Mrs. Neill's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 17

• Future Product Designers in Training

  Funded Dec 18, 2024

  I am excited to carry out this project with my elementary students at Cornell. They are going to love making things with these new tools. Thank you for supporting us. They will have a chance to learn new skills that they can use for many years. Let the creativity begin!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 20 other donors.

• Robots for Early Elementary Students

  Funded Jul 12, 2024

  Thank you for funding this project. I can't wait to start my younger elementary students on exploring these robotic tools. Can you imagine what they will do with the sensors and motors and lights? There will be lots of "oohs" and "ahhs" and "let me try that" and "hmm what will this do if I change this?" and all at an early age. Then imagine these students in High School and College - the possibilities!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

  This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and 10 other donors.

• Student-designed DIY Tumblers and Water Bottles

  Funded Dec 13, 2023

  My two Third Grade classes enjoyed this project and especially because they received free tumblers. They were able to choose black, blue or pink tumblers. They created their own stickers using Google Slides. We ran out of time to spend on learning how to create different layers in Google Slides due to internet issues we were having over a few weeks. The students were champs at being flexible and having to wait until our internet issues were resolved. Students learned how to search for school-appropriate images (some learning what is appropriate and what isn't) on the web, how to download images and insert them into their Google slides. I then downloaded their slides and imported them into Cricut to print on sticker paper for them. They were so excited to see their stickers printed and put them on their tumblers. They asked if they could make some more stickers, but unfortunately I told them I couldn't keep printing stickers because we needed to move on to other things. I told them though that they could create their own businesses creating stickers like graphic designers because their stickers were so creative.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 11 other donors.

• Hummingbird Bit Robotics for Upper Elementary Students Part 2

  Funded Dec 13, 2023

  My 6th graders had the chance to try out the Hummingbird Bit kits for the first time. They had LEDs hooked up, a sensor, and a motor. They were amazed at how they were able to control or program these components by just following an online tutorial on BirdBrain Technologies website. I feel that they didn't realize all the hard work that led up to their being able to navigate and control these components on their own. They have been practicing learning to follow technical or coding instructions. They have been exposed to different coding platforms. When it came to learning something else new, they were up to the challenge! I was so proud of them for their willingness to use something new so late in the school year. It's May! They're graduating from elementary school and ready for the summer. They could have whined and refused to try the robotic kits, but instead they just took the challenge and succeeded.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 16 other donors.

• DIY Fidgets in Elementary STEAM

  Funded Apr 8, 2023

  My fifth and sixth grade are learning about using exact measurements to create their fidget spinners in Tinkercad. They were told the diameter of the hole where the spinner insert would go as well as maximum thickness and other suggestions. They learned to change settings in Tinkercad from mm to inches. They used rulers to estimate how large or small they wanted their fidgets. Students used a lot of trial and error to get the right fidget spinner. Too thick and the spinner won't work. Too small and the spinner won't work. Hole too small, hole too big. Great real world experience when given certain specifications from a customer and having to create a product following those specifications. Students also learned perseverance and the art of redesigning a project, reworking it and modifying if their initial design doesn't work.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

• Shelving for the STEAM Classroom

  Funded Jan 19, 2024

  Thank you for donating for shelving in the STEAM classroom. When we were only focusing on computer literacy, we had computers at every table and there wasn't a need for that many materials. Once we transitioned to STEAM in the classroom, we now needed places for 3D pens, circuit kits, STEAM bins (small bins of materials for students to explore such as rocks or shells or magnets), and so many recyclable materials for all the engineering projects.

  Originally, I had 2 tables that held materials on top and below. My STEAM bins were growing and becoming an unmanageable tower. By adding 2 shelves instead of the 2 materials tables, the STEAM classroom is a little more manageable. When the shelves first arrived, students were pointing and asking what is that, what are those? My answer was - shelves! I'm just glad they noticed the change. :)”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

• Cardboard Tools for Future Engineers, Architects, Explorers and Designers

  Funded Aug 9, 2023

  Give students new tools to use to build with cardboard and recycled materials and they are in builders' heaven! My 5th grade used the cardboard tools for their name tag pencil holder project using Little Bits. They had to create a way to hold up a name card and a pencil. It had to have a motor, a light, and a control bit (button, slide, or dial). These were then displayed at Open House. Lots of holes punched in cardboard for the wires. Lots of cutting of cardboard just because they liked the sound and feel of the cardboard cutters.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

  This classroom project was brought to life by Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation and 14 other donors.

• 3Doodler 3D Pens for STEAM

  Funded May 9, 2023

  My students love to use the 3D pens. I used them recently at a family STEAM night and many of the parents and small children were using the pens along with my elementary students. There were a few who got frustrated for a little bit but they didn't give up and either kept trying or went to a different station and then returned to try again. The 3D pens are so engaging but really teach patience and perseverance. My expert students are now moving from 2D objects to 3D objects as they discover how to put different pieces together and make them stand up. These pens are an important tool for our STEAM classes.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

  This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors Corporation and 3 other donors.

• Hummingbird Bit Robotics for Elementary STEAM Students

  Funded Nov 29, 2022

  In a small group setting, students had the chance to experiment with the Hummingbird Bit Kit. As a teacher, I learned that I needed to have double A batteries on hand. That was a little bit of a deterrent but I had enough batteries for one of the small groups. We just had to take turns using the kit. Many of the girls were interested in the kit and followed along with the tutorial on Bird Brain Technologies' website. They moved through connecting and coding LEDs to turn on and off and started working with the motors before time ran out. It was a great exercise in troubleshooting as well because one of the motors wasn't working the way the students expected. They did get it working in the end. They are excited to finish the tutorials and then get to building with cardboard and integrating the robotics components.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Neill

  This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and 14 other donors.