This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
I would describe a typical day in my room like having a bunch of zombies walk in my room, thirsty for something more to do. They are tired and worn from rigorous reading, writing, and testing. They want to get out of the ordinary classroom setting and into things they have never done before.
My students are a diverse population.
There are about 1/3 Hispanic, 1/3 Caucasian and 1/3 African American. We are a small school located in the rural part of our county. The town is small and I teach about 2/3 of the students enrolled here each year. My kids are highly motivated when it comes to hands-on projects or when they are introduced to something they have never done before, or projects that are limited and they don't get a chance to do on a regular basis.
My Project
With the kick wheel, I will be able to do Ceramics with all my classes. I have been trying to create a Ceramics program to give the students another medium to work with. They love clay, and many of them have never had the opportunity to experience working with clay. Most of the families of my students can not afford courses on their own, and to be able to teach hand building with clay and pottery using the potters wheel would elevate their understanding of working with a medium that is 3-dimensional, as opposed to drawing and painting on 2-Dimensional surfaces. We would be able to make masks, bowls, mugs, hand build clay animals and figurines, and so much more. The possibilities with clay projects are limitless. These will be projects that they can make, keep and use. Introducing the element of function would also help them understand art as a craft, and consider not only how to make something look good, but make it functional to use as well.
Getting a potters wheel will allow my students to see a project grow from just a sketch, to a model, to an actual physical product that not only looks good, but can serve a purpose/function.
Getting this potters wheel will also open up more possibilities for fund raising for our Art Program and hopefully grow our program to be self sustaining. I want to start an after school program that works with students with disciplinary issues, as an intervention, keeping kids off the street and out of trouble.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Edwards and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
