our first grade students, their eyes lit up with joy!
Recently, I invited families to join our kinder and first grade students during their library time. I read a book about a giraffe who continues to be confused with a chair by the other animals in the jungle. After reading the story, I set the building materials donated on the library tables. Students, with their family, used the materials to build a chair for the animals to sit on. The students were involved in engineering, creativity, and problem solving.
Our kindergarten students also used the building materials while researching penguins. One of the facts that one class found most interesting was that penguins often slide on their bellies into the water. They chose to build slides with the materials for their penguins.
These materials will continue to be used throughout the coming years with many students coming into the library. I am excited to see what our students will decide to build next.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
Wonderful Wonder
Funded Oct 18, 2017I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your generation donations. You have provided a class set of the book, WONDER by R. J. Palacio, for the entire fifth grade. Not only have this years fifth graders enjoyed reading and discussing this book, but the future fifth graders will also have the same opportunity.
When I delivered the books to our fifth grade class, they were so excited to get the chance to read this book, and to have their own copy to hold in their hands. Their teacher had set up a reading cafe for their first day of reading, complete with a fireplace screen on her projector. It was magical! Throughout the next few weeks, the students not only read the book, but had the opportunity to discuss the theme of kindness. The students completed kindness journals where they wrote about kind deeds that they had done, or had been done for them.
People like you are very important to our schools to ensure our students have the materials they need. Thank you for having such big hearts and a love for education. This set of books has made a huge impact on many of our fifth graders, and I can't wait to see the impact it will make on fifth graders' lives in upcoming years.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 11 other donors.Osmo Genius Fun
Funded Aug 23, 2017I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your generation donations. You have provided our students with amazing and fun technology activities. You have allowed me to extend my library program to include more technology and creativity. The library today is a place where kids can be creative and use their imagination.
The new iPad and OSMO genius kit has been a huge hit with our students. There was a group of first graders in the library the day the package arrived and I opened the box. Their eyes lit up, and one of them said, "I can't wait to learn with this!". While my students find numerous adventures in our books, I wanted to provide them an opportunity to create and learn through exploration. The OSMO allows for a hands learning with tangrams, shapes, letters, and numbers using the Osmo Genius Kit and the mini iPad. Students can also create drawings that come to life, as well as use logical thinking to solve puzzles. All of the activities, while using the iPad, also have hands on manipulatives that students use to interact with the iPad.
I have been especially impressed with how well our kindergarten students are utilizing the iPad and OSMO kits. A particular student that was having trouble with letter sounds has used the words activity, and just after a few times has shown mastery of his letter sounds. This was because of your generation donation. I cannot wait to see the impact these materials will make with students in the months and years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
This classroom project was brought to life by Sergey Brin Family Foundation and one other donor.Colorful and Comfy
Funded Dec 1, 2015My students and I were extremely excited when our new bean bags and colorful rug were delivered. They have been a tremendous fun for the students and a great motivator in the library. I had several students, when the bean bags arrived, squeal with delight. They were very anxious to get their turn to sit in our brand new, colorful reading area.
The rug has provided a beautiful area for our library. It has added calming colors and made the library a more pleasant place to be. The students truly enjoy getting their turn to sit in the bean bags, and the rug provides a place for the younger students to sit during story time.
I know that this colorful rug and the bean bags will provide fun and motivation for many years to come. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
Maker Mania in the Library
Funded Sep 22, 2015I want to take this moment to thank each of you for your generous donations. Your donations have provided our students numerous materials that are used in a MakerSpace time in our school library.
You have provided our school library with littleBits electronic circuit makers, Washi tape, GoldieBlox, scissors, LEGO book, origami books, 'tapeffiti' caddy, pipe cleaners, and a marble maze kit that have been used by all students in the school during library time, or various times of the day. Our school has also implemented an after school Maker Club for interested students. These materials have encouraged students interested in engineering, art, technology, and science. Students have built circuits that move motors or light up light bulbs, for example. The materials, such as Legos, have been used to build bridges and towers for challenges. Students that show an interest in art have made creations, such as jewelry, bookmarks, and origami.
These Makerspace materials you have provided allow for numerous activities where the students can create and build physical things in the library. I look forward to seeing many more creations from our students over the next few years as well.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and 5 other donors.Learning in the Library
Funded Jun 24, 2015I want to take this time to thank each of you for your generous donations to our school library. Your donations have provided our students with a magnetic flannel and dry erase easel for the library.
The easel has been used for numerous activities in the library during student story time. I believe that in the library, students should be encouraged and motivated to read, however, students learn important reading skills during their story time. While using the easel, the students and I have been able to sequence the story with flannel pieces, as well as fill out graphic organizers to help them with reading skills. We have also used the magnetic and dry erase side for moving magnetic pieces around to create story boards. I often write vocabulary words on the board to help students with this skill.
The easel has made story time more interactive for the students and has allowed them to use reading skills before, during, and after the story. So many children are visual learners, and this easel has provided that visual for the students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
The Key is Communication
Funded Aug 8, 2015Learning to speak in Spanish is something that I have wanted to be able to do for a long while now. Your donation of the Rosetta Stone program has helped me begin to reach that goal. I was so excited when the computer program arrived at school, and I began to use it that very week. Since then, I have been able to complete weekly lessons to help me increase my knowledge of the Spanish language. While I am not yet fluent, my lessons have helped me communicate with the Spanish-speaking students. My goal is to continue throughout the remainder of this school year and eventually become fluent in Spanish.
Over one-fourth of the students are Spanish-speaking families at my school. I am the librarian, so I come in contact with every students, as well as many of their family members. The students have truly enjoyed communicating with me in their home language, and have even taught me new words and phrases. Learning their language has helped me connect with them, and also allows them to see that their language is also important to me.
Your donation has provided me with a wonderful professional development that truly benefits my library program. This opportunity you have provided has helped me grow in ways that support our students and families. You are greatly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
Book Buggies Needed
Funded Jul 6, 2015My students and I were very excited when our "book buggies" were delivered. They have been a tremendous help to the students, and have helped the checkout time in the library go smoother.
Prior to having the "book buggies", each class had a small tub where the students placed their library books when they were finished. The tubs did not have handles or wheels, so they were difficult of the students to carry to the library when it was full of books. The new "book buggies" are larger, and have wheels to make it easy for even the youngest students to pull down to the library full of books to be returned.
These carts on wheels have provided a much easier way for the students to return books. Since they are able to bring me all the return books in the morning, it frees up more time for me to work with individual students when they come to the library. It may seem like a small addition, but it has created opportunities for more students. It is wonderful that generous people, such as yourself, put value in children's education.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris
Magnetic Mania
Funded May 8, 2015I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your donation to my classroom. My students and the other second grade teachers were very excited when I described the new materials that we would be getting.
The materials that you purchased for the second grade classes has already had a lot of use. The magnets have been used in the science lab, during small group time, and during stations. The hands on materials are providing my students with the experiences they need to be successful this year. The students are having so much fun learning with the materials and are being motivated by the activities. The bar magnets and horseshoe magnets are helping them learn about force and energy.
Your donation brought much enjoyment to all of the second grade classes. With your donation, the teachers no longer have to wait to share the magnets. Each class has their own set and can now use them as needed. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Harris