It is with mixed emotions that I am participating in Mustaches for Kids. That's right, for the next four weeks, I will be subjecting myself to public humiliation and private doubt by growing what will no-doubt be a ridiculous looking Mustache. In order to justify this endeavor I need your support. Please sponsor my Mustache by picking a classroom project from the list below to support. And wish me and my Mustache luck. (By the way, DonorsChoose.org is a 501(c)3 charity. See below for ... more
It is with mixed emotions that I am participating in Mustaches for Kids. That's right, for the next four weeks, I will be subjecting myself to public humiliation and private doubt by growing what will no-doubt be a ridiculous looking Mustache. In order to justify this endeavor I need your support. Please sponsor my Mustache by picking a classroom project from the list below to support. And wish me and my Mustache luck. (By the way, DonorsChoose.org is a 501(c)3 charity. See below for approvals from Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.) hide
We had enough ink cartridges to last us through the school year. My students love to use the computers and enjoyed writing several books. In the pictures I have uploaded, you will see students working on their rough drafts and then reading their final books to the class.
Your donation allowed me to give students varied opportunities in the classroom to learn, explore, and to practice their reading and writing. You helped to make this school year an enjoyable and successful one. I can't thank you enough.”
"Ms. W! Who bought us all this stuff?!?" These words were spoken by Anissa, one of my most talkative, inquisitive students as she pawed through the box of things on the back table. I of course rushed over with my, "Be careful!" to save the incubator from toppling off the edge of the table. When I got to the table her head was already poking out the door. "Come over here you guys! You've got to see this!" She called out, inviting all of the kids outside into our classroom.
Every morning there is a group of students who are brought to school early because their parents have to go work. Many of them like to come into the room to chat with me, sharpen pencils, read books, pass out papers... Since the arrival of the new science materials, their repertoire of activities has stretched to include observing life coming into being through seeds sprouting, tadpoles springing legs, and eggs keeping toasty warm in the incubator.
Thank you so much for the great learning opportunities with which you have provided my students all semester long! It has been an absolute treat to see their eyes shining with every new experience. From watching the eggs in the incubator to seeing the tadpoles zip around in their tank, my students had the unique experience of seeing life change before their eyes. They learned that animals grow in different ways. They found out that different forms of life need different things to survive, and that there are different lengths of incubation for a chick and a tadpole and a radish. They saw these miracles happen before their eyes, in their cupped hands, and have tasted the vegetables that they grew. Thanks to you wonderful donors, my wonderful students had some wonderful learning experiences- that's a whole lot of wonderful!
I am so grateful for your contributions. The materials you have provided will last for many years. You can see in the pictures and read in my students' letters what you have brought to their year, but I assure you that in the year to come there will be a whole new set of first graders that will be equally blessed by your actions. Your donation is the kind of thing that lasts year after year in my classroom and in the hearts of my students for their entire lives. Thank you so much. ”
Thank you so much for your incredibly generous donation to our school's new science lab! While, the freezer didn't arrive in time to save our silkworm eggs, it has opened up a huge realm of possibilities for my science teaching and my students' science learning.
Just two weeks ago, I was doing a geology lesson with the fourth graders. We've been learning about natural processes that shape the earth's crust, one of which is freezing and thawing. For this first time in my seven years of teaching, my California students got to see this in action. We made mudcakes, put them in the freezer one week, then pulled them out the next week, photographing the changes. (Although the point was well-illustrated and we've moved on to other concepts, I still have one group of students who come in at lunch to take their mudcakes in and out of the freezer. They've got to be on at least their fourth freezing and thawing cycle by now.)
Right now, we're gearing up for the school-wide science fair. Several groups of students are going to be using the freezer in their experiments. Some third graders--who just this year learned that matter can be a solid, liquid, or gas--want to find out if all liquids can turn into solids. Some fourth graders want to find out if some ice cream flavors melt more quickly than others. (Frankly, I can't wait for these students to be in 5th grade, when they'll get to learn all about melting points and boiling points--and I'm glad to know that I have the equipment to do it right!)
Your donation truly has improved my students' education and learning. They're excited to be learning about science, and I'm excited to be teaching it. Thank you for helping us all to do it even better!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Tuohy
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and 3 other donors.
I would like to thank you again for your generous donation. My small advanced class used the materials in February and over 140 students from my beginning classes will have the chance to use the materials later this month. In each class, the students get a chance to read parts in a play based on the game of CLUE. Some of them become suspects in a murder and the students playing the CSI team are in charge of leading the class through the gel electrophoresis lab to compare crime scene DNA and suspect DNA (actually bacterial DNA). This year the advanced class determined that Mrs. White was guilty.
Normally, I am able to purchase all of the materials needed for this lab with school funds. This year, money is tight and without your donation, we would not have been able to do our favorite lab of the year.
