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Ms. Sands' Classroom

  • La Mesa Arts Academy
  • La Mesa, CA
  • More than a third of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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Past projects 28

  • Make, Bake, and Take

    Funded Sep 26, 2020

    The baking sheets and cooling racks we received from our generous donors got their first workout last week. Students made banana nut muffins and peanut butter cookies. They were excited to use new, durable equipment. Everything baked well and cooled well. It was very efficient to have one sheet and cooling rack for each group versus having to share.

    Of all of the things we've done so far, students really enjoy baking the most. I wish you could have been present to hear the wonderful things happening in the room...students laughing, cooperating, assessing their work, and enjoying the fruits of their labor. You made this possible! Thank you, Donors, for your help.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

  • Composting Is Cool

    Funded Feb 2, 2021

    Last week was the first time we used our new composting bin. Many students had not been introduced to the practice of composting before. We had a conversation about the benefits of composting and how we will use the compost in our Cedar Garden. Afterwards, we made mango salsa, and students were directed to put their organic scraps into the composting bin. I have five classes, but the bin was completely filled after the first class. It is exciting to see students learning about and using the composting bin. Ironically, the city of La Mesa just passed an ordinance that will require residents to recycle scraps. Households will be provided with a free bin to use. I think it is wonderful that students have already been introduced to the concept of composting at school. My hope is that they will help educate the larger community on the benefits of composting. Thank you, Donors, for your generous support.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

    This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 3 other donors.
  • Pandemic Pizza

    Funded Dec 1, 2020

    Unfortunately, due to health restrictions in our area, our school has not even been allowed to offer in person instruction until April 20. Because of regulations regarding social distancing, we are unable to make pizza at this time. One reason is that the requirement of concurrent teaching has limited our class time making it too difficult to complete the baking of a pizza. There is simply not enough time. The students have seen the pizza stones, but we have not had an opportunity to use them. Nevertheless, I really appreciate the donation. Next year, I am starting a new baking class, and I anticipate we will use the pizza stones frequently and with enthusiasm. I am so sorry I am unable to provide photographs at this time, but I am truly grateful for your contribution and have big plans for the pizza stones in the future.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

    This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 4 other donors.
  • An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure

    Funded Nov 6, 2020

    Students really enjoyed the first lesson of how to handle and use a scale, especially because they were getting to learn those lessons on bright, shiny new digital scales. Some students had never had an opportunity to use a scale before. It was important to teach them the meaning of tare weight to ensure accurate measurements. Then the scales were used to measure a solid substance (flour) and a liquid substance (oil). We also discussed how to properly clean and care for the digital scales. They were fascinated with these very useful tools, and they really appreciate the new additions to our classroom. Thank you, Donors, for your generosity.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

    This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 2 other donors.
  • Barriga llena, corazón contento.

    Funded Mar 3, 2020

    We are thrilled to be able to zest the fruits we are growing, as well as other ingredients like chocolate, cheese, and cinnamon. The microplanes will help students take their cooking to the next level by adding nuances of flavor. Thank you so much for contributing to our program. Your generosity is sincerely appreciated.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

  • Cutting Edge Knife Skills

    Funded Jan 24, 2020

    My students LOVED using this special dough to practice their knife skills. They really enjoyed the texture of the dough. It is so much easier of a medium to use for the purpose of practicing cutting. I saw improvement in their technique after the practice session. Using this dough instead of buying produce cuts down on expense and waste as we will be able to use it again and again. Students wanted to make shapes out of it even though that was not part of the assignment. I enjoyed seeing the joy on their faces as they turned into little kids again while playing with the dough. Thank you so much for this terrific resource!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

    This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Arts Supporter and 2 other donors.
  • Tea Time

    Funded Sep 23, 2019

    Our afternoon tea party was a smashing success. After students spent time learning about table manners and tea etiquette, they began preparing the treats that would accompany the tea. They made beautiful scones, tarts, and finger sandwiches. The tables were set with our gorgeous new cups and saucers which created an elegant vibe in the classroom. When students entered the room, they were struck by how "fancy" everything appeared. It was charming. Most of them have never attended a tea party.

    The servers poured hot water, offered tea bags, lemon, milk, honey, and sugar cubes to their mock patrons. After the tea had time to steep, students were invited to nibble on little snacks. It was fun watching them work at holding the tea cups correctly. I loved hearing so many "pleases" and thank you's".

    This special event was made possible by the generosity of DonorsChoose benefactors. Thank you so much for making it possible for my students to enjoy such a lovely tea party. The tea set will be used again and again. We appreciate your kindness.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

  • Sushi Rolls Into Town

    Funded Apr 4, 2019

    We had such a marvelous time making sushi using the products we received from the DonorsChoose donations. I was fortunate to have two chefs from a local restaurant volunteer to come in and show students how to "rice-n-roll" sushi. For some students, it was the first time they ever tasted sushi. For most students, it was the first time they made their own.

