Past projects 4
Safari West - Bringing Africa to Urban City Kids
Funded Feb 25, 2013Thank you so very much! Words cannot express how excited we are to take this trip and see African wildlife in action! Without kind, committed people like you, my students' world would stay very small. Being able to bring my kids on an "African Safari" will burn these memories into their minds!
My students have so much to give and frequently are limited due to life circumstance. With your help they can see the actual results from animal and environmental conservation efforts. Who knows how many of my students will continue their educational journey on to career paths working in the environmental sciences? What I do know, is that without your support, the numbers would not be nearly as large! Thank you for contributing to project-based learning, and for putting my students center-stage!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ballard
Stay Gold Ponyboy...Stay Gold...Robert Frost Watercolors
Funded Nov 27, 2012Words cannot express the joy I saw on my students faces when they learned that they would be using authentic watercolor materials to create original pieces of art. The project was an extension of their novel study, The Outsiders and Robert Frost's poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay. During this lesson, students connected recurring themes in literature to both the novel and the poem. Additionally, they were able to make personal connections with their life experiences, focusing on the themes of discovering self, and the loss of innocence.
We start this project in late winter every year, and soon we are all on the hunt to find nature's first green, her first budding branches. This year, I was able to bring in some branches to "force" so my students could watch the fleeting process when the spring trees first bloom.
Students were able to then use this realia to create beautiful watercolors that they will put on display at a city art show, another first experience for my students. Thank you again for your continued support of the arts and education.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ballard
Hungry Worms!
Funded Oct 16, 2012Wow! What a tremendous gift we have received and put into immediate action! When the box arrived I had to hold my students back, they were a tiny bit sad they had to wait for the worms, but really it just built their suspense! Because of your generous donation my students are experiencing the decomposition cycle in class everyday. We check and monitor the soil temperature and moisture content. We have also created a grid of our box and buried different types of green waste in different sections, measuring what type of waste decomposes faster than others.
In the spring we will use our worm castings to grow veggie starters that we will sell at our open house, donating the proceeds to our local community food bank. All of this is possible because of your commitment and contributions towards science in the classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ballard
Empty Bowl Soup Dinner
Funded Sep 28, 2012Words cannot express the joy I felt watching my students work on their empty bowl project. As you know, having an opportunity to actually create a piece of art is rare in today's public schools and virtually non-existent in our urban Title I schools. Listening to my students slam the clay onto our tables, their voices filled with excitement was wonderful. We are so grateful for your contribution to our project.
Your generosity is a gift that also allows my students to give back to their community. The bowls they have created will be auctioned at our Empty Bowl Soup dinner and all proceeds will benefit the local food bank. Your contributions will reach far past the walls of our schools and into our community, what a true gift you haven given to us, again we thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ballard
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 7 other donors.