Past projects 24
This and That
Funded Dec 28, 2024It has been great to receive all of the much-needed materials for our classroom! The kids were very excited to get their trifold writing folders. They want to use them all the time, not only for spelling words, but also so they can have a little more privacy while working.
And, the containers are great for use during rainy day recesses and also for morning centers. They carry the materials in convenient carrying boxes and are easy to access and put away! Now I can have multiple containers for the Legos so kids can have their own set and there is less arguing over sharing! Other containers hold puzzles or blocks of various sizes.
We also use the plastic sleeves for white boards that hold their erasers and dry erase markers. It is really helpful for getting in some math or spelling practice with these white boards.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
Fidget to Focus
Funded Jun 23, 2024As the year is moving along, there is an increase in need mostly for the wobble cushions. These have been so helpful for particular students sitting on the rug and at their seats. They help some students sit more comfortably on the floor, and for other students, it helps them stay upright and in their space. First graders sure are wiggly!
The bouncy bands have been super helpful for an individual. Once they went on their chair, they were kicking and standing and having a grand time with the band! I appreciate having reserves in case someone else needs one.
The other fidgets are useful for some during circle or in the peace corner. The kids have really loved squeezing the large gummy bear. For some, the gummy bear helps soothe their anxiety when sitting on the rug . It's also in our peace area for students who use that space to calm down. The textured monkey ring has also been a relief a few times. It provides something to keep their hands busy and stay focused. Thank you so much! The gel filled circles will soon be placed in the calm area with a few other objects.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
Solutions by Design
Funded Aug 2, 2023It is not easy to have enough materials on hand to do fun projects that require multiple options to create with for one class, let alone for two! Thanks to your donation, I am able to breathe a little easier and we have completed our first STEM activity!
Students learned about pollination in our 2nd grade unit to understand the interdependence of organisms to survive and reproduce. Then we simulated pollination by creating little bees and colored sand! We used craft sticks and chenille stems and paper towels to create a bee. We then drew a model of our design and had fun acting out the bee transferring pollen from one flower to another!
It was nice to have enough materials for 3 classes (my two classes and my colleague's class!). And, now I feel more prepared to organize other projects where students will have more options to design and test models for other science concepts that we are learning.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Brain Booster
Funded Aug 12, 2023Students gasped when the packages of snacks arrived! "Is that snack for us?" they asked. I was so happy to answer "Yes!"
Each class of 2nd graders has a supply of snacks to hold students until lunch and give them a boost to last the whole long day!
It's nice to have a variety of snacks - we can rotate through the options so each week can be something different! Everyone is satisfied to have a new snack each week. Thank you so much for helping us complete this project! We are so appreciative!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.Staying Organized
Funded Mar 6, 2023Thank you so much for helping my partner teacher and I stay organized! It is so great to have everything we need to start the school year off right!
We have enough crayons, pencils, and erasers for kids to use for all their classwork! The trifold folders for now are being used for privacy during computer and other work times in class. They will also be used during our writing block as a resource for spelling and starting sentences! They are easy to set up and feel durable to last many uses. The folders with prongs are also being used for ongoing class work.
We have begun to use the manila notebooks for Science class and have already used the Consent (for kids!): Boundaries... books in English and Spanish to teach kids about personal space. We have also begun to utilize the tote bags for independent reading selections. Each student has access anytime to a bunch of books in their desk.
Whew! We have so many materials to use and we are grateful!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
This classroom project was brought to life by Eat. Learn. Play. and one other donor.Running Smoothly
Funded Jun 29, 2023I am so grateful for your help with this project! I feel much more organized and prepared for the students! I'm able to put homework folders in mailboxes and kids can store things there that they have to take home, even if they forget their backpack that day. I have mailboxes for both classes, so I can manage the class work and handouts for each group much more clearly.
During our computer time, the headphones don't get tangled because I've been able to use the zip ties to keep them at just the right length. And, they have durable pouches for the headphones and privacy folders! I am sensing that they will last longer than the usual baggies we've used in the past.
