Past projects 59
Take Flight!
Funded Apr 26, 2015Our students were so excited to receive their caterpillars and materials to help us learn about change and grow. Our entire Pre-K was able to observe caterpillars as they went through their stages of change. They were excited at every step. They would gather around the science table each day to see what was happening.
The language we used to describe the change and each step was absorbed into the children every day language. They were able to use the language within context, so now they know words such as metamorphosis, chrysalis, and pupa. The children were excited to finally release the butterflies into the park. What an exciting lesson for us.
Now that we have moved into growing and changing ourselves as we get ready for Kindergarten, the children have been able to utilize the idea of the caterpillars growing and changing as a jumping off point. They know that they soon have to fly away.
Thank you so much for your wonderful donations.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
The iPad Of Your Eye!
Funded Dec 21, 2014Thank you so much for your amazing donations. We have been having a blast with our ipads. We have done some incredible things with them.
Every morning we have free choices time. Our only choice of technology before was one old pc desktop at the front of the room, where at times we would squish a group of four. Now if children want they can choose an ipad or the computer. They have more exposure to technology and up to date technology. A touch pad is far easier for a Pre-K child to manipulate than the mouse.
The apps we have available right now are great. We have downloaded some very good quality letter, number, and handwriting apps. The children love them. They are interactive and the children are having knowledge reinforced in a positive way. We also have some music, patterning, and safety apps the children have been exploring during this time.
We have also used the ipads as a reward system. The ipad for 5 minutes has helped to reinforce positive behaviors for those who need a little extra incentive. It has made the whole class feel safer and happier.
In past projects and a trip to the Apple store we learned how to take pictures with an ipad. So we utilized that knowledge and took our ipads up to our media center and recorded each other doing a puppet show on our green screen. Then we dropped in back grounds and made a Gingerbread Man movie.
You have helped provide our students with another way to access materials and information that they are being exposed to in Pre-K. You have also allowed them to use the most modern technology in the 21st Century, preparing them for the future.
Thank you. We love our ipads.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
Fair Is Fair!
Funded Oct 22, 2014Our students love their new materials. They are so happy to be able to explore the play dough and sand. The children enjoy having their very own Clifford magazines and books about getting along.
The students are using sensory exploration and fine motor skills to work with the play dough. They are exploring the textures with their fingers. They are learning to sift and sort through the sand to find objects. They are learning to use tools to make shapes with the play dough. The students are also getting to read their very own magazines that have connections to what is happening around them. The My Big World Magazine has been so much fun because it is the right size and on their level. Our new books about bullying are great read alouds.
This project has helped our fourth Pre-K class have the same materials as our other three classes. This way all the children have equal opportunities to be exposed to the same learning advantages. There are more materials to use as a concrete example of what we are learning in school and at this age, that is important.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
My BIG World with Clifford!
Funded Jun 17, 2014Our students love their "My Big World" magazines. They are so happy when I pull out the big book version of their subscription. The children immediately ask if they will be taking one home.
My Big World fit perfectly into our Pre-K curriculum. We use them as read alouds when they come in and then they are sent home for a little homework and fun reading. We have read about staying safe, school, Apples, and this week we will read about Pumpkins. Counting and recognizing numbers are reinforced with each magazine. We have learned some letters and sounds. There are reviews of science and social study concepts.
The children feel empowered when we use this subscription. Since we read it allowed in class and there is always a simple pattern, the children feel they can read it too. This helps develop early literacy skills. I put the big book versions we have already read in our classroom library. I find that the children gravitate towards them because they are familiar texts.
Thank you again for supporting our Pre-K curriculum.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
Staging Wiz's
Funded Jan 22, 2014Thank you so much for your generous donation. The children were very appreciative of the materials they received to create the scenery for our production of The Wiz. The children were excited to be working with real materials that are used in real productions.
Students painted and created back drops for the Wizard himself and the Emerald City. The students felt a sense of accomplishment because although they did it with some teacher direction, by our 3rd show, the students were running the whole production on their own. Our drama teacher sat back and became an audience member.
