Past projects 95
Learning New Tech at Spring CUE Conference
Funded Dec 4, 2019I was looking forward to Spring Cue in sunny Palm Springs, but like most things in 2020, Covid-19 had other plans. Instead of cancelling the conference, they decided to have a virtual conference (This is why my pictures are of my computer!). At first I was excited about the conference sessions being live, but I soon found myself overwhelmed! I found distance learning teacher more difficult than I thought it would be.Thankfully, Spring Cue had the presenters record the sessions, so I could watch them later. This was extremely helpful during the stressful transition between a classroom teacher to online teacher.
During this online conference I learned some fun activities, lesson ideas, fun classroom incentives, and new technology to add to my digital classroom. Since I was having difficulty engaging my students, I attended a workshop on digital badges as incentives, and my students loved them! I think one of the most valuable tools I took away from Virtual Spring Cue is getting to experience what it is like to be a digital learner. If I had a difficult time focusing on a session, I could pause, take a break, and come back. At times my mind would wander, and I was able to go back to the last thing I remembered hearing.This was helpful to share with my students, and discuss with them what helped me. I found being honest with them about my online learning struggles, helped them open up, and we were able to learn together!
While I wish I was able to attend Spring Cue in sunny Palm Springs, I am thankful for the experience, and everything I learned. Thank you again for funding this wonderful professional development opportunity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and one other donor.Family Involvement = Dodgeball
Funded Dec 3, 2019Thank you for funding our family fun night project. The students really put a lot of time and effort into planning the event, but unfortunately Covid-19 caused their Dodgeball event to be cancelled. However, the students were able to write, create, and perform their songs to their classmates. Other students were able to perform during our annual school wide music performances.
While the students were looking forward to showcasing their music to families, it was an honor to be able to watch them prepare during class. They worked together working on lyrics, notes, beats, and blended several different styles of music together. While the students were disappointed in the way the school year ended, they were still able to create new music and songs. They were able to share what they created with their family and friends.
Thank you again for funding this project, and investing in our students! We look forward to performing more soon!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 60 other donors.Learning by Serving Others
Funded Oct 30, 2019My students have advisory time each day. During this time our students set goals, learn social emotional skills, career education, financial literacy, social awareness, and character education. My students learn to put character traits such as kindness, integrity, respectfulness, serving others, and compassion into practice. My students decided to honor some of the hardest working, yet often unappreciated group of people in our school; the support staff (custodians, cafeteria workers, aides, SRO, nurse, and front office staff). To honor our support staff, my students held a couple of fundraisers to purchase a BBQ meal for them on Valentine's Day.
They created invitations, small centerpieces for the tables, and a school wide thank you banner and video to show during the lunch. They served the meal, and cleaned up afterwards. For the video they created this voice over: "We would like to apologize for all the times we forgot our manners by not cleaning up after ourselves or saying please and thank you. Thank you for all the smiles when we walk in the front office, and asking about our day or if we feel better after we've been out sick. Thank you for keeping us safe at school, and taking care of us if we become sick at school. Thank you for listening when we need someone to care, or giving a hug when needed. Thank you for keeping us in line when we mess up causing us to go to ISS (in school suspension), and helping us make better choices next time. Thank you for going the extra mile and covering classes when our teachers have to be out. Thank you for working early and late everyday to ensure we have a nice clean school. Thank you for serving us a delicious hot meal every day, and not embarrassing us if we don't have money in our account. From all the students at HMS, we want to say thank you and Happy Valentine's Day!"
By serving the support staff of the school who serves them daily, students not only practiced character education, they understood how important support staff are to making a school run smoothly. They also realized that every job/career is important.
The students were not expecting to also enjoy a BBQ meal, as their fundraisers only covered enough for them to supply the support staff meal. After the students cleaned up from the support staff meal, they were surprised by getting their own meal. The students served others without expecting anything in return, but thanks to your donations, I was able to provide them with a special treat. They were beyond surprised! Thank you for donating to a special project for my students. It was truly an amazing day watching them celebrate our support staff.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 3 other donors.Makey Makey Inventors
Funded Dec 3, 2019Thank you for funding our MakeyMakey project!. The first day my students connected the Makey Makey to the computer and used Play-Doh as conductors to play the pre-made piano and drums program. Then the students used https://scratch.mit.edu/ to play games using MakeyMakey as the controller. The students were then challenged to create their own Operation Game with the MakeyMakey using the Scratch website for coding. The students are engaged in as they are learning about circuits, coding, and designing a game.
When the students finish their operation games, they will be challenged with creating their own authentic inventions or games using the Makey Makeys. Technology plays a crucial role in their lives, and being able to use a variety of technology in the classroom is beneficial for them. The students are engaged as they are learning about circuits, coding, and designing a game. The MakeyMakey kits allow the students to collaborate and problem solve with other students, which is a real life skill all students need. The students do not rely on me to tell them what is not working; instead they ask each other questions, and work through problems that may arise. They are learning just as much for what doesn't work, as what does work! Seeing the students problem solve like this opens their minds to true innovation!
