Past projects 49
Everything Is Awesome: Art and Design Innovation Through LEGOs
Funded May 6, 2020Thank you very much for the generous donation to all of the students at our school. Every single student was overjoyed when they were told about the new LEGOs that were coming. The new sets will give them so much more freedom to be creative and I can't wait until we can build together next year.
I truly can't put into words the amount of joy I see in their faces while they are creating. For some students, this is one of the few times they let their imagination take control and try to create the unknown. This is especially true for the 5th and 6th graders. They are so caught up in any technology they can get their hands on, they forget how to create from nothing and explore the unknown. Thank you again for this generous gift. I am anxious to watch the students grow with the new materials!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 8 other donors.Storing Creative Technology
Funded Dec 3, 2019Thank you so much for your assistance in fulfilling this project. This rolling organization cart has already made a huge impact in the classroom. By having a safe and mobile place to put our classroom heat press and cricut machine has allowed students to use our space in more creative ways as well as work on multiple projects simultaneously. Majority of the funds for this project were raised by the students by working hard on Interland, so thank you Google for creating a platform for students to learn about internet safety in a way that they enjoy and ask to continuously play.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 2 other donors.Bring Imagination to Life
Funded Oct 30, 2019I am beyond words at how appreciative my students and I are for your continuous support of our creative learning. So many of you selflessly give to our projects and it has drastically changed the style of learning that is available inside my classroom. Within just one year, the room has gone from full classes sitting and staring at desk top computers to actively learning on ipads, with robots, and digitally designing products. Now, with the addition of this new project, those digital designs will be coming to life in the physical world. I cannot wait to start exploring this new tech with all of my imaginative learners. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this dream a possibility.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 19 other donors.From the Ground Up
Funded May 28, 2019From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and investment in my students. Having the rug has already made a huge impact of my classroom environment. It is allowing students more flexible seating which helps them focus more on the work at hand than trying to get comfortable in wobbly chairs.
The day the carpet came, the students were ecstatic. From my little 1st graders, all the way through 8th Grade, they couldn't wait to open it up and make our computer lab feel more like a classroom. Since we have had it open, the students have used it daily to work in small groups and individually on their technological passion projects. Having this space gives them the freedom to dive deep into their projects without being squished up next to another student at a table.
I can't wait to continue to utilize this carpet and think space in my classroom. Thank you again for believing in me and in my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 7 other donors.iPads For The Apples Of My Eye
Funded May 9, 2019I can not begin to express my gratitude for your generous donation to my classroom. The iPad and the cases made an instant impact in my room. My students were giddy with excitement when the boxes arrived .
I am incredibly lucky to have access to some robotics as well as other coding and game design programs in my room. The problem I was running into was that the cheaper tablets that I personally bought could not handle the programs needed for the students to have a great experience with the other technology. They would constantly freeze or turn off or simply couldn't run the programs needed. This would not only frustrate me, but the students would become infuriated and many times would give up on projects simply because the tech couldn't work together. Since the 2 additional iPads and cases arrived the students productivity in their projects has greatly increased. They are excited to get working everyday. In addition, for some of my students, it has greatly lowered their anxiety levels which is allowing them to enjoy the work. As a result, the quality of their work has increased as well.
Again, words can not do justice for how thankful I am. Please know that your donation is making a daily impact in our school!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 14 other donors.iProtected iPads
Funded Oct 11, 2018I can not begin to express my gratitude for your generous donation to my classroom. The iPad and the cases made an instant impact in my room. My students literally squealed when they saw the box arrive.
I am incredibly lucky to have access to some robotics as well as other coding and game design programs in my room. The problem I was running into was that the cheaper tablets that I personally bought could not handle the programs needed for the students to have a great experience with the other technology. They would constantly freeze or turn off or simply couldn't run the programs needed. This would not only frustrate me, but the students would become infuriated and many times would give up on projects simply because the tech couldn't work together. Since the cases arrived and the additional iPad, the morale of students doing robotics has drastically changed. They are excited to get working everyday. In addition, for some of my students, it has greatly lowered their anxiety levels which is allowing them to enjoy the work.
