Past projects 18
Books Galore!
Funded Apr 13, 2021My students love all the amazing books we received from your generosity. During our silent reading time, they have been picking a picture book to read. A popular choice is the Spot series that helps students better understand emotions. Many of my students have been reading the Spot of Anxiety book.
Many of the books deal with themes around the Civil War. We read one book yesterday titled The Patchwork Path that helped the students understand more about the Underground Railroad. The students loved reading about it from a child's point of view.
Another favorite of ours is the pop up book of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. We just read the chapter about Harry visiting Diagon Alley an the students have loved to look authentic pop up book to see that visual to go along with their reading.
Overall I can not thank you enough for your support. There is no better gift than that of a good book to read. These books have rekindled a love for literature!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hess
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 6 other donors.Hands-on Morning Work
Funded Dec 2, 2020Thank you for your incredible donations to help our classroom. In the last few weeks my students have finally been able to come back to school and they were so excited to see the new supplies.
The STEM materials provided in this project are used on a daily bases. When my students arrive they are able to choose one of the STEM bins to work with in the morning. They also have an opportunity to use some of these materials during centers.
They have been creating so many interesting projects with the new materials. One student created a garage and car using the Tegu magnetic blocks. She had to trouble shoot how to properly attach the roof so it would not cave in. Another favorite of the students' is the Gravity Maze. They love the challenge of trying to find the correct path for the marble.
The student shave loved the materials provided by your generosity. They have caused them to engage in higher level thinking, while having fun. I can't thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hess
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 5 other donors.Standing to Learn
Funded Jun 19, 2020Our tables have finally arrived and my students could not be more thrilled. Thanks to your generosity we now have two new standing tables in our room. The students were working in small groups in science this week and were able to stand around the new table and make observations. They were observing the way worms move and it was so nice to see them collaborating around the table.
These tables also provide a flexible seating option for my students during the day. Students are constantly wanting movement. They are able to stand at these tables throughout the day and enjoy the seating change.
Once again thank you for valuing my students and their education. Your generosity has put a smile on their faces.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hess
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 12 other donors.Keep Calm and Learn!
Funded May 5, 2020Thanks to your generous donations, our classroom has a peaceful corner dedicated to help students calm. The students have been busy exploring our calming corner. There are many fidgets in this area. The students are now able to take a quick break if they feel overwhelmed or stressed. They go to the corner, rock on the rocking chair and use the fidget tools as a way to calm down and refocus.
I have had students ask to take a quick break during the day. They will go to the area for about 5 minutes and refocus. It has been an excellent addition to our classroom. Your donations also helped supply calming posters that also help to create a relaxing area. We greatly appreciate all your kindness.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hess
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 6 other donors.Cozy Up and Read
Funded Aug 13, 2019Our class would like to thank you for all of your support. We love our new carpet and smelly markers.
When the student's came in Monday morning they instantly flocked to the new carpet. It is large enough to fit many students on at one time. This week they have used it for silent reading time, for floor seating during class, and we have done work not eh carpet during center time. It has provided a comfortable place for the students to learn. It is not only beautiful, but it is soft and durable.
I know my students will continue to utilize the carpet in a variety of ways throughout the year and we thank you for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hess
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.STEAM Galore!
Funded Aug 6, 2019Our class would like to thank you for your generous donations. When our new STEM materials arrived my students were instantly asking many questions. Their natural sense of curiosity kicked in. We patiently waited for all the materials to arrive before we explored the many materials.
Last week we set up centers to allow time for the students to become familiar with the different materials. We had a center with Legos, Plus Plus blocks, MakeDo, and K'nex. All of these materials are centered around building and creating. They force students to use problem solving skills in order bring their ideas to life. The students in the Lego centered worked together to build different suggested things from the company. They built a golf cart, bulldozer, tractor, and a garden scene. In the K'Nex center, students built a bridge and began working on the roller coster. They had to work together as a a team and problem solve because they are a little complicated. With he Plus Plus blocks, students created a dog, robot, and a knight. Finally, the MakeDo used the materials with cardboard to start creating. One group created wings. I loved seeing the pure excitement on their face as they entered into the world of STEM.
My students will continue to use the materials throughout the year during center time, science, and to gain problem solving skills. Thank you so much for making a meaningful impact on the lives of my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hess
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 3 other donors.Wiggle While We Learn
Funded Mar 12, 2019I can not thank you enough for your generous contributions to my classroom. My student were ecstatic when our boxes arrived. Their eyes lit up as we went through each box. I am not sure what they were most excited about!
The first thing the students started to utilize was the floor seating. We received floor cushions and stadium seats to allow the students to work comfortably on the floor. During class, I try to provide opportunities where students can work around the room, and many choose to work on the floor. Until now, they did not have anything comfortable to sit on. With your generous donation, they now have a way to comfortably sit on the floor and complete their work. They seem to really enjoy the stadium seats because they provide support for their backs, while working.
We also received two ball chairs for our classroom. One student made the comment, "This is really helping me focus!" He is one of my students that is in constant need of movement. Now, he is able to sit on the ball seat and gently bounce during lessons. It has provided him the opportunity to move, but in a constructive way that still allows him to be engaged in the learning activities.
This project has helped solidify the need for flexible seating in my classroom. The joy these simple items have brought to the students is amazing. It gives them one more reason to be excited about learning. I am hoping to continue to add more seating options to the classroom as we move forward. Thank you for supporting education and my students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hess
STEM Exploration With Dash
Funded Nov 23, 2018First, I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. When our new Dash robots arrived the students were over joyed. They were immediately curious about what the robot could do and how we were going to use it in the classroom. One student, who is not particularly fond of school, said, "Wow, those look so cool!" It is very difficult to get him excited about anything, but with your kindness, he found something in school to peek his interest.
For our first project, I allowed the students to simply explore Dash. They used their iPad to connect to him and drove him around the classroom. They were so excited to each take a turn "driving" him around. I explained that Dash can be coded to perform certain tasks. Also, I showed the accessories that came with the Dash robots. The students showed a lot of interest in the accessories. During a whole group lesson, we choose one of the simple challenge cards to demonstrate a simple code. This particular code simply had a code where Dash had to get from one spot to another spot in the room. The looks on their faces was priceless. During centers, I allowed each group to become acquainted with Dash. In the pictures, you can see the students attaching the launching attachment.
In the future, we will use Dash to explore the world of coding. Over the course of the year it is my hope that students will be able to advance their coding skills. Coding allows students to become problem solvers. It forces them to think critically about a given scenario and find a solution. They will learn that to be resilient learners, because things will not always go right the first time. My students will also be using the app Blockly that goes along with Dash to complete tasks and challenges to further understand the complexity of coding.
Thank you for allowing my students to have the opportunity to gain these real life skills. They are thrilled to begin this journey and I am excited to watch them grow.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hess
This classroom project was brought to life by New Teacher Fund and 4 other donors.