Past projects 18
Reading Can Be Magical!
Funded Aug 14, 2024My students have been enjoying the materials that your very kind donations have made possible. The children use the puppet theater to put on their own puppet shows. While doing this they are building language and social skills, two very important areas of development in the preschool years. It is amazing to watch some of the children who are quiet or who are at the beginning stages of language development, communicate through the puppets.
The children also absolutely love to curl up on the sofa and enjoy some of their favorite books together. During choice time they often choose to go to the library area to read stories or put on a puppet show. Thank you again for making our library area an inviting place for my students, where they can develop important language and social skills all while having so much fun!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Bringing the Joy of Reading Home
Funded Sep 17, 2022We have set up a lending library for our students and families with your generous donations of books. Our students and their families are so happy to be able to take the books home and read together. The families have been letting us know that the children get so excited to read the books. The families say that the books really get the children talking. This is significant because developing the language of our students is a major goal of preschool. Some families also report that other siblings get involved during reading time which means your donations help encourage family bonding along with a joy of reading. The children always ask for their new book baggies when they return the ones they had for the week. It is just amazing to see the joy and excitement of reading that you are helping to foster. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
This classroom project was brought to life by Valhalla Foundation and 8 other donors.Play is Powerful in Preschool!
Funded Dec 9, 2021My three year old students have been having a blast and learning so much with our new materials. The magnetic wands are a big hit. We conducted a science investigation in which we tested different objects to see if the wand would "attract" them. The children made predictions and tested the objects I provided, and then extended the activity themselves by going around the room to discover what else the magnetic wand attracted. They were being scientists while using the new vocabulary and applying their learning. These simple tools unlocked so much learning and engagement for my three year olds.
The children also have loved playing with the kinetic sand! While studying "construction" and "vehicles" the students used toy construction vehicles to scoop and lift the kinetic sand. The students were working on language and social emotional skills by playing together and talking to each other.
The children are now using the doctor's kit in our pretend hospital, while studying the topic of "care." This material also helps build vocabulary, enhance math skills as the children pretend to count heartbeats, and build important social emotional skills.
Next we will be using the dot markers to create art together as we talk about "friendship." I know the children will be so excited to use these new materials! Your generous donations have provided countless hours of learning through play for my precious students. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 5 other donors.Recreate the Magic of the Preschool Classroom at Home
Funded Jan 25, 2021Thank you so much for your kind donations of materials for my young learners to use during remote learning. My students were so excited to receive a full bag of materials. We have been using the materials to make our Zoom meetings more hands-on and interactive. This week my three year olds used the magnetic letters in the kinetic sand as a fun way to begin to identify the letters in their name. They get so excited when I hold up their special letter (the first letter of their name) and now they can find their special letter too with their letters at home. My students have also enjoyed painting with the water colors and writing on the dry erase boards. The materials are a way for our children to continue their learning through play while they are at home. My students and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for these awesome learning materials.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 7 other donors.Blocks for Building and Bonding
Funded Sep 17, 2020The blocks have been an amazing and effective learning tool for my precious preschoolers participating in remote learning. They were so excited to receive their blocks and begin to build with them. Remote learning is challenging for such young students who usually thrive in environments where they interact with each other. The blocks you provided have helped us replicate some aspects of a real classroom. For example, this week we were creating gingerbread houses after reading the story, The Gingerbread Man. We did this activity over Zoom and the children were so engaged and excited! This activity got them to interact with their classmates as they built together over Zoom. They also were developing their language skills as they spoke about their houses.
Another activity we did was to construct buildings from a book we read together called City Shapes. One student decided to construct the train from the book. The student was able to apply her learning from the book using the blocks. The blocks have helped all my students build skills and use their imaginations.
