Past projects 5
Snap Into S.T.E.M and Be Creative
Funded Feb 11, 2021I would first like to let you know how grateful I am to you for your generosity this year. It has been the hardest teaching experience I have ever had, teaching remotely, but because of all of you, it gave my students something to look forward to. The Snap circuits were a hit.
The first time they saw the STEM kit and the paint they were so excited. Every Friday the students looked forward to just exploring and seeing how many different combinations they could come up with to light it up or make it spin. I wish was able to upload the videos some of them took.
The paint was an even bigger hit. We used our paint to create different images that celebrated different holidays over the last few months. Mothers Day Asian Pacific Heritage and many more.
We will be working on an art activity for fathers day and the end of the school year.
The paint supplies have bought them a lot of joy being stuck at home. It has made them feel like they are in school. They are able to paint and talk to each other.
My hope for them is that they continue to express themselves all through the summer and bring their joy of art into the school year.
Thank you so much for making my students enjoy this very strange school year.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spencer
Mechanical Paper with Electronics Come To Life
Funded Jun 5, 2020This has been one of the most exciting and challenging things that I have done in my teaching career.
I was so excited the first day it was like I was a kid again opening my toys at Christmas. Our first day of classes consisted of getting to know each other and unpacking the materials we were going to use. We were going to use paper (or cardboard gears) to help us build movable robots or scenes, whatever our creative mind could conjure up.
The highlight of the event for me was learning coding. We used mini motors that were connected to a Chibitronic chip, which was then connected to an online programmer, to help us bring movement to our projects. Learning to program the code was the hardest part, but it was rewarding once you saw your robot moving.
One of the most important things that I learned, that I can bring into my classroom was the coding. We have experimented with coding in the past few months since moving to remote learning, but I was not as exciting as what we used to do in the classroom. With this program, we can now add another layer to our work. It's easy when you are in a classroom and you have all the materials on hand but working remotely has proved to be very difficult.
We were given a number of resources from the program presenters. Also participants shared some of their resources, which I am able to share with my students during their remote learning experience.
I thank all of my donors for their generosity in allowing me to have this experience.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spencer
This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and 6 other donors.Bringing Water Into Science
Funded Jul 15, 2018I want to thank my donors so much for their generosity. You have added so much to help us keeping our classroom environment clean. My students are able to wash their hands, clean their desks and water their classroom garden with the water that is stored in our portable sinks. My Kindergarten students have been learning about what plants need in order to grow. One of the lesson specifically asked whether or not seeds need water in order to grow. They used the water from the portable sinks to water the seeds that they planted. We did not have to leave the room to fill up containers of water, which may have spilled on the way back to the room.
When they first saw the potable sinks they where trying to figure out what they where. Some of them said it looked like the sink they saw at the dentist office. Others where very intrigued as to where the water came from and how it was going to work without a faucet. Once I explained and showed them how the sinks worked the where very happy and excited.
My next steps will be to do more activities in the class such as painting and building, because we have a water source in the classroom. We will be able, as a collective group, keep our classroom clean and free of as much germs as possible by washing our desks and keeping our hands clean. This is very important around this time of the year with the flu season upon us.
I am so very grateful for the support this organization give to teachers. without it we would not be able to make our classrooms as spectacular as we imagine them to be.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spencer
Maker Kids
Funded Aug 6, 2012Thank you so very much for all you have done for my Maker Kids. The students were a little apprehensive when I told them that we were going to make bridges in science class. They were not quite sure how it was all going to fit together. For them science is electricity and plants. Bridges were not in their scope at all. I showed them a video about the history of bridges, they got to see how architects and engineers design and build bridges. They learned about Truss bridges and how triangles make the bridges stronger. The started out with paper models so that they could get an understanding of how their bridges would look when finished. It also taught them patients. They understood that they would have to work carefully and diligently. And that's exactly what they did. Over a course of seven weeks my fifth graders worked together to build Truss bridges. They were enthusiastic, engaged and excited as they watched their bridges take form. I was so proud of their accomplishments and their dedication to seeing it through to the end.
My second group of student, enjoyed making the model cars. They dove into the project without any apprehension at all. I was amazed at how they were able to complete them with very little help from me. After assembly, they went on to paint them. Once dried we had to see if the cars could actually move, so we put them to the test on a ramp. The students liked the competition of seeing who built their cars the best. It was a teachers dream to see her students happy and excited about learning and take pride in what they accomplished.
To you Douglas, Amelie, Elizabeth and Thomas, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Because of your contributions to Maker Kids, I have seen a renewed excitement in my students. They are clambering to get to science class and don't want to leave when the period is over. We still have more ideas and challenges ahead off us,but my students are up for the challenge. As long as they are showing interest I will continue to give them what they need to be successful Makers. You have all made their beginning possible, so once again I say thank you. My students and I will always remember what you have done for us and we hope that you will continue to be supporters of Maker Kids and all the other schools that write in to Donors choose. With donors like you students every where will have a fighting chance.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spencer
Listening To Learn
Funded Oct 5, 2008This was the very first proposal I submitted to DonorsChoose.org, and I was very eager to see it funded. I am excited to get this project started. I promise you, my students will be just as excited to use these
headphones. Thank you all so very, very much for all you have done for my students. Your kindness is very much appreciated.
Ms. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spencer