Past projects 24
Let's Work Together!
Funded Feb 2, 2018ROK Blocks made their debut in our classroom as soon as they arrived. My students enthusiastically unpacked them, sorted through the materials, and organized the case using the guide provided by the company.
We use them during math, as a workstation option. ROK Blocks are a popular activity choice for all of my students. Their favorite way to use them is the "free build" option -- but many enjoy using the guided engineer project cards that were provided by the company.
We also use them during our weekly Tech Club (grades 2-5). It is neat to see how my tech club students not only use ROK Blocks as a stand alone resource, but to also see how they integrate ROK Blocks with other resources (robotics).
I enjoy listening in on their conversation as they plan, construct, and share out their process during share time. Their ability to increase their creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking during the ROK Blocks activity is the MAIN REASON for this project proposal.
We thank you for your donations!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Meacham
This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 14 other donors.Working it Out with Dice and Rekenreks
Funded Aug 13, 2017Our new Rekenreks and dice have been wonderful additions to our math drawers. Our materials arrived just before school started, so I was able to send a photo of the box to my students and their families, which heightened the excitement for "what was inside." We opened the boxes right away, once school started! Thanks to you, each student now has their very own Rekenrek to utilize during whole and small group instruction. They've added their Rekenrek to their math drawers -- which house a variety of math tools.
We are currently using the Rekenreks to learn our low doubles addition facts, as well as develop our fluency within 10 when adding and subtracting. The Rekenreks help us to visualize quantities through 20. They also serve as a math tool when we solve math situations (word problems).
My students use the dice on a daily basis. We have 13 math bins, and the dice are a great addition to these bins. The dice are added to bins that contain activities students use to develop numeracy skills. Like mentioned above, one of the skills we work on all year is fluency within 10 when adding and subtracting. Two of my students' favorite games are Roll and Add, as well as Doubles Aren't Trouble!
Thank you for your donations to our project. We are reminded of your generosity multiple times a week -- as the project materials are used almost daily!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Meacham
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 4 other donors.Read-N-Wobble & Wobble-N-Write
Funded May 17, 2016My class was thrilled when they entered the room and saw our four new wobble stools. They immediately wanted to use them. We worked together to identify proper use techniques to ensure safety and fairness when using them. We identified where they'd be stored in the classroom when not used.
Students use the stools during independent work times (reading, writing, math). They use them in place of the traditional stationary chairs. The wobble stools allow for more movement, a much needed opportunity for many of the students in my classroom. Traditionally, students try to wobble back and forth on the more traditionally chairs, and often fall to the ground when the chair slides out from underneath them. The wobble stools are a safer option!
The wobble stools are a nice addition to other alternative seating choices within our classroom. We aim to add more chair bands (foot fidgets) to our tables/traditional chairs. We also aim to add a few more wiggle wedges and wiggle cushions.
We thank you for your generous donation to our project. Without it, we'd not be able to Read-N-Wobble & Wobble-N-Write!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Meacham
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 6 other donors.Zooming In On Science
Funded Feb 25, 2015Our digital microscope arrived VERY quickly! I placed the unopened box on a stool in front of our classroom and my students' anticipation for what might be inside made me smile. I told them that it'd be something that would help them see the world in a different way. I shared that it'd help them learn new things and that we could probably find ways to use it every single day. We opened it and they immediately recognized it as a digital microscope (we had the privilege of using one previously). They were relieved to find out that it would be permanently housed in our classroom!
We've used it many times since it arrived. One day a parent came and shared about Arbor Day. The resources he shared were fun to see in a different way. We looked at tree cookies and roots. He also brought a bag of cicada larvae. We dug in and discovered seven Cicada larvae as well as a beetle larvae. Looking at these things under our microscope brought squeals of delight, disgust, and amazement.
Students soon found other things to use with the microscope. A nearly dead fly, a moth, a ladybug, a spider, shells, rocks, moss, and other things found at home and around school have been viewed up close and personal. We love to take video and pictures of these things and share our discoveries with others on our District's Facebook Page.
The digital microscope has helped my class to progress as observers and conversationalists. We use our "viewings" as a means to practice conversation techniques, develop vocabulary and content knowledge, and enjoy our world!
Thank you for bringing this wonderful tool into our classroom. Without it our days would be very different. We are different because of it and have grown so much already! We can't wait to observe and learn about more of our world with our digital microscope!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Meacham