    Thanks to the donations, each student had their own roller to use. Each table was set with little bowls for soy sauce, paddles for scooping out the rice, bamboo trays to display the rolls, and chopsticks. I was delighted to see that so many students could make a high-quality roll within the first or second try. Some of the sushi they made looked like it came right out of a professional kitchen. They did a terrific job. I was very proud. Again, these unique learning experiences would not be possible without the generosity of donors. Thank you so much for your support.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

  • Earth Snacks: Fungi, Bugs, and Lava Salt

    Funded Jan 31, 2019

    I wasn't sure how the idea of introducing chips made of cricket protein was going to turn out with my students, but it was quite a success. When they were first offered these unqiue chips, some grimaced, some giggled, and some were ready to take on the challenge of consuming them with the excitement of racehorses. Almost every student tried them and found them to be just like regular chips. In fact, most students wanted second and third helpings.

    The fun part of this lesson was that we had just completed a unit on kitchen and pantry pest management. The students learned how to prevent insect and rodent infestation. What better way to wrap it up then with a snack made of crickets. More importantly, it gave us the opportunity to talk about sustainability, and the fact that cricket protein leaves a much smaller footprint on the environment than other forms of protein. We also watched a video that showed start-up companies in San Francisco that are making a positive impact on the environment by introducing snacks like this to customers and making the idea more mainstream in the United States while providing job opportunities for people from underprivileged communities.

    The best part for me was that the cricket chips were the talk of the town for several days. Some students ask if they could bring some of the chips with them to give to a friend or family member. I even had a couple of appreciative parents contact me to let me know they thought it was a mind-opening lesson. That's only the beginning. We have set up our mushroom farms and can't wait to see them develop. We also are preparing to use the lava salts.

    I consider Donorschoose to be one of the most helpful resources I have ever had in my entire career. So much has been added to the classroom experience with the donations received from Donorschoose.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

  • Bottoms Up!

    Funded Jan 16, 2019

    We are loving our bright, shiny, new, stainless steel cups. We used them for the first time today and they are absolutely perfect in every way. The size of the cups is right. They are easy to grip and easy to clean. They stack to conserve space and they replace plastic cups.

    It is so nice to have sturdy cups that can be used for many years to come. The cups are definitely kid-friendly, and acquiring them creates an opportunity for a teachable moment when we can discuss the impact of plastic on the environment and how important it is to take measures to reduce trash that ends up in landfills. The students seem very passionate about protecting the environment. They especially understand how important it is now that California has banned plastic bags grocery bags. Thank you, Donorschoose for all of your contributions to our class. We appreciate you so much!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Sands

I did not learn how to eat or cook well until I was an adult. Growing up, I was basically on my own when it came to preparing some of the meals because I was raised by a single parent who worked full time. She didn't have the time or energy to teach me the art and science of cookery. As a result, I gorged myself on junk food, canned food, frozen food, or whatever I could find that was simple enough to prepare in a microwave or toaster. There are many children who eat poorly because they have not been taught how to prepare nutritious snacks/meals that will sustain their energy. There is an obesity epidemic in the United States resulting from the consumption of non-nutritious food, yet most students do not get an opportunity to learn the basics of healthy cooking unless they take a Home Economics class in high school. The sets of tools I am requesting, such as single burners, mixing bowls, measuring cups and utensils, will help younger students learn to prepare basic nutritious meals/snacks while simultaneously reinforcing concepts they are learning in other classes. For example, students will practice math skills when measuring ingredients or science concepts to understand how temperature affects food or why a sanitary kitchen is critical. It requires comprehension skills to interpret recipes or historical knowledge to understand the origins and impact of regional cuisine. Cooking promotes the use of creativity, executive functioning skills and teamwork to get the job done. Learning to cook healthy, delicious food is practical and empowering on many levels, but it requires a lot of equipment to make it a "hands-on" experience versus one in which the students can only "watch" the teacher demonstrate what to do.

About my class

I did not learn how to eat or cook well until I was an adult. Growing up, I was basically on my own when it came to preparing some of the meals because I was raised by a single parent who worked full time. She didn't have the time or energy to teach me the art and science of cookery. As a result, I gorged myself on junk food, canned food, frozen food, or whatever I could find that was simple enough to prepare in a microwave or toaster. There are many children who eat poorly because they have not been taught how to prepare nutritious snacks/meals that will sustain their energy. There is an obesity epidemic in the United States resulting from the consumption of non-nutritious food, yet most students do not get an opportunity to learn the basics of healthy cooking unless they take a Home Economics class in high school. The sets of tools I am requesting, such as single burners, mixing bowls, measuring cups and utensils, will help younger students learn to prepare basic nutritious meals/snacks while simultaneously reinforcing concepts they are learning in other classes. For example, students will practice math skills when measuring ingredients or science concepts to understand how temperature affects food or why a sanitary kitchen is critical. It requires comprehension skills to interpret recipes or historical knowledge to understand the origins and impact of regional cuisine. Cooking promotes the use of creativity, executive functioning skills and teamwork to get the job done. Learning to cook healthy, delicious food is practical and empowering on many levels, but it requires a lot of equipment to make it a "hands-on" experience versus one in which the students can only "watch" the teacher demonstrate what to do.

About my class

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