Ms. Ursula Kelly's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 9

• Lego Powered STEM learning II - 6,7,8

  Funded Jan 26, 2025

  The Legos Robotics Prime kits have really challenged my sixth graders; they loved the Essential kits but were able to burn through them really quickly. The Prime levels up in project difficulty. The students have to slow down, problem solve and persist to accomplish the Unit projects and persevere to the next even more difficult task.

  The hands-on building combined with the screen based programming allows for a lovely balance between passive and active learning. This has been a marvelous addition to my classroom no only academically but in terms of keeping middle schoolers engaged, interested and on task. The mindful, practical application of technology is excellent combined with the familiar play of Legos. Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 18 other donors.

• Lego Powered STEAM Learning

  Funded Aug 3, 2024

  The Lego Spike stem kits are a smashing success! My students were incredibly happy to have access new hands-on materials. Our district had already approved the app and accessing it was relatively easy on school iPad.

  The whole curriculum is incredibly thoughtful and complete. Lego has many units available online for students to build and enjoy. The range of difficulty is broad and as such, makes the materials accessible to a large spectrum of students.

  I can guarantee we will be using these kit for years to come.

  I cannot thank you enough for your willingness to make a profound difference in the public school education of so many kids. These materials go a long way to keeping students interested, engaged and challenged; in keeping them loving learning and coming to school excited.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly

• Naturalist Classrooms

  Funded Jan 7, 2022

  The continued generosity of my community to sustain this project has spawned support on the state level. Thank you! We are growing beyond our initial enrichment classrooms to include the local library and a committee of village residents working on the future of the Corrales Interior Drain. We have already started including Corrales students in the conversation regarding a possible wildlife corridor to help preserve the abundant mammal, bird, plant and other life through the middle of the village, directly behind the elementary school and accessible to all village residents.

  The material and supplies purchased with this grant will allow us to continue to gift children with journaling supplies and classrooms with enrichment resources.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 15 other donors.

• The Naturalists

  Funded Oct 22, 2021

  Our school is implementing a schoolwide enrichment "Naturalist Project." One of my colleagues and I developed a comprehensive and ever changing resource for both teachers and students to bring the local nature into their classrooms. We continue to work on the curriculum, adding topics, information and photos daily. This project was initiated when our schools went virtual from March, 2020-April 2021. Out idea was to create academic endeavors that sent students into their own backyards and encouraged families to experience the natural world as their living science laboratory. The Natrualist google classroom can be all computer based but we encourage teachers and students to use the ideas and projects as a springboard off the screen and into their environment.

  Every participating student receives a portable journaling kit which can include a blank book; colored pencils; eraser; pencil sharpener; and pencil pouch. Participating classrooms are set up with a "discovery" corner with a desktop to display what's under the digital microscope; bug boxes; collection tray and print resources for research. Both the meta project and individual activities are open-ended; low floor and high ceiling so all students can participate on their own comfort and ability level”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly

• Building a Brain on Stories

  Funded Nov 17, 2019

  Thank you for being part of the village that raises the next generation of leaders. Stories are an important foundation of the building of the empathetic human brain and myths have been around as long as people. Stories also serve as the hook to get kids into reading and thinking...skills we cannot practice enough! I appreciate your generosity and insight in choosing to fund my project.

  I really appreciate your contribution to my classroom sets of The Myth Atlas and the Atlas of Monsters. We have already put them to good use. We studied Egyptian Mythology then went on to Native American Mythology. The assignment for this study was to choose a myth or monster to research; discover the history and origin of the myth or monster and create a one page museum display on the cultural group from which the myth or monster arose. Students had to practice reading the myth out loud so I could send them to classrooms of younger students as guest speakers/readers. It turned out to be a really interesting way into all the different First Nations of the Americas and I will most assuredly do it again as it can be done with any of the myths and monsters in the books.

