My students are creative thinkers, problem-solvers, dreamers, and achievers. They are curious about learning, and they show incredible wonder about everyday experiences that we take for granted. They are eager to learn and to explore the world around them.
In our classroom, we work to show each child a deep respect for them as an individual.
My students have their own ideas, concerns, questions, thoughts, dreams, beliefs, and more. Children at this age are learning about who they are as people, and how they as people fit into larger systems such as family, school, community, and humanity. Each child comes from an individual family, with individual belief systems, customs, and values. My students come from a variety of diverse backgrounds, bringing their traditions, cultures, and values into our classroom, teaching all of us about themselves.
My students are teachers. I am constantly learning through them. They teach me about the names of a variety of bugs, the height of the tallest building in the world, and how the planets revolve around the sun due to gravity. They will continue to teach me even after they have left my classroom. I'm so lucky I get to be their teacher!
My Project
As we plan for an eventual return to school, we hope to spend as much time as possible learning outdoors. Not only is being outside safer in regards to COVID-19, time spent outdoors has been linked to positive increases in children's physical and mental health. This is way we are intentionally designing an outdoor learning space where children will have access to developmentally appropriate learning materials and spaces just as they would in the classroom. Regular tables don't work outdoors, though, so we are in need of tables designed to be used outdoors.
This table will provide a designated space designed for STEM learning in our outdoor classroom.
This table will be our STEM learning center! We will be placing materials from nature such as pincones, leaves, branches, twigs, seeds, seedpods, and more on this table for children to investigate and develop questions about. The children will also be encouraged to count these natural materials and group them on the table, which is mathematics (STEM) learning. This low table will be a designated space for STEM that children will always have access to outside, encouraging them to engage in STEM learning everyday. We will also connect the questions the children are asking around this table with the materials in the IF/THEN collection to promote diversity in STEM fields.
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Courtney and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