Thank you again for investing in my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and one other donor.STEM: Innovation With Hydraulics
Funded Dec 20, 2019Wow! Thank you for funding our hydraulics project! I know the students will be excited to learn about hydraulics, and then create something of their own. Giving students an opportunity to practice innovation helps empower them to continue to create and innovate into their future careers. Thank you again for funding our project!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by Endless and one other donor.Holey Moley, Adventure Awaits!
Funded Aug 13, 2019Thank you for funding our classroom project! Thank you for all the decorations, brain games, and consumables for our Adventure Island project! My students love the fluorescent light filters! When they first walked into my class they said it was like walking in the ocean or a spa, but most importantly they avoid headaches and eye strain from the fluorescent lights!
My students used the consumables to create a zipline for their Adventure Island project. They were challenged to create an adventurous zipline by purchasing the materials with fake money while staying within a budget constraint, and made a business pitch of why their design should be chosen over the other ziplines. They then designed a 3D model of their Adventure Island with their teams! The students use the brain games when they have free time in the morning or during their lunch break, but their favorite brain game book is Sherlock Holmes as they try to solve different codes and cases!
Thank you again for providing the supplies for our classroom. My students did amazing work creating their ziplines and Adventure Island, and it would not have been possible without you. The decorations helped turn my dull classroom walls into an inspiring classroom! Thank you for investing in our project, and for helping make my classroom a fun, inspiring, and creative place to learn!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by J.W. Couch Foundation and 7 other donors.Coming to a Classroom Soon: Avengers and Star Wars
Funded May 21, 2019Thank you for funding our classroom project for the littleBits kits. My students are learning concepts of the engineering design process, energy transformations and conservation, electric circuits, and how magnetism and electricity are interrelated.
The students created and coded an Avengers gauntlet, a Star Wars droid, an electric guitar, a NASA rover, a self driving car, a security device, and a wearable fan to name a few! They loved creating their first prototype, and I had several who said they would love to work in engineering and create new ideas to help others!
Thank you again for providing the littleBits kits for our classroom. I truly believe that by giving students an opportunity to problem solve, be creative, have student choice; they are not only more engaged in their education, but are learning those critical thinking skills needed to succeed. Thank you for investing in this project, and my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 6 other donors.Explore with us on Adventure Island
Funded Aug 23, 2019Thank you for funding our classroom project! Thank you for the Circuit and the vinyl needed to finish our Adventure Island project. Using recycled materials, my students were challenged with budget constraints to create a zipline for Adventure Island. The students then used Cospaces to create a virtual reality Adventure Island. The students are not only learning about the engineering design process and to collaborate together as a team, but about an emerging technology with virtual reality.
After Thanksgiving break, the students will be working on their business pitch. They will try to convince a panel to invest in their example of Adventure Island. The students will be creating a name and a logo for their Adventure Island business. The students had to problem solve, use creative technology, write a creative pitch, and use critical thinking skills to complete Adventure Island!
Thank you again for your generous donations, and your kindness while investing in my students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by J.W. Couch Foundation and one other donor.April Showers Bring May Flowers
Funded Jul 29, 2019Thank you again for funding our project. The purpose of this project was for students to create innovative ways to grow plants in non-traditional growing spaces (hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical, container, and aeroponics). Students worked in small groups to research alternative growing methods and materials, as well as environments that are conducive to the growth of specific types of plants. Students explore the adaptations of different plant species that allow them to thrive in alternative growing systems. Student groups designed and built prototypes of alternative growing systems using recycled materials.
The students planted three seeds, and completed a plant profile where they measure the plants' height to help determine the right amount of sunlight and water the plant needed to survive. One group measured the soil's temperature to see the best temperature for the plants to thrive.
While not every plant survived, the students learned the strengths and weaknesses of each growing method. The students learned about food deserts, and how each of these methods would help in these deserts. The students had a great time with this project, and we thank you again for your generousity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 6 other donors.Project Based Learning With Computer Science
Funded Aug 26, 2019This project has helped transform my classroom into a fun and engaging environment! When the students opened the Boolean Box Plus Computer Science Kit , they were greeted with parts to build their own computer! The kit is empowering for my female students as they are learning real-world applications in coding, engineering, and technology! This is the first time my students have actually built their own computer. It has given them the confidence they need to feel like they are creators and innovators in our ever-changing world. After the computer is assembled, the students have to complete more challenging task using raspberry pi to help them design their own programming projects.The best part about the Boolean kit is it meets the students where they are, so all students can feel successful with coding, and advances as the students learn new skills!
My students also love designing arcade circuit games, and the Snap Circuits 3D M.E.G. uses building pieces to make realistic, 3D circuits, like those found in homes, electronic equipment, and skyscrapers. My students are learning real world applications with these materials. Thank you for providing my students with this truly meaningful learning opportunity. Your generosity is much appreciated!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Evans