Past projects 25
Gardening 101
Funded Aug 5, 2015Our class garden has been a wonderful experience for my students! When they first saw the materials and after I told them that we will start a classroom garden, they were surprised. The concept of having a classroom garden and growing vegetables at school seemed out of the ordinary for them, which made the project more enticing.
When we started the project in September, my students have been involved in planting, watering, and maintaining our veggies' growth. The literature on gardening, life cycle of plants and vegetables, and seasons helped a lot in explaining these scientific concepts to my 4 year-old students.
Thank you very much for giving them this experience! We are looking forward to starting a new batch of vegetables after our winter break, just in time for spring!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
Scientific Discoveries
Funded Sep 2, 2014The experiences at the California Science Center that you generously granted to my pre-k students were invaluable! They had a wonderful hands-on lesson about metamorphosis at the museum's Big Lab. The students were completely engaged in their groups as they went through the life cycle of moths and butterflies. It was a wonderful culmination of our unit on spring and insects!
As part of the museum tour, my pre-k students were also able to learn about and view the Space Shuttle Endeavor. The looks of amazement were plastered on their faces as they craned their necks to view the gigantic space shuttle above their heads. Most of them informed me, after the fieldtrip, that they would like to be astronauts when they grow up!
The most rewarding part for me, as their teacher, is the spark of interest that ignited the students' inquiries about the seemingly endless rooms and exhibits of information that they can further experience while at the California Science Center. There were other parts of the museum that they wanted to visit, but due to time constraints, we were not able to do so. In this case, I encouraged them to visit the museum again, with their parents, so that they can learn more!
Thank you again, for this wonderful gift of experience!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
Artists In The Making
Funded Oct 12, 2014My students are enjoying their art and music supplies since we received them. They love molding and creating with the play dough, creating masterpieces with paint, and singing and dancing to our new cd's! They cannot wait to get to school especially for art and music.
Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to exercise their imaginations. Through art, they have become more creative and unafraid to utilize the instruments in expressing themselves. Through music, even the shy ones have slowly come out of their shells through song and dance.
Their first year of school have become memorable because of your generosity in donating towards the necessary resources in visual and performing arts. Thank you very much!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and one other donor.Let's Get Organized!
Funded Sep 24, 2014As a result of your generous donations, my students really enjoy gathering on their new carpet. They even make sure that they wipe their shoes before entering the classroom so the rug does not get dirty. Not only does the classroom look more colorful, it also appears more organized now that my students have a cart where they can store their backpacks.
The new classroom rug and backpack cart have made a remarkable improvement in our classroom environment. My students love to participate in singing, dancing, and other rug-time activities. They have also become more organized and responsible for their own belongings as they use the cart for storing their backpacks.
We thank you for providing our classroom with these essential materials!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
This classroom project was brought to life by First 5 LA and 5 other donors.Creating Little Einsteins
Funded Sep 15, 2014When the materials came to our classroom, my students were so excited to put them to use. They even mentioned that Santa came early this year! However, I told them that Santa will come in December and that the presents came from Donorschoose. I informed my pre-k students about the wonderful organization that gives private organizations and individuals the opportunity to donate to classrooms in need of resources. They were so thankful that we were given these resources to use in the classroom!
We use the math games during our group rotations. They all get the chance to play several math games that teach number recognition, as well as early number operations. My students also enjoy the listening center as they read and listen to math stories. I find that the listening center is a great tool in sharpening their auditory skills.
I am eternally grateful to all of you, for giving my students the opportunity to learn using various modalities. Your gifts will not only benefit my students this year, but for my future students as well.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
This classroom project was brought to life by First 5 LA and 4 other donors.Technology Starts in Pre-K
Funded Aug 30, 2013My students were beyond ecstatic when I introduced the iPads to them to be used in centers. Surprisingly, a few of them informed me that they are familiar with using iPads/tablets because they have them at home. For others, the whole experience of having such instruments in the classroom made learning even more engaging.
One of their favorite apps is Storia, from Scholastic. They look forward to choosing their own ebooks to listen to. Books come alive as they browse through the pages while the stories are narrated. They also enjoy the educational games that reinforce concepts and themes learned in the classroom.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to teaching my pre-k students using today's current technology. My sincere thanks for making this possible!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
This classroom project was brought to life by First 5 LA and one other donor.Once Upon a Time...
Funded Dec 21, 2012Our parent workshop from Ready, Set, Read! was a success! We had a wonderful presenter who spoke to the parents about the importance of reading to their children. In addition, she showed ways on how to read to their children at home as well as how to keep them engaged.
Our parents were given books to take home at the end of the workshop, in order to apply what they have learned. The next day, my students talked about how their parents read to them and how much they enjoyed their bonding experiences.
My students' parents, including myself, are very grateful to have given the chance to experience such an informative and valuable workshop.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
Copy That!
Funded Jun 24, 2012What a wonderful way to start the new school year! We received our printer a week before school started and it has been very convenient for me, as well as for my students, to print work that we have done in the classroom.
My students love printing their work from various educational websites and showing them to their parents. Parents are quite impressed as well! They are grateful that their children have access to technology even at a very early stage of their academic career.
Your gift has given us the opportunity to print copies of various student work. Most of all, the printer has served as one important tool in organizing my classroom lessons and activities.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your generous donation!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
Magic School Bus to the Farm!
Funded Jan 4, 2012Our trip to Centennial Farm was such a wonderful experience. Your generous donation enabled us to purchase a bus big enough to seat my students and their parents. I was also able to bring my two sons to join my pre-k students in this magical adventure!
The Magic School Bus took us to the farm, where we were able to pet some chicks, sheep, cows, pigs, and goats. We witnessed the milking of a cow, using a machine. We made eye contact with oxen. We even planted radish seeds!
The children learned about where their food comes from as they listened to several docents around the farm. This trip served as a wonderful culmination, not only for our nutrition unit, but also for our animal, farm and weather units. In addition, the trip also made parents aware of the educational tours and activities available for their families the next time they visit on their own.
From the bottom our our hearts, thank you, for your generosity. This trip will forever be remembered!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao
This classroom project was brought to life by Wasserman Foundation and one other donor.Technology at Our Fingertips
Funded Mar 18, 2012My students and I have enjoyed the new technology in our classroom because of your generous donations. They were so excited when I showed them the tablet, how it works, and how we would use it in the classroom.
We have used it to watch children's books online. My students loved how their imaginations came to life as they saw the stories and their characters unfold in front of them. In groups, they have used the tablet using alphabet and number recognition games. We have also used it to view Clifford the Big Red Dog videos pertaining to our weekly lessons.
Learning has definitely become more technologically advanced in our pre-k classroom. I guarantee that my students will have an advantage over their peers as they progress because of the gift you have given them.
Again, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. C. Tsao