Past projects 9
It's Getting STEAMy In Here!
Funded Oct 16, 2019I cannot thank you enough for your kind and generous donations! These new materials are so fun, colorful, and engaging! They are the perfect way to encourage engineering, teamwork, and can really bring physics alive.
My class was literally cheering as I opened the boxes and showed them our new classroom sets of marble runs, gravity mazes, and magnetic blocks. I had to promise them we could break them in with their big buddies that day. And I have to say, you know you have done something right when fifth graders are almost as giddy about something as third graders.
For now, the kids just got to use the sets as toys, however, physics are a next generation science standard, and after introducing the concepts of friction and force, we will re-introduce the sets to show how those ideas relate to real-world activities.
Thank you again for giving us such great learning materials!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron Fuel Your School.Creating a Library of Compassion and Representation!
Funded Aug 23, 2019I am so happy to have these books in my library! We started by reading "Neither" in which an animal is rejected because it does not fit into one of two available groups. It leaves and discovers the land of ALL where everyone is accepted and appreciated. It led to a great class discussion about times that we felt like a "Neither" and how we can make our class a land of ALL, too! We were able to use this as a jumping off point for many of the other books - boys who want to wear dresses, and girls who don't; people who eat food that might seem strange, but is really just different; how to be inclusive on the playground (The Recess Queen was a big hit!); and just many conversations about how everyone being different is a good thing.
Kids hear about how bullying is wrong all the time, but these books provide specific examples, colorful illustrations, and show that it's not just the teachers who feel this way. It really allows kids new and unique ways of seeing how to be inclusive.
I really cannot express how grateful I am to be able to include these resources in my language arts and classroom meeting curriculum and cannot wait to share them with my fellow teachers!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 2 other donors.Sitting, Standing, Learning!
Funded Mar 18, 2019My class and I cannot thank you enough for your generous donation! The kids were so excited when I started unpacking the boxes that I had to stop my lesson, have them come to the rug, and give everyone a chance to look at our new learning tools. I had tried a small standing desk in the past, but it was so complicated to set up and break down that the kids never used it. These tables are so easy to open and refold, the kids are able to set them up in a snap! The legs are also adjustable, so my taller students are able to use them easily as well.
It is so cool that these tables have built-in computer cooling fans! We got to discuss what a USB port is, and how the fans work. The kids love being able to connect their chromebooks to their desks.
Since we have 5, there are enough desks for each table group to claim one. The kids are doing a great job of sharing their new tables. They also like using them for work on the rug. It's so nice to have the kids be able to just stand up quietly at their desks, rather than having to move around the room to stretch their legs.
I have a lot of kiddos with extra energy this year, and I cannot tell you how much these new tools have helped them focus. Thank you so much for helping to make my class a more comfortable place for learning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores
Help Us Supply Our NASA Academy!
Funded Dec 19, 2018Thank you so much for your generous donations! You have helped to make our NASA program more hands on, engaging, and aligned with our Next Generation Science Standards. The students loved coding Botley, and comparing coding a real-life robot to coding on a computer. They loved the different settings - being able to set up the black lines like a maze, or trying to get him to move around blocks or put a ball in a goal.
The kindergarteners had a blast trying to match the planet magnets to a projection of the solar system on the white board in their room!
Thank you again for helping our students have genuine learning experiences! These are the types of activities they remember for years to come :-)”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores
STEAM Materials for Saturday Academy!
Funded Dec 10, 2018Thank you so much for contributing to our Saturday School! The kids love their new magnet blocks and coding robots. We have been able to incorporate both into lessons - the kids have built space ships, bridges, and towers with the blocks, to match lessons about outer space and engineering. They have also been able to compare the process of coding on computers with coding with their new robot sets.
As an added bonus, the kids have learned about how to read and utilize a manual while playing with Botley, their coding robots. The first day they used them, they just pressed buttons and played around. The second time the robots came out, they took the time to read through the manuals, and we were able to discuss the difference in what they were able to do.