Our students learned ow to work together, not just within one classroom, but over several grades, Pre-K - 8th grade. They learned communication skills because they had be responsible for the production on their own. This included creating and moving scenery in between scenes.
Our production was a hit. A parent was over heard saying, "I can't believe this was only a school production." This was in no part accomplished without your donation of supplies to create our amazing scenery.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 7 other donors.Shape It Up!
Funded Dec 16, 2013Thank you so much for your generous donations. You have helped our classroom in such an amazing way. The children were so excited when they saw the shape punches. The loves the shapes and though that is was so amazing that by pressing or squeezing the device you got a shape!
The student punched out different shapes to use for a shape and size project. We will use them over and over again for art and social studies (shapes in our environment and community study). The children used the shape punches to identify different shapes.
These shapes punches allowed the children to take turns, organize their turn taking through talk, and to work on their fine motor and gross motor skills. It was a way for children to compare the sizes of objects and develop that measurement math language they will need in the future. It was great to be able to have the children easily produce conventional shapes and use the same language. It was easier than having to spend hours myself cutting out enough shapes for all of the children to use.
Thank you again for your gift towards our class. It is much appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 10 other donors.Comfy Cozy Kids
Funded Oct 24, 2013Thank you so much for our new rug. Believe it or not something as simple as a rug has had a huge impact already. Our class loves the new rug. The children began to immediately explore and identify objects on the rug they recognized. They were excited about where they were going to sit with their friends and immediately laid down as they read books.
The rug has helped us in a few ways already. Although it is not larger than the alphabet mats we had at the beginning of the year, the markings are spaced better. We have more room to sit and not squish each other. This helps us learn about personal space. It also provides us with an easier way to turn and talk to our partners when discussing our thoughts. All of the lines and grooves of our past mats were a little distracting tactually to the children as they sat on them. The rug feels good underneath us but is not pulling attention away from the calendar or read alouds. We have used the rug already to help us identify colors, number, and letters.
Thank you again for our new rug. It makes our classroom a brighter more welcoming place. It gives a soft and comfortable place to sit and read, explore, and just lay down. We look forward to using it for the rest of the year and future Pre-K's will appreciate it too!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
A Big Red Dog can Teach us New Tricks!
Funded Sep 7, 2013Thank you do much for your amazing donations. The children are loving Clifford and his adventures in My Big World. The children love getting their own magazine to take home and work on. It is just the right size and the right level of work for them.
I am using My Big World as a read aloud. We discuss the content and make experiential connections. The children are able to take turns doing the activities on the large size. We review our counting, sequencing, alphabet knowledge, pre-reading skills, and so much more general knowledge.
My Big World has great curricular connections. It helps support what we are doing with the Common Core Curriculum and our Museum themed curriculum. It gives out children a sense of independence and confidence in their own learning.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
Am I the Next Michelangelo?
Funded Jan 7, 2013In our school we strive to incorporate Arts education into our academic curriculum. Aesthetic education is about more than just making the art but exploring it and questioning it. Through our work with outside organizations and museum partners we do this all of the time.
When we visit museums we make connections, identify patterns, create meaning, take action, and embody the works of art. If we see a dance performance we may try out the dance. If we look at an artist's paintings we may look for patterns. If we explore life size sculpture we may try to make our bodies into that shape. We also make connections by doing our own art.
The clay that we will receive will allow us to not only make our own clay sculptures, but talk about why an artist chooses that material, how is it to work with, what is our medium preference, and ask even more questions.
Thank you so much for you generosity. It means a lot to our school, in particular our Pre-K.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
Hear Us Take the Stage!
Funded Aug 31, 2012Thank you so much for your donations. This has already helped our school during our assemblies. The drama teacher has taken advantage of our new PA system during Middle School Productions. The individual PA systems we have purchased have been great for our little ones who's voices are still not very loud. Visitors have been heard by all of the children and not just the ones in front.
We appreciate the support. This purchase has given our students the opportunity to be heard loud and clear and to hear others.
We look forward to finding more uses for these materials. As we put on more productions and presentations, students can feel more confident that we will indeed hear them.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Susannah
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and 7 other donors.