Past projects 4
Building with the Brown Stair
Funded Aug 6, 2019I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful Nienhuis brown stair. All of the children were so delighted when the package arrived. We all sat together in a circle and gathered the pieces of the old brown stair respectfully on a rug. The children and I then carefully opened the package and unwrapped each stair carefully and thoughtfully and placed them on a rug. We had a huge discussion about how we must be so gentle with our new beautiful brown stair, with its sharp corners and smooth sides. The children then helped take each piece and individually place it on the shelf. There has not been a moment in the day where that brown stair has gone untouched. The children are spending each day creating and exploring with it. I cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gerdts
This classroom project was brought to life by J.W. Couch Foundation and 2 other donors.Perfecting Our Handwriting
Funded Jul 23, 2018Thank you so much for your incredible giving. The gift of these beautiful lined chalkboards has made a huge impact on my kindergarten children. Each day they look forward to writing the letter of the week and sight word of the week. We are able to talk about the importance of writing slowly, carefully, and neatly so that others can read what we have written. Even during work time, children are choosing to use the chalkboards because they are so enticing! The use of lined boards has had a huge impact on correct letter formation and legible handwriting. I cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gerdts
The Path to Creativity: An Easel
Funded Oct 30, 2017I cannot thank you enough for your generous donations. Introducing the new art easel in the classroom has opened up an entirely new world of possibilities for my children. Each day the children in my classroom now have the opportunity to draw with markers or paint vertically. When preschool and kindergarten-aged children draw and paint on vertical surfaces, they are building shoulder and elbow stability, bilateral coordination, pencil grasp, and hand-eye coordination. This also gives them the opportunity to cross the midline, which helps build connections between the two hemispheres of the brain.
The children were thrilled when we began with using markers at the easel. Everyone, from ages 3 to 6, enjoyed drawing and sharing the experiences with others. Beautiful interactions occurred each day as younger children asked older children to assist them in writing their name on their paper.
As the children's skills progressed, I decided it was time to introduce paint. Once painting at the easel was introduced, art exploded! Children were lining up to paint and assisting one-another with carrying their creations to the hallway.
The easel is now very much a staple in the classroom and one of the most beloved works. Thank you so much for allowing us to be creative each day!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gerdts
Guinea Pig Supplies for Our Classroom
Funded Sep 5, 2016As soon as the guinea pigs supplies arrived, anticipation filled the classroom. With the assistance of the kindergarteners, I was able to set up the guinea pig cage and start conversations about what the guinea pigs needed to survive. We had the guinea pig cage and food set up for about a week and a half before I was able to bring in the actual guinea pigs. We studied guinea pig books and learned all that we could before the guinea pigs arrived.
After the guinea pigs arrived, the children were so excited! We named them: S'more and Funky. They began to observe the guinea pigs daily. Many children drew pictures and the pigs sparked many new questions. I was able to add several guinea pig works to my classroom, including 3 part guinea pig supply cards, 3 part guinea pig anatomy cards, and 3 part guinea pig variety cards.
In the past few weeks, I have began to teach children how to feed the guinea pigs. Funky and S'more are now a part of our Practical Life work. Each day, a child pours their food into their food dish.
The guinea pigs have advanced our sense of community, promoted caring for one another, and brought a sense of responsibility to the classroom.
Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gerdts