Mrs. Ewing's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 13

• Helping Hands Creating Hats for Heads

  Funded Dec 3, 2024

  My heart is warmed by the support of all the donors. This project is going to create empathy and build connections within my class and outward to our local Community.

  I can’t wait to receive the supplies. I will let the students open the boxes when they arrive, so they can feel the excitement for this project.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.

• Not Pointless Art Supplies

  Funded Aug 15, 2023

  It's been a wild year and we still have a few weeks to do go. I am grateful for you donations towards my Art project. Students began questioning themselves, being critical and at time becoming very emotional during art instruction.

  Now they find this time calming and successful. Student who had said they couldn't draw, or everything they make is awful are now PROUD of their work.

  This project help to build Confidence and Self-regulation in my class of 34 students.

  I know their art tablet will go home with them at the end of the year, and continue to used. It will be the chronicle of their artistic skills.

  I am eternally grateful to that this organization has a place where donors liek you can find and fund teachers who want the best for their students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

  This classroom project was brought to life by The SONIC Foundation and 4 other donors.

• Self-Portraits for Self Esteem

  Funded Aug 17, 2022

  This project has made a wonderful deposit of self-esteem into you my students. Each portrait they attempted has show them that they are all unique and beautiful. Their critique of their developing skills has showed them the rigor that art instruction can bring.

  We are not yet done with this project, as we have one more self-portrait to create. Students will be given a half photo of themselves, and they will draw the other half. It should be a showstopper for Open House at our school later in May.

  The basic art supplies that each student received, a varied of pencils and and art tablet, should be routine school supplies. The student love the time that I prioritize in my daily class schedule. My students will be able to take these supplies home at the end of school I know that many will continue to make art and hone their skills.

  Thank you so much for your support and love.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

• Listen to Your Art

  Funded Aug 12, 2021

  It has been the most valuable use of our class time to incorporate so much art.

  When I open the art supply drawer, they are excited to see what is in there and what I'm taking out. We are continuing to work on our pencil skills for lines and values. Also, we use watercolor paints weekly.

  The supplies such as the trays, drying rack and brush stand have allowed student to become responsible members of the classroom. They have learned the procedures for picking up and returning their supplies, as well as cleaning up after an art time.

  Many students flourish during art instruction and practice time. They are more relaxed. They can chat amongst each other and with me. These unscripted conversations are the greatest. I feel this class is so closely bonded as a result of whole class art.

  As their skills develop, so will our focus of the art. We will be tackling art perspective, mixed media collaboration and self-portraits. The end of the year will have a documented art portfolio of their progress. Thank you for help me offer this most valuable component of teaching this year.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 11 other donors.

• Sitting and Focused During Distance Learning

  Funded Aug 11, 2020

  I have been distance learning from the first day of school in late August with 33 students in my virtual room. Besides the challenges to get online and function in a virtual classroom, the students were already finding it hard to stay seated in front of their screen. The wobble cushions were distributed in October. I drove them to each student's home and we had our first contact; albeit six feet apart and from the porch.

  The first day, they were so excited. I saw happy faces and wiggly bodies! They moved around and really seemed to like their new seat. I have three sets of twins in the class and there was much discussion that their sibling, who is in another class, needing a cushion too. Right away, I saw a difference. The one student that kept getting up and walking around while on screen was now sitting and moving as the cushion allowed. A young lady in class found it easier to sit on the floor with the cushion as she does not have a dedicated learning space at home.

  These few examples of students benefiting from a tool that allows physical movement to encourage focus, while distance learning, meets the intended purpose of this project. I am so very grateful for donor's like you for the support. While I don't know how long distance learning will be the way of life for my students, I do know my students are supported. Together, we will move through this time and do our very best to keep focused.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

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

• M.U.S.I.C. (Music Uniting Students' Intelligence, Creatively)

  Funded Aug 14, 2019

  You can rest assured that every Friday there is beautiful music being played in my class. There are many students who are learning to read music for the first time and translating those newly read notes into music. My class has mastered playing "Hot Cross Buns" like nobody's business. They have even had a chance to practice at home and share their music with their parents.

  The first time I handed out the recorders it was an electrifying event. They were so excited. Before formal instruction began, I permitted free, loud play. While it wasn't a beautiful melody, it was music to my ears. I wanted to encourage excitement for this new component to my class and that is exactly what happened. Once the free chaos dissipated, we began instruction. It's amazing how happy they look when they play. They take the group or whole class performance serious. I know that this will be an impactful project and provide life long memories. We are even planning to perform in the school talent show as a whole class!

  It is my hope that the music instruction makes integrated learning connections throughout the year. I am pleased that with your help we are encouraging the art of music. Your donation has made this all possible. I am forever grateful.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

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

• Sci-Phy (Science & P.E.)Force, Motion and Energy!

  Funded Jul 2, 2018

  When we received our materials, the excitement from the students was overwhelming. All of the equipment were loaded onto a cart my husband made. This only highlighted the equipment even more. The first time we conducted whole class jump roping it was the more fun. This activity is one of their standards. We have been attacking our P.E. standards with confidence. The equipment has helped us to also accomplish understanding of our science standards. We are working to understand the concept of "energy". The springs was an amazing observation. They could see energy traveling through the spring as a wave.