Thank you again so much for your generosity! You have made coming to school on Saturday even more fun!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores
Getting Weighty With It!
Funded Jan 8, 2019I cannot thank you enough for your generosity! The kids were so excited to see the weights (although they were hoping we would be using them to work out, more than for math and science haha!) and thought it was so cool the way they could adjust how heavy the bar was. We even had a quick lesson about how screws work! Fridays we do fun math games, so this week one of the groups got to go around the room and estimate how heavy things were, then hold them and the weights to see if they were accurate in their estimations. Next week I will bring a scale in so the kids can weigh their objects as well.
I am also hoping to utilize the weights in lessons about weights and pulleys, momentum, and maybe even try an engineering project where they are trying to launch objects!
Thank you again for your contribution to our classroom! I will be able to use these materials for years to come!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores
Focus on Seating
Funded Oct 20, 2018Thank you so much for helping me add more alternative seating options to my classroom! The kids practically stampeded to the rug to try out our new chair and cushions. There has been an increase in productivity while using alternative seating because the students are so excited to be able to use their new options. The students have also been asking to do more math and writing independently so they can utilize their new seats! It's exciting that the are increasing their autonomy as a result of their comfort in the classroom!
The kiddos know that they can only use our alternative seats if they are being productive, so I am going to try to see if the kids produce more writing if they are given the choice to sit wherever they want (as long as they are writing), especially now that we are about to begin our narrative writing unit (which is notoriously difficult!)
Thank you again for helping my students become more comfortable and independent in my classroom! You are helping to make school a better, happier place for them!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores
Help Us Organize Our Classroom Library!
Funded Mar 27, 2018I am so grateful to all of you for helping to support my classroom library. Because of your donations, I was able to move my library to a larger set of shelves, and am now able to add more books with ease. The wear and tear on the books has already gone down considerably, because the kids no longer have to try to shove books into baskets. My shelves are neatly labeled and the books are separated into more groups (almost every AR level has its own section!) which means it is easier for the students to find books at their level. I was also able to pull books in specific series and give them their own section. Watching the excitement when my students saw how many Magic Tree House books I had was so gratifying!
My project was funded at the end of the year, so my students from last year were unable to enjoy the new set up, however, they have come back to visit and were extremely jealous that my students this year have such a great set up.
I have also seen the students make a better connection between my library and the school library. There are fewer incidents of books being put away with the pages out, and the kids are having an easier time navigating both libraries.
Thank you again for helping to make my classroom more organized, easily accessible, and generally more inviting. I couldn't have done it without you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and one other donor.Accommodating The Needs Of My Active Learners
Funded Mar 9, 2016I can't tell you how much I appreciate your generous donation to my classroom. My children's eyes lit up when I started opening the boxes. At first they were confused about what I had received, but as soon as I explained what they were, they began cheering. It took me a couple days to pump up all the cushions, and the kids were asking me every day if it was the day they could have their seats. I had to set a timer for 30 seconds and just let the kids bounce when they first got their cushions because they were so excited I couldn't call the class back to order.
After the initial thrill (and some requests for their cushions to be firmer or softer), the kids have adjusted to having their pads. I can see them rocking side to side or forwards or backwards in their chairs during tests, and I have noticed that talking and other kinds of fidgeting have gone down. Some of the students prefer to put their cushions behind their backs, and I can see them adjusting side to side. I have gotten multiple requests to let the kids take their cushions with them into fourth grade, but I had to explain I need them for next year's third graders.
The kids also enjoy their Thermabands. Some prefer to just rest their feet on them, others like to put their feet under the bands and push up. Children who would normally be swinging their legs, tapping their toes, or kicking their chairs are instead quietly stretching their Thermabands with their feet.
My class and I are so grateful for the materials that allow them to move and wiggle without being distracting. You have provided us with materials I would never have been able to purchase on my own. Thank you so much for making our classroom a more comfortable place to learn!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Flores