My students attend a large elementary school, with a student population of roughly 650 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. They represent many different stages of academic, social emotional, and musical development.
My students are kind, funny, creative, and strong individuals.
They are also learning appropriate ways to handle their feelings and how to navigate learning and relationships when difficulties arise. They need support in these areas throughout their school day in order to grow into the best version of themselves.
My Project
The items requested for this project will help create a Calm Center for students to use during music class. A Calm Center will provide my students with an impetus to consider how they are feeling and the option to choose to step away from learning for a few minutes to calm themselves down. This is critical for developing self-regulation.
The Calm Center will be a dedicated space for students to go to when they need time and space to deal with strong emotions in order to be able to continue learning.
Students may use it when they feel sad, frustrated, angry, anxious, overwhelmed, or any other emotion that is making it difficult for them to focus on learning. Importantly, students will choose to use this space. It will never be punitive. When students using the center feel ready to learn, they will rejoin the class!
Through the Calm Center, students will be given the time to practice the skills they need to self-regulate their emotions. They will be given space to practice calming their mind and body so they are ready to continue learning and making music with their classmates. They can choose from different strategies that will help them calm their minds and bodies, such as stress balls, fidgets, a Find It game, coloring, reading books about emotions, and deep breathing.
There will also be a "bag of feelings", which will contain small plush characters that have a facial expression which matches the feeling written on the back; wooden eggs with facial expressions for younger students who need fewer emotions to choose from; and emotion flashcards. Students can use any or all of these tools to help identify how they are feeling.
Kimochis 2086-MIXEDBAG Bag of Feelings Toy, Multicolor (Pack of 33)
• Amazon Business
$61.20
1
$61.20
Find it Games - Kids Version - The Original Hidden Object Search Adventure
• Amazon Business
$22.95
1
$22.95
Hape Eggspressions Wooden Learning Toy with Illustrative Book
• Amazon Business
$16.62
1
$16.62
TANGLE Set of 3 Jr. Original Fidget Toy
• Amazon Business
$14.85
1
$14.85
Mandala Coloring Book for Kids: Big Mandalas to Color for Relaxation, Book 1
• Amazon Business
$4.61
3
$13.83
Feelings Flash Cards: A Great Way for Kids to Share and Learn About All Kinds of Emotions
• Amazon Business
$13.00
1
$13.00
Snap And Click Fidgets, Set Of 6 Twist And Shape Puzzle Toy, 10.75 Inches (Assorted Colors) 24 Links Each For Sensory Relief Fidget, Party Favor, Stocking Stuffers For Home And School Reward
• Amazon Business
$9.49
1
$9.49
Big Mo's Toys Stress Balls - Emoji Sensory Stress Reliever Fidget Toy Stretch Ball for ADD / ADHD - 4 Pack
• Amazon Business
$7.99
1
$7.99
The Feelings Book
• Amazon Business
$7.50
1
$7.50
Llama Llama Mad at Mama
• Amazon Business
$7.47
1
$7.47
Little Monkey Calms Down (Hello Genius)
• Amazon Business
$7.19
1
$7.19
Grumpy Bird
• Amazon Business
$6.99
1
$6.99
Glad Monster, Sad Monster
• Amazon Business
$6.82
1
$6.82
Happy Hippo, Angry Duck: A Book of Moods (Boynton on Board)
• Amazon Business
$5.49
1
$5.49
Materials cost
$201.39
Vendor shipping charges
$11.98
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$3.02
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$246.39
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$43.48
Total project goal
$289.87
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$289.87
12 Donors
-$289.87
Donations toward project cost
-$246.39
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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. Kwasny and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
