Completed:Empowering 1st Graders as Producers and Consumers
"Thank you for considering my proposal! I am a first grade teacher in a lower economic school. I would like to take an innovative approach to teaching first graders about being responsible consumers, producers, and wage earners. I will provide hands-on, real-life opportunities by allowing learners to...
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"Thank you for considering my proposal! I am a first grade teacher in a lower economic school. I would like to take an innovative approach to teaching first graders about being responsible consumers, producers, and wage earners. I will provide hands-on, real-life opportunities by allowing learners to have jobs, earn wages, create specific goods, and provide services to others.
After key vocabulary and concepts for this economics/social studies unit have been introduced, funding from this proposal will be used to allow students to build and create crafts and gifts that they can later “buy” for friends and family members. We will also donate crafts to a local nursing home and to veterans in the area. Through this grant, I would be able to offer students higher quality supplies and materials to create items that compete with store-bought gifts. I believe this would increase students’ ownership of the project. It will allow them to take more pride in their products. This pride and ownership will translate into more active participation, greater motivation, and increased enthusiasm for the concepts as a whole.
The goal of this social studies unit is to teach kids the importance of a positive work ethic, good citizenship skills, the value of money, and applicable life skills. Through jobs in the classroom and earned paper “money” as wages, students will be responsible for managing and saving their money. Students will work in groups to make crafts and gifts, becoming producers, in our class Workshop. Then they will become consumers, using their earned money to buys products. We will also designate gifts to share with those in need in our community.
With your support, I will be able to reinforce the importance of money management, being responsible consumers, and the benefits of hard work as students can become consumers of their own labor and efforts. Thank you for your consideration. We are doing great things in our classroom, and you can help us continue to do so!
My students need 9 different craft kits to support a hands-on economics unit where my students become producers and consumers.
The cost of this proposal is $421, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment ."
See Mrs. S.'s class participating in this project!
(Enlarge photos)
Apr 10, 2009
Dear Rick and Debbie, Bethany, Jim and Joan Rose, Joel, Sarah D. Bunting, Vera, Susan, Jaime, Mrs. Peters, Angelica, Jennifer and Anonymous Donor,
Thank you so much for supporting our hands-on learning of economics in my first grade class! I am so grateful for your donations! The kids loved making picture frames, bookmarks, critters and creatures, and gifts for friends and family members. During our economics unit, the class earned "money" and they were able to spend their "money" at our in-class store. They couldn't wait to go "shopping" and purchase the crafts made in class to give to others! The lessons learned thanks to your generous giving are so important as these children grow up to be true producers and consumers.
I just wanted to tell you, from the bottom of my heart, that what you have done for us matters and I feel honored that you chose us to support. In addition to the social studies concepts learned through this project, my students also saw firsthand the power and pleasure of generosity, giving, and helping others when they received so much from you. Thank you for caring about the learning that goes on in my classroom, and thank you for caring about my kids!!!
With gratitude, Mrs. S.
Mrs. S. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Jan 28, 2009
Dear Rick and Debbie, Bethany, Jim and Joan Rose, Joel, Sarah D. Bunting, Vera, Susan, Jaime, Mrs. Peters, Angelica, Jennifer and Anonymous Donor,
Thank you so much for your generosity and your support of the great things we are doing in my classroom! It is because of people like you that I can offer my young learners such unique experiences, and I appreciate you more than you can possibly know! Please know that you have touched the lives of children in a special way through your giving.
"I gave to this project because I know Mrs. Smiley-Shipman is a FABULOUS teacher!!! Love from Alaska!!"
Jaime
gave
on Nov 10, 2008
"I gave to this project because.. A friend of mine and my daughter asked. But I felt it was a great cause due to the impact of the projects. I feel the students will learn such valuable skills and intelligence it takes to actually make a difference as people, concerned with the environment as respectable, future contributors to their communities."
Rick and Debbie
from Raleigh, NC
gave
on Dec 19, 2008
"I gave to this project because... I think it is a great idea to teach children about our economy."
Joel
gave
on Dec 19, 2008
"We gave to this project because we feel it is important for kids to learn how our economic system works."
Jim and Joan Rose
from Chapel Hill, NC
gave
on Dec 20, 2008
Bethany
gave
on Jan 27, 2009
"I gave to this project because my DonorsChoose proposal was fully funded! I fully expected to have to contribute toward my own proposal so when my project was funded, I decided to make a contribution toward another proposal. I teach 5th grade in So. Cal. and know that all teachers want to provide quality activities for our students. Best wishes!"
Mrs. Peters
from La Mirada, CA
gave
on Jan 28, 2009
Sarah D. Bunting
from Brooklyn, NY
gave
on Jan 28, 2009
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Mary Ellen H. (staff member)
on Aug 5, 2008