  These pieces of equipment bring a greater understanding every student, but especially students who learn kinesthetically and visually. Our excitement and new supplies have also sparked other teachers to revamp their approach to P.E. and Science. Good teaching is contagious and that is awesome for our whole school.

  Thank you so very much for supporting my students and being the spark for instructional change in other teachers.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

• My Earth

  Funded Jun 21, 2017

  Our terrariums are built, researched items of human impact on the Earth have been added to some terrariums and all terrariums are currently under observation. It has been an amazing three months in our Earth Science class. Having this project to kick off our year really gave us an amazing focus. Students were excited to see the large boxes from Amazon arrive to the class, knowing that inside were supplies for their terrariums. They had no way of knowing that much more learning would need happen before they put together their terrariums.

  The students explored activities to develop an understanding of what pH is and how to compare it. Students used the pH paper from our project supplies to test water that they brought into class. Next, the students embarked on understanding the chemistry of soil. These 6th graders are far more aware about the essential elements in the soil and what is provided to a plant. Students collected soil samples from areas on campus for testing. One of the soil samples came from our school garden, so the results were anticipated by another teacher. Students said they felt like they were "real scientists" doing a job, and they were with the soil testing kit that you helped to provide. A quick research topic of human impact on earth allowed student to search their interests. Topics ranged from chemicals that leaked from trash, cigarettes, or coffee cups, to water pollution, and acid rain. This component of the project directly met their science standards by allowing them to build a model that explains and defines the impact. In addition, some students planned to add the researched item into their terrarium.

  With the terrariums built, the students are now learning the last phase of real science; long term observation and data collection. We will observe these terrariums until spring. During that time, the students will complete weekly checks and they document any positive or negative changes in the soil or the plant. The type of instruction and learning is invaluable and comes at a time when the Next Generation Science Standards embraces this approach.

  Thank you, for your encouraging support, commitment and your donation.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

  This classroom project was brought to life by Tom's of Maine and 6 other donors.

• Earth Science: Rocks would be Gneiss!

  Funded Aug 10, 2014

  Today was an exciting day... The project Rocks would be Gneiss was revealed to my one of my classes who will benefit from the incredible rock samples. A few selected students were chosen to unpack and be first to look at and handle the rock samples. I love rocks and, I must admit, I was surprised that they were equally as excited. I'm so glad I captured the opening of the rock samples that we will be able to use through this project. I wish I could have up loaded video to do justice to their verbal excitement. Here are a few excerpts of what was said: " Whoa look at this! I think its obsidian!", " Yeah it is, Native Americans made arrows out of that!", "Wow these are pretty!", "They all have a number and look... here is the menu.", "I think these rock will glow in the dark! Can we turn the lights off?".

  I've never engaged students with an opening of the new materials but it was a great introduction. Over the next few weeks, These rock samples will be handled by many students during our rock lab investigations. One of our first labs will use UV light to explore the properties of florescence. The Dark Lab is highly anticipated. They already have questions. The tub of rocks we received will allow inquiry investigation to occur to determine rock based on their properties. Scratch tests and chemical reaction testing will my students identify a rock or rock type.

  These rock samples have initiated an extreme excitement for what is coming tomorrow. Collecting rocks is always fun but having access to a rock collection and equipment to test such collection mean that they are "doing" something. When they "do", they "learn".

  Thank you again for supporting these students and giving them the access. I know they will ROCK this unit!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

• To California Academy Of Sciences And Beyond!

  Funded Feb 6, 2014

  WOW! Thank you all so much for providing my students this incredible opportunity to go to the California Academy of Sciences. It was an amazing trip! My students were really excited to go. Most had never been to the academy and a surprising number of students had never been to San Francisco despite the fact that we are located less than two hours away from the bay.

  For starters, our charted bus made it just in the nick of time and we were able to make our way to our reserved appointment in the planetarium. The students were well prepared for this experience. They had previously completed this content in the classroom. I had several students say, " That was coo! We knew all that stuff!". You could hear confidence in their voices. It was as if they were just believing they, too, were smart.

  The rest of the day the students continued to absorb all that the academy had to offer. The indoor rainforest, living roof, natural history and the aquarium all sparked questions and excitement. They saw academy scientists working in real labs. The lab is designed with a glass wall to highlight careers in science. Seeing this brought about impacting conversations. Especially, when the students noticed the ethnic diversity of the scientists. There became verbal announcements that some students now wanted to be marine biologists or anthropologists. When I heard this, I thought, "Great! this filed trip is doing exactly what I had hoped!"

  This will be a trip these students will never forget. It allowed them to expand their ideas of science and dream big for their future. Field trips are a challenge for which to plan and prepare but the benefits are invaluable. Thank you, again, for donating to my students so that they could attend.

  By they way, Claude (the albino alligator) says, "Hi."”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ewing

  This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 4 other donors.