Past projects 5
We Need New Robots!
Funded Mar 18, 2024I cannot express just how much this has improved our STEM classroom.
Within days, students were coding new robots in groups of 3, not 4-5. This meant they all got a chance to work on the robots in the time we had, and they were all able to do the coding themselves. Because they have the ability to code the robots themselves, they were able to get even more creative with the engineering design process. They were able to try new things, and try new skills. I was so excited to see them working on these projects, and I was so happy to see their ecstatic glee as they made the robots work. (There isn't a more wonderful feeling than seeing your project work the first time.)
The day the robots arrived, 10 huge boxes arrived in my classroom while I was teaching a different class. I was a bit confused... until I saw they were from Lego. I announced they were the new Lego robots, graciously donated by an anonymous donor on DonorsChoose. Immediately, my delightfully feral students started chanting, "Robots! Robots! Robots!" at the tops of their lungs. (We got a noise complaint from admin.) That day, the robotics class unpacked all the robotics kits, took inventory, and excitedly chattered about how cool these were going to be. The excitement was palpable. Some students were practically vibrating with how excited they were.
I'm so happy for these robots. This year, we'll continue to use them to learn about all kinds of engineering concepts. We'll continue to encourage students to try new things, challenge themselves, and solve new problems. All thanks to a generous donation of 10 Lego robotics kits.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lewis
Tripods Shouldn't Collapse Under the Camera
Funded May 24, 2024I'm so happy you chose to support our Multimedia class. With our current tripods being very flimsy, we haven't been able to do a large amount of work with them.
I'm so excited to see what these students make next year! We're ready to create a fantastic video for you, and I'm excited to see it.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lewis
We Make Movies: Better Camcorders Make Better Movies
Funded May 7, 2024I can't wait to send you a thank you video made by our students with these camcorders.
They're going to be so excited.
Currently, we have 2.5 working camcorders (one only partially works), and these will be fantastic for our upcoming school year.
I can't wait to see what they come up with in our video production unit. And I can't wait to show you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lewis
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and one other donor.Computer Science and Arduino: What Could Be a Better Pair?
Funded Nov 7, 2022On the second week of class for the semester, we pulled out the Arduinos to make their first project: Blink. Basically, you wire up the Arduino to make a light blink over and over. It seems boring, but it caught my students' interest immediately.
This is a required course, and not one that many students take voluntarily. In fact, a common complaint I get is "Why do I have to learn this? I don't want to be here!"
Well, 5 boys, 3 of whom had voiced their displeasure with the class almost immediately, made a more complex blinking pattern for the light with the code. Then, once it uploaded, they cheered like it was a touchdown for the Utes.
I now have most of my students interested and excited to be in computer science class. They're seeing how code impacts hardware, and seeing how the various components of computer hardware work together to make a whole device.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lewis
We Need to Unplug Away From Screens!
Funded Nov 30, 2022If you hadn't heard, covid really hurt our kids. The anxiety, the upheaval, the distance learning... all these things have set them back in something we call socio-emotional development. Effectively, they're dealing with trauma and as a result they're having a hard time reconnecting with their peers.
Board games are great for helping improve their mental health and personal growth, while helping foster a sense of community and a feeling that they're capable and able to work through issues.
Thank you for helping my students return to normal after an unprecedented global pandemic. Your donations will help them immensely.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lewis
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and one other donor.