Past projects 6
Building Bright Minds
Funded Dec 16, 2024Thanks to your generous donation of Playdoh, our classroom has been filled with endless creativity and hands-on learning opportunities. The new materials have truly transformed the way our students interact with their lessons, helping them engage in a fun, tactile way while exploring new concepts.
One of the most memorable moments came during choice time, when students were given the chance to explore their own creativity with the Playdoh. They were excited to mold figures and shapes based on a class discussion about important historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruby Bridges. Some students created figures of MLK and Ruby using the Playdoh, while others shaped various symbols of peace and justice that we had talked about in our social studies lessons. It was incredible to watch their ideas come to life through their creations, and it gave them a deeper, more personal connection to the history we were studying. This hands-on project allowed students to use the Playdoh not only for artistic expression, but also to reflect on the themes of courage and equality.
When the materials first arrived, my students were absolutely thrilled. They immediately gathered around the Playdoh and construction paper, eager to start creating. They loved the vibrant colors and how soft and pliable the Playdoh was. Many of them jumped right in, rolling, squishing, and shaping the materials with pure joy. It was clear that they felt empowered by the opportunity to create something from their own hands, and it sparked their imaginations in ways I hadn't expected.
Looking ahead, we'll be using the Playdoh as a tool for creative movement and expression in our lessons on Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruby Bridges. Students will be encouraged to create models or representations of key moments in their stories using the Playdoh, such as the famous "I Have a Dream" speech or Ruby Bridges walking into the school for the first time. The construction paper will also come into play as students work on creating posters and collages to express their understanding of the impact these figures had on the Civil Rights Movement. The combination of Playdoh and construction paper will help the students visualize and internalize these historical events in a dynamic way, allowing them to connect creatively with history.
Your donation is providing our students with invaluable tools that spark both their creativity and curiosity. The impact of your generosity will continue to be felt as we move forward with these projects, and we can't thank you enough for helping us create such meaningful learning experiences!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Labombarda
Second Grade Scientists
Funded Jan 13, 2024I am incredibly grateful for your generous donation to our classroom through DonorsChoose. Thanks to your support, my students now have access to a wide range of new science materials that have already made a significant impact on our learning. One of the most exciting moments was when we opened the box and saw the colorful, hands-on science kits that included various tools needed to conduct hands on learning. The students' faces lit up with excitement, and it was clear that they felt empowered to explore and engage with science in new ways. This hands-on approach has been a game changer in helping them connect abstract concepts to real-world applications.
We recently learned about different habitats that animals lived in. Part of this learning included how different types of the same animal need different things to survive. We studied birds and created prototypes for different types of bird feeders that matched different birds specific needs. Their reactions were priceless—they couldn't wait to go home and hang up their feeders. They were eager to share their observations with one another and ask questions that demonstrated a deeper understanding of the material. Moving forward, we will continue building on this foundation, with a focus on expanding our inquiry-based learning with more projects, such as planting seeds and watching them grow, learning about different metals and how they melt, and learning about rocks! Your support has given my students the tools to become active scientists, and I can't wait to see what they will achieve next.
Thank you again for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Labombarda
Help Second Graders Show Grit!
Funded Nov 29, 2022Thank you so much for your generous donation. The iPad has been a big hit in the classroom for both learning and fun! We have been using them a lot in across all of the subjects. In writing, we do voice to text to help students who struggle with the mechanics of writing. In math, we play math games. And in reading, we have books read to us when we are struggling!
When I first showed the class the iPad they were ecstatic! I haven't been able to keep them away from it! It has made learning so much more fun and engaging for them. It has also helped them tremendously with my ENL learners with their communication.
Next, we will be reading in series book clubs. I can't wait to add series books to their reading library.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Labombarda
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 6 other donors.Magna Tile Fun!
Funded Aug 9, 2022Thank you so much for your generous donation. The magnatiles have been a big hit in the classroom for both learning and fun! We have been using them a lot in geometry- making buildings using different shapes and making shapes out of other shapes! We have also been using them during choice time as an activity students can do for fun. They have been learning how to work together and share during this time.
When I first showed the class the magnatiles they were ecstatic! I haven't been able to keep them away from it! It has made learning so much more fun and engaging for them. It has also helped them tremendously with learning to work together- something they hadn't done for a while due to the pandemic.
Next, we will be learning about fractions. These tools will be used to make shapes and describe how many parts are in each shape. I can't wait to see how these help!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Labombarda
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and one other donor.Help Second Graders Show Grit!
Funded Dec 3, 2018Thank you so much for your generous donations to our classroom. Because of you, the students in my class now have 2 brand new iPads to use in various subjects throughout their day.
In reading, my English Language Learners are able to listen to the books being read to them while the words are being highlighted. This allows them not only to hear how the words should sound but also see what they should look like while they are reading. My lower level readers also benefit from the ipads for that same reason. They can hear words they are already familiar with and match them to the spelling while the word is being highlighted. I've seen so much progress already in their reading! They also use them to play different apps to help them with their sight word recognition and I already see drastic improvements in their reading and their motivations!
My students with fine motor disabilities love using the ipads during writing. Most of these students get easily frustrated because forming letters is extremely difficult for them, making them reluctant to write. Since the ipads came to our classroom, these same students are excited for writing! They get to say their stories and have SIRI type it out for them.
My mathematicians get to play their favorite game, Prodigy, during math workshop. This is a video game in which they must answer math questions that I have assigned to them in order to defeat the "bad guys." This gives my lowest mathematicians more of a reason to want to practice their facts. It also allows me to see exactly which types of questions they are struggling with, so I can cater my instruction towards their needs.
Not only have these ipads improved their learning, but it also improved their social skills. We have a new classroom job in which a student makes sure all of the ipads are shut off and plugged in each day. This teaches the students responsibility and caring for our classroom materials. The students job changes each week, giving each student a chance to be the Tech Guru.
Thank you again for all that you have done for us! We appreciate you more than you know!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Labombarda
Using Technology To Promote GRIT In A Second Grade Class!
Funded Jan 11, 2018Thank you so much for your generous donations to our classroom. Because of you, the students in my class now have 4 beautiful chromebooks to use in various subjects throughout their day.
In reading, my English Language Learners are able to listen to the books being read to them while the words are being highlighted. This allows them not only to hear how the words should sound but also see what they should look like while they are reading. My lower level readers also benefit from the chromebooks for that same reason. They can hear words they are already familiar with and match them to the spelling while the word is being highlighted. I've seen so much progress already in their reading!
My students with fine motor disabilities love using the chromebooks during writing. Most of these students get easily frustrated because forming letters is extremely difficult for them, making them reluctant to write. Since the chromebooks came to our classroom, these same students are excited for writing! They get to type their stories and share their wonderful imagination without having to worry about forming the letters of their words.
My mathematicians get to play their favorite game, Prodigy, during math workshop. This is a video game in which they must answer math questions that I have assigned to them in order to defeat the "bad guys." This gives my lowest mathematicians more of a reason to want to practice their facts. It also allows me to see exactly which types of questions they are struggling with, so I can cater my instruction towards their needs.
Not only have these chromebooks improved their learning, but it also improved their social skills. We have a new classroom job in which a student makes sure all of the chromebooks are shut off and plugged in each day. This teaches the students responsibility and caring for our classroom materials. The students job changes each week, giving each student a chance to be the Computer Control!
Thank you again for all that you have done for us! We appreciate you more than you know!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Labombarda