The parents report that their children love to play with the blocks. Thank you so much for helping me bring joy, creativity, and learning to my wonderful students during this difficult time. It means so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 15 other donors.Help 2s and 3s Learn to Love to Read
Funded Nov 16, 2019My preschoolers and parents absolutely love the book baggies I created for them with your kind donations. Each Monday, the parents take a different baggie home filled with three books for the week to read with their child. The children get so excited to take home the baggies.
The parents tell me that they enjoy reading the books with their children and the children love reading time each day. Parents give me feedback, telling me about stories that their child particularly enjoyed. Having stories read to children this young has so many benefits for them, including increasing their vocabulary, providing bonding time between parent and child, and creating lifelong lovers of reading. In class lately I notice that the children are more engaged when I read stories with them. I also notice my three year olds communicating better with me and their classmates. I know that reading at home is contributing to these positive developments. Thank you again so much for bringing books into the lives and homes of my precious preschoolers and their families.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
Ramp Up the Learning in Pre-K!
Funded Jan 8, 2019My Pre-K students were beyond excited when they saw the ramp kits. They absolutely love exploring the ramps. They choose to build ramps almost everyday. They have tested objects that roll and objects that slide. They have explored what happens when you change the angle of the ramps. They have observed what happens when they push a vehicle down the ramp, versus just letting go of it. They have also discovered that you have to roll a ball slowly in order to trap it in a plastic cup at the end of the ramp. These materials give them the opportunity to problem solve and work together. It's amazing to see these budding engineers at work.
The best part of this project is that it stemmed from the children's interests. Your generous donations are helping my students develop skills in so many domains including, science, engineering, language, and social skills, in a fun and engaging way. The results of adding these materials to my classroom are even better than I could have imagined. I can't wait to see what other discoveries the children make. Thank you so very much.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 3 other donors.Coping through Cuddling and Communicating
Funded Sep 3, 2017I cannot thank you enough for bringing teddy bears into my classroom. This program has truly been a game-changer. Children have used the bears to help them calm down when they are upset, instead of having tantrums. When my students are sad, they hug the bears and feel better. They are using the bears to help them express feelings. For example, when a child was feeling sad, he told me his bear felt sad, and we were able to discuss why his bear was sad and what would help him and his bear feel better. The bears also help the children focus during a story because I tell them their bears need quiet in order to hear the story and learn in school.
The children feel strong connections to their bears. They each gave their bear an original name. Some names are Mayla, Bella, King and Fluffy Tyrannosaurus Rex. They also decorated t-shirts for their bears to further personalize their bears. The children really enjoy having the bears in the classroom.
Our next step is to begin drawing and writing stories about the bears, to help children express feelings through writing and also to enhance literacy skills in the classroom.
The bears have helped my children feel safe and comforted in the classroom and have helped them express their emotions. In general the class feels calmer with the teddy bears. Thank you for bringing these wonderful friends into our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 2 other donors.More Than Just Splashing Around
Funded Oct 20, 2015My preschoolers and I cannot thank you enough for your generous donations that have helped us fund our classroom water table. The children have already experienced hours of fun and learning at this center. They have discovered objects that sink and float, learned about volume by pouring water back and forth, and discussed which animals live in water. They have even washed play dishes, their favorite activity, since it involves bubbles. While participating in these activities, they have practiced working cooperatively with friends, taking turns, and having conversations. These are very important social skills that are part of the pre-k curriculum. The water table has become one of my students' favorite areas to play and learn. Developing a love of learning is my most important goal for my young students. Your very kind donations help me to achieve this goal.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
Success Starts at the Sand Table
Funded Dec 31, 2014My students and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for our amazing sand table. My students have already had hours of fun and learning at the sand table. They have been learning to share and play cooperatively. They love to use their imaginations to make play sand cakes to celebrate birthdays. Most recently they have been using dump trucks and rocks at the table for our study of transportation. They are also working on their fine motor skills as they pour and dump and scoop. The sand table is one of their favorite areas of the room.
Thank you again for this wonderful addition to our classroom. It will not only benefit my students, but students for years to come!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Zara
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia and 2 other donors.