Past projects 22
Dribble & Bounce
Funded Dec 1, 2020Thank you very much for fulfilling the needs of my students. My students have enjoyed using the outside equipment in a variety of ways. This includes shooting baskets, learning how to dribble, practicing over and underhanded throws , as well as catching, and kicking a ball.
Planning for outside activities has become a lot of fun. The students are able to select from a larger variety of choices that include a lot of movement and exercise. This is increasing cognitive skills, communication, social engagement, and gross motor abilities.
The students and I want to thank you for your generosity. It truly has made a difference in our class. Providing a healthy and balanced education to our youngest learners is essential to our future.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 5 other donors.Music, Rhythm, Resting, and Sequencing
Funded Nov 16, 2020Though my materials arrived just a short time ago, I assure you that they have already been covered with fingerprints. We started a vertical garden a few weeks ago from seeds. We planted the seeds in recycled, clear, 2-liter bottles to observe the roots as they grow. The students are now referring to the poster when visiting the garden and discussing the process of the stages of growth. Our school also has a butterfly garden. We are using the sequencing objects to explore the garden and identify the stages of development of the butterflies.
During our large group activities, the students are using rhythm sticks to follow along with new patterns and rhythm on the Multicultural Rhythm Stick Fun CD. The students are also enjoying the CD, Kids In Motion, as they learn creative dance moves.
Rest time with Raffi is a very relaxing time in the classroom. The students have been enjoying the lullabies, as noted in more students sleeping, during rest time.
I want to thank you for your interest in my class. It is truly a blessing to have support from Angels like you.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 6 other donors.Keeping It Clean!
Funded Sep 16, 2020This year is like no other; normally I would request material that allows my students to explore, be creative, and help with overall, age-appropriate development. Instead, I am focusing on keeping an exceptionally healthy environment to protect the spread of germs and illnesses.
I have always taken pride in keeping my classroom clean but because of the Corona Virus and school closure back in March, I chose to focus this project on a continuous, germ-free classroom that allows parents of my young students to feel safe when sending their child back to my physical classroom.
Though the custodial staff at my school has been trained and is working very diligently, the materials I ordered is a reinforcer that allows me to physically and mentally prepare myself as well as my coworker for a successful working environment. Together we are using the cleaning materials to clean all toys and materials on a daily basis. The masks are being used to maintain the spreading of germs, the spray cleaners are begin used to clean countertops and sinks. Mr. Clean sponges help to scrub the surfaces prior to beginning sprayed with germ and virus killing sprays. The markers ordered are to label all student supplies to ensure we are not sharing any material within the classroom.
Though I can not share a student's reaction with you, I can share that I am doing everything in my power to keep my students safe while they are away from home.
I want to thank you for helping me reach a most unusual request. It is truly a blessing to work with such a young group of students and be a part of their development through this difficult time.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 15 other donors.Dramatic Play
Funded May 5, 2020Thank you so much for kindness and generosity. Unfortunately I had to reschedule the delivery time of the materials due to the school closure "Covid 19".
When I was permitted back on the school premises in August, the materials started arriving. It was bittersweet to see all the amazing supplies that my class was unable to utilize. My heart was a bit broken, and I have shed a few tears, knowing how much my 2019-20 school year students missed.
Now that we are welcoming back students this school year, 2020-21, I am sharing some of the new materials with my physical students. The popular toys and objects are the Magna Tiles, the baby crib, and the large mirror. We are taking every precaution to use materials that are easily sanitized after every use and at the end of every day.
Though limited social skills are being implemented, due to social distancing rules, please know that the materials are allowing the students to engage in age appropriate play, using imagination and creativity. The magna tiles are allowing for fine motor skills to be developed, the baby crib is creating a nurturing and loving environment for future parents and the mirror is allowing for strengthening self esteem.
Once again, I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for your generous donation.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 18 other donors.Art Expression
Funded Aug 14, 2019Thank you again for your kindness in supporting my students. The children have already gotten their hands dirty! The students are exploring with mixing colors, creating abstract artwork and socializing by sharing their artwork with each other. The art easels are definitely an attraction in our classroom.
I am the luckiest teacher to share such joy and happiness with my students by watching them express themselves through painting. For some of them, it was the first time.
During our first art activity, the students were not given direction on what to paint, just the freedom to paint. I used this opportunity to use, stop, observe, and listen, also known as S.O.L to take essential keynotes on individual students.
The students will continue to use the art easels for multiple purposes. This will include related topics to book themes, letter of the week, opportunities to follow models from adults and peers and create group murals for school activities. The students will be strengthing both large and small muscles to increase fine motor skills.
The easels will bring joy and happiness to many students for many years.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 13 other donors.Dinosaurs are Obsolete!
Funded Apr 17, 2019I want to thank you for your kindness in helping my class get new computers. It is quite a new generation of learners. Who would have ever thought that students as young as pre-school age would be required to access a computer, use a mouse and complete a learning activity?
