Ms. Kierst's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 28

• A Burst of Spring Color - Paint and Glaze

  Funded Apr 7, 2022

  Thanks so much for donating to this project and to my classroom. When our kiln broke I thought we wouldn't get to work with clay any more. We had a surprise visit from the kiln repair guy and I really wanted to squeeze in one quick clay project that all students got to take part in. The kids were really excited to create their mini mushroom houses and even more excited when I busted out the glaze you helped purchase. The results were beautiful and brought a smile to every face! Thanks for helping us out.

  I should mention that I've left Salazar, but I know the kids are in good hands since I've met the new art teacher and I feel good knowing she is well equipped in the glaze department!

  All the best to your families!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose community & an Anonymous Partner and 6 other donors.

• Take Stock in Cardstock!

  Funded May 1, 2021

  Our school year just started on Monday and our new sketchbooks are already in use! We'll be filling them with paintings, drawings and collages throughout the year and adding new pages as necessary.

  The kids were super excited to see the new sketchbooks. I already discussed with the 5th graders how they'd like to decorate the covers this year and it seems they're leaning toward spin art, so that will be a fun day for sure!

  For me, it's been oh so nice NOT to start out the year chopping down huge sheets of poster board. Your donation of just-the-right-size cardstock saved my hands, my back, and my time!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

  This classroom project was brought to life by Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation and 4 other donors.

• A Place to Perch - Floor Mats

  Funded Oct 6, 2019

  I can't tell you just how happy the kids were when they saw the new floor mats you've so generously provided! Let's just say there were many happy squeals. We discussed how we would care for the new mats by keeping our get off of them and not tearing them.

  In the photos you can see the new mats in use. The kids were dressed up for school pictures - so cute! These floor mats are used during the lesson at the beginning of class as well as share time at the end of class. Having three mats in different colors really helps the kids find their spots faster and with less confusion.

  Thanks again for keeping our kids comfy while they learn! We are all very happy you helped us out!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 10 other donors.

• Fruits of Our Looms - Weaving and Yarn

  Funded Mar 5, 2019

  The looms and yarn arrived right in the middle of Art Club the day before our Spring Break. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. A boy had just told me that he would like to try weaving. I was about to explain to him that we were out of cardboard looms when a TA walked in with the big box from DonorsChoose. I wish you'd been there to see his face light up when I told him he was in luck because he got to be the test pilot for our new looms! I had one out of the box and in no time flat, he was learning all about warp, weft, heddle bars, and weaving techniques.

  I'm happy to report that the looms work great. During Art Club, we also broke into the new yarn and made some friendship bracelets. I even took home a loom so that I could learn some new weaving techniques and make how-to videos for the kids.

  Thanks again! You made our day!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 5 other donors.

• Keep Art Looking Sharp - Markers and Clay Tools

  Funded Dec 18, 2018

  The kids were pretty much on cloud nine when they saw the new clay tools. They really love the textured rollers and just can't get enough of them. You provided two sets so one set is dedicated to the playdough table for the little guys and the other set belongs at the big kid clay table with the real clay. We'll be firing our first works created with these tools before spring break. We can't wait to see how they turn out.

  The Sharpie markers are just the thing for adding color to projects on foil and shrink plastic - both are projects the students and their families treasure!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

  This classroom project was brought to life by DFW Mystery Friend and 2 other donors.

• Watercolor Worlds - Paint and Clay Cutter

  Funded Dec 31, 2018

  I wish you could have seen the kids eyes light up when they saw all the new paint colors in their painting studio. They were totally enthralled! "Ms, is it real gold!?" they asked when they spotted the gold paint. The metallic colors prompted much discussion about pigments versus metals. Children are experimenting with mixing metallic and glitter paints into the regular colors and they love the results.

  I love the new clay cutter. It makes clay prep go so much faster! I had been using a piece of wire with old pencils twisted into the ends and it was slow and painful to say the least. Now I'm finished in just a few minutes and available faster to help the kids out and demo skills.

  Thanks so much for these wonderful tools and supplies. I think of your kindness every time I see the kids using them!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

• Time to be Inspired - Library and Clock

  Funded Oct 20, 2018

  You might wonder how important books are in an art room. They are very important! The books you have so generously provided are opening doors these students didn't even know existed! Take the Clay Lab book for example, before we had this book, many students weren't sure what they could achieve when creating with clay. We did not have many finished clay projects coming from the clay studio. Now students flip through the book and find a project that inspires them. Sometimes they follow the steps in the book to make an object, other times they just use the photos as a launching pad for their own inventive projects. Either way, our kiln is quickly filling up with successful projects waiting to be fired and drying racks and storage shelves are overflowing with artworks inspired by the great books you've supplied!

  The Time Timer Clock has become a gamechanger in the art room. Students love being able to remind each other of how much work time is left. Cleanup time is easier now because students are already wrapping up their projects in anticipation. If I forget to set the clock, the kids notice and quickly remind me, that's how much they like having it!

  You've once again made a positive impact and we're very grateful this Thanksgiving!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Arts Funder and 7 other donors.

• Light Up Our Lives! Relight Our Projector

  Funded May 23, 2018

  We are so excited to have our smart-board's projector back in action thanks to your generosity! It is a crucial piece of equipment so we were pretty bummed when the bulb burned out, but you guys got us back on track and we are once again watching closeups of art demos, examining works by the masters and sharing our own work with each other. We were amazed at how quickly our project was funded.

  We are really excited to try out the gel print plate kit in our new choice art printmaking studio when we return next year!

  Today is our last day of school and we hope you all have a great summer!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Arts Funder and 4 other donors.

• Document Camera - I Can See Clearly Now

  Funded Feb 21, 2018

  We have already been putting your donation to good use every day in every class! Directions are clearer and easier to understand because they come with a reliable visual aid! The kids are thrilled to see instruction now as if they were all standing right next to me.

  I've also been able to use this document camera to film my own step-by-step how to videos for the kids to follow. They've been a great success and the best part is that it frees me up to go around the room checking for progress and understanding and lending a hand as needed.

  Once again, we are touched by your kindness and excited to say thanks!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst

• Out to Dry: A Safe Place for Our Paintings

  Funded Jan 30, 2018

  We're already using the new drying rack and we love it! It is so easy to use that it makes clean up time much quicker, allowing us to spend more time creating. This week we're using it to dry: Van Gogh sunflower collages with Pre-Kinder, monochromatic tempera portraits with first grade, cardinal collages with second grade, spring flower block prints with third grade, and Picasso-inspired tempera portraits in fourth grade. Its hard to believe, but this rack is so big that it can hold all of it!

  The kids were excited to find the rack waiting for them in the Art Room. When I explained how we got it with help from friends like you, they couldn't wait to say thanks. Being a teacher can be challenging, it's nice to feel like someone has my back!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Kierst