  We are on our way to recognizing the archetype stories of all human storytellers through the conduit of myths and their monsters.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly

• What Leeuwenhoek Saw That Changed the World

  Funded Mar 3, 2019

  I have made it my mission to facilitate experiences and situations that inspire wonder in all the kids I teach. These little digital microscopes are so easy for most children to use that they can master procedure and function to move on to the big wonder opportunities inherent to the world literally under their noses. The scientist Leeuwenhoek was so inspired by the new tool called a microscope, he discovered the microbes living on his own teeth among many other things. If this level of wonder and inspired curiosity is inflamed in even one of the kids who will use these microscopes, it will be worth your donation a thousand times over. Thank you for being part of the village.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 8 other donors.

• Coding for Our Cubs

  Funded Nov 6, 2018

  As soon as the grant was fully funded, the Turing Tumble class set was ordered and we were put on their waiting list. This is a really new product and extremely popular, so they sell as quickly as they are manufactured. We received the games in two big boxes mid-November.

  The first group to play the game was limited to about twelve students. Rarely has an educational item generated so much interest in so little time. In less than twenty-four hours, kids were showing up at my classroom willing to sacrifice their meager twenty minute recess to have a chance to learn the Turing Tumble game.

  The graphic novel is the back story and reading it is a prerequisite to using the game. It's lovely to see so many kids readily and voluntarily applying their reading skills. Reading should be a means to an end, not an end in itself and Turing Tumble provides the incentive to read.

  The problem solving/coding aspect of the game is extremely engaging . Student are motivated to keep progressing up the steps as far as they can. The game has plenty of problems to be solved and students can self-select how far they want to progress in the game. Coding concept and practice without more screen time. All the attention to detail, precision and critical thinking/decision making of computer science accessible to our students without inordinate dependence upon fussy tech.

  I surely appreciate the village that literally raises our kids here in the Rio Grande Valley. Thank you to everyone who contributed!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly

• Schoolwide Steam Den for Corrales Cubs I

  Funded Dec 17, 2016

  Thank you for your contribution to the development of our STEAM (Science Tech Engineering Art and Math) Den (Corrales Cubs). Many of our students are rotating through with their general education classes each week to use the supplies and equipment made possible through DonersChoose grants. Currently we have several areas open including a creation station, nature journal center, micro life, human body, engineering with Keva blocks and legos on the wall. The new seating makes the experience special and differentiates the space from an ordinary classroom. It also allows students to experiment with alternative seating to become more aware of what works for them as a student. The effort of balance on a yoga ball or wobble seat encourages the development of core muscles and integrates brain activity to allow students better focus. Students are enjoying the opportunity to self-select their learning both in means and topic. They are expected to experiment and fail and to learn from their failures. Most classes are keeping response journals where they reflect on their learning and efforts in the STEAM Den. This integrated writing for a specific purpose with the science, math, tech of the hands-on, experiential setting.

  Thanks again for your contribution to this unique effort.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly

• Schoolwide Steam Den for Corrales Cubs II

  Funded Sep 13, 2016

  We are going to use the railroad board, glue, scissors and rulers to engineer paper plate bead mazes. This will build spatial awareness, planning, communication, fine and gross motor, experimentation, and problem solving skills. The students are enthralled with the color choices in paper and happy to use sharp scissors; like everyone, kids enjoy having choices and nice supplies with which to approach their tasks. It's lovely to teach students to choose the right tool for a job and then to actually have the right tools to offer them.

  My particular students have come to think of themselves as the builders and custodians of the school wide STEAM Den because they often get to help me deliver, unpack, set up and stow all the new supplies and equipment we are acquiring to create the rich learning environment for the whole student body. Because they are actively involved in the planning, upkeep and enhancement of the space, materials and supplies they have a sense of ownership that is invaluable. They are learning that they have agency in their world and this knowledge will extend to and influence their lives in a profound way. Thank you for your contribution to this project and to the integrity and well-being of the society in general.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ursula Kelly