Past projects 16
Butterfly Ins and Outs
Funded Jul 31, 2018Butterfly Ins and Outs was better than I ever imagined! The students loved having the butterflies in the classroom from the very moment they arrived. The students helped prepare the food cups and transfer the Painted Lady caterpillars into their food cup. The caterpillars grew and grew until it was time to transfer the chrysalis into the butterfly habitat. We had much success with our caterpillars turning into butterflies! It was very exciting!
Our Painted Lady caterpillars and butterflies were able to visit several other classes in the school so other classes could also learn about the butterfly life cycle. The life cycle magnets and models were also a wonderful teaching resource. It was a wonderful opportunity for many students in our school! I'm hoping to reuse the classroom butterfly house for many years to come!
The Butterfly Migration Station will be planted in the spring with the hopes that many butterflies, bees, and other pollinators will visit or make our courtyard garden home. The garden will grow and mature and welcome many pollinators into our courtyard. Our students will be able to observe and learn from our courtyard visitors for many more years!
Thank you again for your support of Butterfly Ins and Outs! The project was a very memorable one for my students and for me. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stimmel
Helping Sixth Grade Feel Like Home
Funded Aug 23, 2018This is my first year in a new classroom after spending 9 years in my old classroom home. The bigger classroom was a welcome sight, but there were some homey touches that were missing. Thanks to you and your generous donation, sixth grade is feeling a little more like home!
The 12 light filters were able to lessen the harsh effects of the classroom fluorescent lighting and create a better atmosphere. The light filters were used strategically in the classroom to cut down on the fluorescent light effects. 8 of the light filters were used in the front of the room and the other 4 in the back. The filters dramatically cut down on the glare from the lights on the white board. The filters did such a nice job that the projector can be used now without turning off the front lights!
The curtain rods were used throughout the classroom to provide some color and cover. The curtains, made by my grandma, were placed to cover the sink supplies and teacher materials. Another curtain and rod was placed in our front window to provide some privacy from the outside hallway. A welcomed use for the curtain rod was holding a long pendulum in the doorway during our Variables & Pendulums unit. It was the perfect holder for the 120 cm pendulum!
Thank you so much for your support in helping sixth grade feel a little more like home!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stimmel
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 6 other donors.Balance Balls = Better Brains
Funded Apr 9, 2018Thank you so much for your generous donation to support Balance Balls = Better Brains! The students love to utilize the balance balls when working independently and while working in small groups. The 4th graders enjoyed using the balance balls for the last couple months of last school year and helped to inflate the balls right away! My current 6th graders also love when they are able to use an "udder" ball, as they call them. We have the best upper shelf area in my current classroom to store them when we need them out of the way. My current and future students are lucky to have the opportunity to have balance balls as part of their flexible seating options. Thank you so much for helping provide this wonderful opportunity to my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stimmel
This classroom project was brought to life by Lakeshore Learning and 2 other donors.Organized Centers = SUCCESS!
Funded Jan 25, 2018Thank you so much for supporting Organized Centers = Success! Since our classroom received the materials, I can truly say that activities have been more organized and students more engaged.
The dry erase pockets and poster-sized Post-it notes have been wonderful resources in keeping students engaged. The pockets have been used to help practice correct punctuation of dialogue in sentences on several occasions. We have also used the pockets in Science to label a picture of a pond habitat with biotic (living) and abiotic (no living factors). Students also love the large Post-its! We used them in groups to brainstorm and then sort adjectives into their different categories. I foresee using them to introduce projects, and then keep the directions and ideas on display throughout the entirety of the project.
The plastic sign holders and dry erase center signs allow for directions and descriptions of center activities to be available at all times to students. Traveling to 8 different centers in just a few days can make it difficult for students to remember what to do at each station. The addition of the sign holders really helped provide a students with a resource of information without asking for help from me.
Lastly, the headphone splitters will be used my students for years to come when listening to a video as a group. One screen will be able to be viewed and all group members will be able to listen with the help of the splitter.
Thank you so much for helping to support my classroom! The addition of these materials will help the class stay organized and on task for the remainder of this year and many future years to come!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stimmel
This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 3 other donors.A Dry Erase Dream!
Funded Jan 8, 2018Thank you so much for your support in funding my first project, A Dry Erase Dream! The dry erase table is a favorite space in our classroom. The students have all used dry erase boards in the past, but this was their first dry erase table. They love any opportunity given to work on the table. Students love working in small groups to practice skills or complete assigned tasks. I really enjoy getting to work with the students in a small group at the table. I can easily see who understands a topic or who needs more help in understanding.
So far, we have used it to practice punctuating dialogue in sentences, diagramming atoms, and answering morning meeting questions. Everyday, I am trying to think of new ideas of how to integrate the table into our lessons. I foresee using the table for life cycle, food chain, and stream diagrams in the future! I want the table to last for many years to come, so I purchased a tablecloth to keep the surface protected from scratches when not in use.
Thank you so much for helping to fund A Dry Erase Dream! Your generosity has given all 57 of my students the opportunity for some one-on-one time and sharing their thoughts in a safe space. I can't wait to see where the table takes us!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stimmel
Sensational Seating for Super Titans!
Funded Jan 22, 2018Thank you so much for donating to our classroom project, Sensational Seating for Super Titans. Saying the students love the new seating options is an understatement! I have been pleasantly surprised at the new level of responsibility the students have shown in using and caring for the rug, cushions, stools, and yoga balls. They understand that having and using the new materials is a privilege.
Our classroom is on the smaller side, so students are able to spread out and create their own comfortable space when using the cushions. Students have also enjoyed using the cushions on their own seats. The cushions fit perfectly on the chairs and give the students a soft seat and the opportunity to move and wiggle.
The stools are an awesome addition to our classroom table and can be moved around easily. Some students prefer to use the stools over their regular desk chair. They are small enough to fit under our table, so it frees up some additional floor space to be utilized by the fantastic 4th graders.
The rug is bright and beautiful and arrived just in time for our Solar System unit. The students love spreading out on it, we use the rug as a space for stations, and some students even took pictures of their planet from the rug and used it in their iMovie presentations!
The yoga balls are also a class favorite! The handy legs keep the balls from rolling away, and students love to use them when working with partners.
The addition of the rug, floor cushions, stools, and yoga balls have positively impacted our classroom environment this year. We all thank you so much for your generosity in helping to support our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stimmel