Past projects 11
STEM: Light and Motion Come Alive!
Funded Jan 2, 2024Our class has been enthralled by the STEM activities your generosity has made possible. We built kaleidoscopes and watched to see the images reflect in amazing patterns, and we created art to see how color and light mix.
The kids were astounded when we created spinning thaumatropes to create "old school" optical illusions, and they look forward each week to science time to learn something more about the world around them.
These little scientists are working together to figure out the natural phenomena they see around them, and your gift has lit a spark which will ignite a lifetime of curiosity. Thank you for your donation, and for the lasting impact you make through your support of elementary STEM education.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and 3 other donors.Kindergarten STEM For The Win!
Funded Nov 20, 2023What excitement you've brought to our classroom learning! The kids just couldn't believe that people who didn't even know them could be so generous... thank you for how you care for our community, and for showing my students that others believe in their potential as I do.
They love tinkering with the building materials, cooperatively working to engineer structures they design, and they truly embody a growth mindset as they learn from their mistakes and from each other. Inquiry-based, hands-on learning is helping them develop the key quality of resilience: the ability to bounce back from challenges, overcome initial struggles and persevere. This gift is not only bringing us joy today, but encouraging their future success!
I can't begin to thank you enough for your thoughtfulness and generosity. As we head into this New Year, your support lets our students know that they are valued, and that people believe in their ability to create a better tomorrow. You mean the world to my students, and to me as well.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and 4 other donors.Our World and Work... in Full Color!
Funded Nov 19, 2022Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and support. The students love seeing their art decorating our walls, and they're deservedly proud of their unique creations. Seeing their art printed and displayed has encouraged them to improve their computer skills, and this fluency with technology will serve them well in the future.
We recently used our printer to make Valentines for friends and family, and the enthusiastic reaction from parents encouraged the students to try making digital art in their free choice time. I feel so fortunate to have the ability now to print out their pictures and drawings. It's a positive way to connect with families, and it allows students to express themselves and respond in diverse ways to what we're learning in class.
Your generosity makes such a difference to our kids, and I'm so grateful to you for lifting our spirits and brightening our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and one other donor.Terrific Terrariums
Funded Nov 1, 2021Words can't describe my students' excitement when they discovered the beautiful terrarium kits you gave them! They simply couldn't believe they not only would get to grow the plants, but to take them home, as well. The care each of the students put into creating their own unique environment for their seedlings was a delight to see: they had spent time learning what plants need to stay alive, and they carefully considered the requirements as they arranged their projects to provide the perfect support for their baby seeds.
In addition to learning about science, this experience provides us a reminder of our individual responsibilities in taking care of nature: the kids have felt such pride in seeing the wheat grass and chia sprouts flourish. Over the holiday break, they even sent me pictures of their terrariums to let me know how well they were doing!
As we move forward into the spring, I'm sure we'll be using what we've learned to continue bringing our corner of the world alive with growing things. Although this neighborhood and our families may not be wealthy, I believe our classroom will be rich with beauty. Thank you for the light you bring into our lives, and the joyful learning you inspire with your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 3 other donors.Superstar STEM Builders
Funded May 3, 2021Your generosity has brought such joy and creativity to our classroom! The students could barely contain their excitement when I told them they would get to create wonderful things with the magnetic blocks and construction sets.
These materials have allowed the students to extend their learning with hands-on activities that connect to what we're studying. As we learned about communities, we created the different buildings important to the people who live there, and we built modes of transportation for our cities as well. When we learned about different careers, and the work that carpenters do, students were not only able to build their own creations, but gained an understanding of the importance of preparing your supplies and reading/following a plan.
Working together, the kids are developing their social skills through collaboration and compromise: this is so valuable after the isolation of the pandemic! Thank you again for your kindness in supporting our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and 4 other donors.Books to Love, for Kids With Heart
Funded Mar 21, 2021It's been such a heartwarming experience to see the students enjoy reading together again after this year of social distancing! Daily, they look forward to spending their free time with the new books you've gifted us, and they show such love and support to each other as they take turns and chat about the important ideas that speak to them in the stories.