My students are using the computers to access a VPK Waterford Early Learning Comprehensive, technology-based reading, math and science program with integrated assessments and teacher tools. They are learning essential skills to become our future leaders. My youngest student is just 3 years old. She and the other students can access the required program independently. They are becoming critical thinkers, early readers, mathematicians, and scientist. After they use the computer they take the knowledge and apply it to class activities. My students are now making their own books. They are even using inventive spelling and sharing their stories with their peers. The knowledge they are gaining is endless.
The students are no longer frustrated with wait time while the computer loads the program. They are working more fluently without disruption and completing their assignment in less time, which allows more students to gain access. In a world where technology is evolving faster than we can keep up, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. My students mean the world to me and their success is my greatest gift.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 17 other donors.How Are You Feeling Today?
Funded Sep 12, 2018I surprised my student's with the new carpet the morning after it arrived. I put it in the book area of my classroom which is used for multiple purposes throughout the day. This
includes small group story time, an imaginary play space, and a safe place where students can identify their feelings when they become frustrated.
When the area is used as a safe place, it allows students the opportunity to apply learned relaxation techniques which will calm them when feeling frustrated. It is important to me and the well being of my students for them to always feel safe when they are away from home. This carpet was specifically picked because of the multiple facial expression designs. Throughout the day, my class does a lot of role-playing, this includes identifying with different feelings. I teach my students to understand these feeling by showing them the different facial expressions. We then practice them during different activities. I will ask them questions that begin with the phrase, "How would you feel if," followed by a given short scenario. I let them know it is OK to have all these different feelings and teach them how to cope with them throughout the day.
During work time the students love to use imaginary play. The carpet area has become a Dr. office, a restaurant, a baby nursery and so much more. During small group story time, the carpet is used by the teacher to present short stories and teach students beginning early language and literacy skills.
Once again thank you so much for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
Supplies Gone DRY!
Funded May 19, 2018Thank you for taking the time to choose my class project for your kind donation. In my unique learning environment, the students will access all materials independently. They will do this by making an individual daily plan for their work time. They will learn to set up their work environment by collecting the materials they need. All the materials will be accessible and labeled in clear bins around the room.
Students that plan to paint will be using the trays to define their space and create an easy way to clean-up. Students that plan on creating their own books will use the staplers and tape to hold their books together. Other students will seek activities such as finger painting and water- painting. They will use the bowls, paintbrushes and finger paint paper to create artwork. Students will use the dry-erase boards to practice fine motor control as they learn to print letters and draw shapes.
Being that this is the beginning of the school year, in the attached pictures you can see students working in small groups as the materials are being introduced. Once they become familiar with all the supplies the students will be gradually released to make choices and work individually.
Once again, it is because of your generous donation, that the students in my Early Childhood class will be exposed to a plethora of learning opportunities prior to heading off the Kindergarten.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 15 other donors.Books to Brighten Our Journey Through Pre-K!
Funded Oct 16, 2017My students are so lucky to have such amazing, generous and kind people that understand the importance of exposing young children to print. My students are in the beginning stages of early literacy. The books that my class received will allow them develop their imagination, language, phonological awareness, word awareness, rhyme awareness and so much more.
Through out the school year, the books received will be used to discuss pictures, in picture walks, which is a precursor to our shared reading activities. They will develop and increase good language through story telling. The students will get to use their imagination to predict story lines using the illustrations. They will identify print and how it is used to create words, which can lead to good writing skills. They will act out stories using props to increase social skills. They will be encouraged to become illustrators by drawing pictures to represent the characters in the stories and additionally, they will learn sequencing of events by memorizing versus.
During work time in my room, It is so exciting to see the children pick up books and read to each other. These books will brighten the journey of so many children this year and in many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 6 other donors.Manipulatives and Materials for Magnificent Munchkins
Funded Sep 15, 2016Dear Donors,
Upon arrival of the newly boxed materials, one of my students said, "why we have mail?", another one said, "those big boxes for us?". As I continued to bring the boxes to the center of the room the students gathered around. I explained to my three and four year old students that we have many kind friends and family members that care about us and want us to have new materials to help us learn. I then opened each package to display the new items. They were so excited and asked to use them immediately.
On the next day, I incorporated some of the materials into small group and outside time activities. One small group explored using the droppers in a color science experiment. The students were able to mix several different colors of water, using the droppers, to create new colors. They decided the new colors were green, purple and black. They continued using the droppers to increase hand-eye coordination, measurement concepts and social skills as they engaged in language and learning.
The other group used the wipe off charts to trace over shapes, numbers and upper and lower case letters, increasing their fine motor and literacy skills. During outside time, we used the new scooter boards to races around cones. The students had so much fun pushing each other around.
Throughout the year, my students will continue to use the new materials to explore, be creative and increase social, cognitive, gross, fine and speech and language skills.
I am so thankful for your kindness and support.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lisa Clifford