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
Fill 'er up! We have an "Art Cart" in our preschool classroom that has too much empty space and not enough art supplies. Our preschool children love to create "objects d'art" using many different kinds of materials, but our limited resources are limiting their opportunities to do so.
The preschool children in our classroom come from an economically challenged environment.
Many of our children's parents live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford "luxuries" like crayons, markers and drawing paper for their children. Our classroom may be the only artistic outlet our students have to express and explore their creativity. Due to an "ordering freeze" in our school district, we are unable to purchase any of the consumable art supplies we use on a daily basis. The result is a rapidly emptying "Art Cart" with no means for replenishment...and disappointed preschoolers who do not understand why they are no longer able to create their "masterpieces". Instead of allowing our students "free rein" to choose the kinds and amounts of art supplies they can use (and thus allowing them artistic freedom), we have been forced to dole out paper sparingly, "stretch" our paint, and limit the kinds of projects we do together. Soon, we will be forced to close our "Art Cart" for good.
My Project
The materials we are requesting for replenishing our preschool "Art Cart" are basic art supplies: colored paper, paint, glue, collage materials. These seemingly simple items may not appear to be vitally important to the education of young children...this assumption would be wrong. ALL children, and especially young children, need opportunities to express themselves through various artistic media-painting, drawing, creating collage pictures. By exploring and creating "art," young children can express their ideas visually and often find an emotional outlet as well. The materials in our "Art Cart" are not used to create specific "products"; instead, our students have the opportunity to choose the kinds and amounts of materials used to create "their" art. Some may think this is wasteful or unnecessary while others recognize the creative freedom and power of the artistic process. If you help supply the materials, the preschoolers will supply the ideas and creativity. It's a win-win!
The materials in our "Art Cart" may not inspire the next great "artiste".
They may, however, inspire our preschoolers to explore their creativity, not only visually, but in other aspects of their lives as well. Certainly, these supplies will provide a much-needed artistic outlet for young children, who often have very limited forms of self-expression. Furthermore, these materials will allow our students' artistic freedom to continue and grow. This can only be a good and positive thing...
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 Mrs. Sanders-Bruce and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.