I hope that the love of reading which they are now developing will continue to bring them comfort, inspire curiosity, and light their paths with the discovery of new ideas. You have impacted our class in such a positive, meaningful way with your generosity and thoughtfulness, and I will continue to send good thoughts your way each time we share these wonderful books.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and 4 other donors.Build a Greenhouse, Grow a Plant, and Bring Learning to Life!
Funded Jan 30, 2021Our class was so excited to receive the materials to build our mini greenhouses! After weeks of studying plant life cycles, learning how plants help us and what they need to survive, the students loved getting hands-on with this project.
When they learned that they would each get a real live plant to put inside their greenhouse, and that they would get to keep it at home and care for it, their smiles could not have been bigger. They continue to share with me how their plants are doing, and the sense of responsibility and love they feel for their succulents is heartwarming. This is a lesson they will always remember, because of you.
Thank you for making them feel connected to the outside world, especially during this challenging year of pandemic learning. We are so grateful for your care and support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 3 other donors.A Little Art, To Lift Our Hearts
Funded May 8, 2020How can we begin to thank you for all the joy your generosity has brought to our class? These art supplies have created more than just pictures: they've inspired creativity and allowed students to discover strengths they didn't even know they possessed!
Your thoughtfulness and care for our class will have a lasting impact beyond what we can even now imagine. Thank you for giving students a means to express their feelings during this uncertain time of learning at home during the pandemic. I hope that someday you are able to see our kids grown, strong and happy, enjoying their work and impacting our community in countless positive ways.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 8 other donors.A Place for Me in the World of Work
Funded Sep 8, 2018What excitement you've brought to our classroom learning! The kids just couldn't believe that people who didn't even know them could be so generous... thank you for how you care for our community, and for showing my students that others believe in their potential as I do.
We're exploring our six careers together, with each student learning how their own strengths can contribute to success in the projects here in our room, and in their own futures. When we tried our hands at being chefs, the kids chopped, prepped and measured to prepare a healthy meal of spiced lentils: they all agreed it tasted way better than fast food! Now, they're applying their knowledge of the simple machines they used (garlic press=lever, knives=wedges) to try to come up with an invention to chop onions without making a person cry! Additionally, each week one student takes home our "chef bag" with all the tools and ingredients to cook the yummy lentils at home, and the parents' appreciation and amazement create a connection between home and school. The students take such pride in their ability to show they care for their own family through preparing a healthy, delicious dinner: they see how their actions and knowledge impact the lives of others in positive ways. One student told me, "I want to be a chef when I grow up, because I can show love to people every day with my food!"
We've started learning about the work that veterinarians do to help our community, and the kids have really applied themselves to learning about what animals need to survive and thrive. We're using our vet supplies you so kindly donated to make videos about pet care, building science, speaking and presentation skills in a really fun and engaging way. Our attention to a student's interests is key, because we know these have the strongest correlation to career satisfaction, income and job performance over a lifetime. With each new career we try out, they are beginning to imagine their future selves, and they can envision a happy, successful life ahead and see the purpose in working towards that goal.
I can't begin to thank you enough for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Your support lets our students know that they are valued, and that people believe in their ability to create a better tomorrow. You mean the world to my students, and to me as well.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by Neukom Family Foundation and 4 other donors.Count Me In! Family Math Games Library
Funded Mar 29, 2017Your generosity has brought our class such excitement about learning math in unique ways! It's truly a heartwarming experience to see the kids so motivated to apply their newfound skills as they engage in these challenging activities. We enjoyed the games in class, but the real fun for the students was getting to check out the games and take them home to play with their families: they would proudly report back each day if they were able to beat their parents at adding and subtracting!
Many of my students do not have access to computers or the Internet at home, and so these board games have given them a means to work on their math skills while spending quality family time together with their parents and siblings. I received so many positive comments from moms and dads who were deeply appreciative of the opportunity to play with their kids, instead of just watching them do their homework. What an impact you have made by encouraging parents to visibly demonstrate to their kids that they value education!
I hope you would feel proud to see how the students worked to teach each other their favorite games, and how they helped their friends to be successful in their efforts. They are building friendships, figuring out ways to negotiate and achieve positive results in partnership with their peers, and learning to persevere and overcome challenges in a loving, supportive community here at school and at home. Thank you for being such an important part of that community, and for the great kindness you have shown to us.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Wolzen
This classroom project was brought to life by Aspect Ventures and 7 other donors.