Remember the thought and planning that went into the perfect picture in grade school? Imagine reaching for your crayon box and finding that the right colors aren't there. Worst yet, imagine if all the crayons were gone? We have a new 3D printer, but only 4 filaments.
I have the best third graders!
Their beautiful smiles brighten every day. The best part of their hearty laughter and sincere smiles is they stay so happy in spite of what many of them face outside of school. They come to me from a variety of backgrounds, as our school serves a student population with over 90% of our students receive free or reduced price lunch, but they all deserve a quality education and all that it has to offer! I work with students of every level and am always looking for the most creative, effective methods to meet their individual needs. We recently were fortunate to receive a Makerbot 3D printer. I am looking forward to utilizing it to create the best, most uplifting, engaging, exciting, and appropriate materials to engage my third grade students.
My Project
Visual learners need hands-on tools. A 3D printer teaches that there are no boundaries to their imagination and creativity. If they can design it; they can build it!! ALL learners would experience a whole new way to learn! Analytical students will thrive in the design process. Struggling students will be motivated by the new technology and immediate success of holding the printed items in their hands! We will use the filaments in every subject! We've already built a math tool to help with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. We'll soon create models for science! New filaments to add to our 3D printer art projects, research projects, topics of extended research and in depth study could be molded to life. I don't want anything to hold my students back! All students would be motivated to push the limits of their imagination, creativity, and problem solving! If we run out of filaments or are limited by color, my students won't be able to work to their highest potential!
Eight year old children are some of the most inquisitive people I've ever met!
I want to build on their natural curiosity and imagination while building life long skills of problem solving and analytical thinking that will provide the strong minds we'll need in the future. Imagine the realm of possibilities on my students' learning. Textbooks and paper have their place, but stretching imagination and creativity with a 3D printer will build confidence, self esteem, and problem solving skills!
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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 Mrs. Stephenson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