You have truly made a difference in my students' lives. You have helped them love school and biology. I also know that some of them will consider a future career in forensics. Thank You. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Figueiredo
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.
Thank you very much for funding the fuel cell car project for my robotics technology class. After watching a video about my solar car project as an engineer, one of my students got an idea for building a fuel cell powered robot. He got other students excited about the project and asked me if we could try it. Although I had robot kits in my class, I really needed the fuel cell car kit that you donated to make my students vision become a reality.
When the kit arrived almost everyone in the class wanted to participate in the project! I told them that they would have to take turns because we only have one kit. The first team of students quickly built the car and were amazed to see it work. The power of the sun would "charge" the fuel cell through a solar panel and the car drove of the hydrogen energy. Unfortunately, the power was not enough to power one of our robot kits. Undaunted, my students plan to design and build their own custom robot that can be powered by the fuel cell. On to the next project!”
We love this equipment! The Van De Graaf generator and Wimshurst machine are so useful to our studies. The students have run through every single experiment I designed to teach the principles of electrostatics and charge. The excitement level is so high with this type of equipment that students answered my challenge. Can you design your own experiments to explore the topics further.
With the world wide web available to students in my class and a serious dose of curiosity they were able to create an entire new series of experiments designed specifically for the equipment. 8th graders doing high school work and toying with experiments intended for college level students.
I want to personally assure you that your generosity will be felt on this campus for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Traversi
This classroom project was brought to life by KnowHow2GO and 8 other donors.
I believe that all children can learn and that it is my responsibility, as an educator, to provide students with equal opportunities to learn. Given the diversity in the classrooms today, it is essential for me to provide students with a variety of learning experiences to ensure that they will be successful in life. Since education is so under funded, it makes my job at achieving that more difficult in providing students with these opportunities. I am incredibly grateful for people like you who value the importance of an education that sets high standards for all students.
When I received the package of reading games I was in disbelief! It was an amazing feeling to know that there are people out there who have wonderful aspirations for my students. The items that you have donated to my classroom allow my students to have fun while learning, work independently, work in small groups, and provide them with the opportunity to teach and help their classmates.
As soon as I could open the box, which was immediately, I began to think of all the fun and exciting experiences my students would now be able to have. My students are given the opportunity to engage in many wonderful learning experiences through the supplies that you have donated. My students absolutely love using the math games during Math Workshop. Math Workshop has now become one of their favorite parts of the day because of all the new fun and exciting activities they get to take part in! All of these dreams that I had are now coming true because of your generous donation.
I cannot begin to tell you how many lives you have affected and will affect through your donation. Thank you for your support in assuring that all students learn to read and have fun in doing so!
Thank you so much for your generosity. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our tadpoles. We just went on field trip and learned about frogs, so the classes are very excited about having them in the classroom. Their enthusiasm is contagious and everyone in the whole school knows the frogs are coming. It is experiences like this that makes teaching science so rewarding. They will definitely become frog experts and realize how interesting science can be.
They were also thrilled with the experiment bags. We will be doing those in May as it is something wonderful that will keep them engaged at a time when they are already planning their summer activities. These are great projects that keep the students wanting to learn more.
Thank you for valuing our students' education and realizing that hand on activities are always a wonderful learning opportunity. It is generous people like yourselves that make my job so much better. Thank you.”
Today I watched one of my nonverbal students initiate play with one of my older, more verbal students while playing in front of their new kitchen set. It was a simple action: he grabbed the Fisher-Price play peas from the refrigerator, turned to his friend and the stove, and offered them toward the second student. This interaction was his first in peer play and was amazing to witness.
I am so thankful for your generosity. The students play with the kitchen every day. I have seen everything from making a helping of rice and beans like mom does at home, to the upstart of a student cafe complete with chef's hat and plastic steak. We are working on sorting foods into categories and designated spaces, pretend play with friends, and, as I indicated before, peer-to-peer interaction. Best of all, the kitchen is safe, sturdy, and will last for years to come. ”
Thank you for the generous donation that you made to our classroom. My students and I appreciate the fact that people like you want to help us make our classroom the best place possible for children. It is through donations such as this that our classroom is what it is. I could not provide for my students without your help.
Now that we have visual and audible timers in the classroom there are fewer students asking me when something is going to happen next. Having the visual timer with the red tape that shrinks as time passes is really helping my students understand how 5 minutes feels different from 20 minutes. As a result, they feel more independent because they don't have to ask me for the answer.
One of the disabilities that many of my students have is called a nonverbal learning disability. A typical characteristic is not being able to tell time or even to have a sense of time. With these new timers, students are supported in learning to have that sense of time. It means a lot to me and to them that they have visual an audible reminders to keep us on on track.
I appreciate you for helping me support my students and by giving me the opportunity to show them how special they are.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schneider
Share this page
A chain reaction of support starts with one share.