Again, words can not do justice for how thankful I am. Please know that your donation is making a daily impact in our school!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
Designing History with Bloxels
Funded Mar 27, 2018From 2nd to 8th grade, I have never experienced a product that brought such immediate joy to all students. The Bloxels kits allowed my students the opportunity to make graphic design become a kinesthetic activity which in turn drastically increased their understanding.
The first project my older students embarked on was a mission to create a video game about a famous person in history. From Harriet Tubman, to Elvis, the Bloxels kits brought their learning to life. As students researched their person's life, they created items, backgrounds, and story lines to their games. These games, in turn, were used by fellow classmates to learn about other famous historical figures.
The pure awe that could be seen on their faces as what they built became a functioning game was truly magical for me. Without your support, my students would never have had this experience. For some, this was a major turning point in my class. They were able to see the vast possibilities with technology and it opened them to a whole new world of exploring. Thank you for giving my students this wonderful gift, I can't wait to see what they create next!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and 3 other donors.Lego Engineering (Everything is Awesome!)
Funded Mar 9, 2016Thank you very much for the generous donation to all of the students at our school. Every single student was overjoyed when they were told about the new legos that were coming. Already, many classes have dove into engineering projects constructing shelters, rafts, and vehicles to help them solve problem scenarios that were posed to them. Now, due to the new tools, they have the ability to build multiple days without having to demolish their work from before. The new pieces have given them so much more freedom to be creative.
I truly can't put into words the amount of joy I see in their faces while they are creating. For some students, this is one of the few times they let their imagination take control and try to create the unknown. This is especially true for the 5th and 6th graders. They are so caught up in any technology they can get their hands on, they forget how to create from nothing and explore the unknown. Thank you again for this generous gift. I am anxious to watch the students grow with the new materials!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
Exploring Math
Funded Dec 29, 2015It is with sincere thanks that I write you this note for helping donate math supplies to my students. The math manipulatives have now become a part of the classroom daily routine in centers and it is truly wonderful to watch student gravitate to them to help solve equations that they previously would not even attempt.
Many of the supplies these students are used to getting are hand-me-downs or discarded supplies from other schools. When the packages arrived and they realized this was bought for them, the energy in the room immediately shifted. They took ownership of the math pieces instantaneously because they could call it theirs. They use them with so much respect and often show them off when visitors come into the room.
As mentioned in the description of this project, many students need the assistance of hands on manipulatives to help solve problems. The manipulative kit has allowed students to self assess themselves in the idea of do I need support or can I solve the problem abstractly. By giving them the ability to regulate their own learning, it has empowered them to try equations that they previously simply would pass over. As the use of these continues, I am hoping the students confidence in math with also continue to grow exponentially.
Thank you again for all of your support and helping make a classroom much more conducive to positive learning.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza
Defying Gravity at Adventure Park
Funded Feb 6, 2015I would first like to say thank you again for your support for this trip. The enthusiasm that the students had for the whole experience was outstanding and they wouldn't have had that without your help. The week leading into the trip, both the excitement and the nerves started to kick in. The scholars were questioning more and more about things like "how could the friction from your hand slow down your whole body on the zip line?" or "why are sneakers better than flip flops to keep you on the obstacles?" These are questions that were vastly different than any other questioning most of my students had done all year. The fact that they knew that science was going to control their day got them thinking outside of their norms.
It warmed my heart to hear the students, while on the obstacles talking about how they were changing from being a body at rest to being a body in motion (as well as quoting the Bill Nye the Science Guy video we had watched!) They truly put into action all we had been studying in the classroom over the last month.
In addition to the scientific gain, this class has grown together exponentially over the course of their adventure. Students who normally would fight were helping each other on and off of obstacles. They were communicating with each other about how to handle challenges ahead and strategizing ways to make it through together. Many students have had challenges with each other this year and by going through this experience together, it gave them the opportunity to see each other in a different light. A few students in particular who are not the most outgoing in the classroom had the opportunity to shine and it was wonderful to watch them become a leader that day. These new relationships have helped change the dynamic of the classroom for the better.
Again, thank you for your generosity and support. This was a true gift to the classroom and the community and one that will never be forgotten.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Discenza