The kids love to be the table leader and get all the materials for their group! They can easily pack up the materials and get them out. Thank you for helping this year start off running smoothly!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
This classroom project was brought to life by Eat. Learn. Play. and one other donor.Building Blocks
Funded Nov 29, 2022This project has jump-started my desire to provide a makerspace in my classroom!
One afternoon soon after the materials arrived, we had some extra time. I asked my students if they would like to explore some blocks for a while. They enthusiastically said "Yes!" I pulled out several of the packages, opened them up, and designated space for each type of material. Each time I showed a box, there was a lot of chatter about what they would use them for. Some kids naturally formed groups with their usual friends. It was exciting for me to see a few kids who usually don't play together gravitate toward the same materials and then work so well together!
The first couple of uses are just to explore the different types of blocks and how they work and feel. I want to let my students have multiple opportunities to tinker! Later I hope to add some challenges that can channel their creativity to design solutions to problems.
Thank you for your help to provide these building blocks!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 3 other donors.Windows Into the World
Funded Jul 28, 2022Thank you so much for these books! We have begun the school year learning about ourselves and each other. We're telling and hearing each others' stories! We have discussed and shared how each of us got to Oakland (getting to know our country or heritage of origin). We are learning what culture is and learning to identify and describe our own culture including languages we speak, dress, food, etc. Recently we have been learning about the local indigenous culture (Ohlone) and will soon explore deeper topics.
I recently read aloud two books from this list - This Book Is Gray and Pink Is Not a Color, both by Lindsay Ward. They both are light-hearted books that introduce topics of fitting in, respecting differences, and inclusion. We have been talking about the point of view of characters and these books highlight that idea. I read these books first to help students have a more identifiable connection when we delve in to more personal or uncomfortable topics such as cultural assimilation, colorism, and discrimination. In fact, we will be reading Thunder's Hair and Long Hair, Don't Care soon which I hope will help students understand cultural differences and embody the idea of respecting ourselves and others and each individual's uniqueness.
Thank you again for these books to begin and keep courageous conversations going!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
This classroom project was brought to life by Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and 2 other donors.Taking a Deep Breath for Change
Funded May 26, 2022I really want to take this moment to thank you for supporting this project. Doing this training has impacted me in a very positive way. Although I am still learning about Yoga and SEL and how these practices can positively affect myself individually and my students, I am starting to feel a difference in my being and how I might approach situations and honor my intuition about how to take care of myself first. This is a key idea from Breathe For Change - that in order to fulfill your passions to take care of others, it starts with taking care of you and maintaining the energy and desires to do for others. I have also gained confidence in my ability to be able to teach yoga and SEL skills, going through a thoughtful process of learning, planning, practicing, reflecting and adjusting, then improving. I helped plan and then co-taught a yoga lesson on Zoom to fellow teachers. I feel more and more like I can successfully lead others in this practice. Lastly, I just want to mention that I have been learning to integrate snippets of the SEL arc at school and I am enjoying the journey with my students. In a short time since school has started, they are embracing breathing practices and I see that it is helping reduce anxieties in some ways. We have a long way to go, but I am so glad to have begun this journey, and I am excited for the possibilities for the future. Thank you again for making this all happen with your thoughtful donations!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 5 other donors.Discovering Calm
Funded Jan 7, 2022We got to making our discovery bottles! One afternoon I showed an example of what the bottle would look like. We talked about how we'd been using other tools to calm us and help us transition from outdoor play to being ready for work inside. We have used play dough or coloring and other calming activities so they were familiar with the topic.
We discussed how we would use these bottles in the same way, but we'd have to be extra careful because they could be breakable if not cared for thoughtfully.
The kids were excited and buzzing about making their own bottle. Even my student who likes to stay separate from the group a lot of the time came over to see and hear about the bottles. First task was just assembling the bottles. Students had their own supply of pony beads and confetti pieces. They also got a bit of glitter. They poured in the materials and we filled each bottle with water and some glycerin. Everyone chose a color for the water.
We use them during our transitions from outside to inside the classroom. The kids definitely love them and they are used daily! Thank you for supporting our path to self-awareness and learning methods to discover calm.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Keen