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
The students at my school are an energetic and hardworking group of children. They enjoy coming to school, but school funding cuts over the years have impacted what schools can provide to individual classrooms.
I teach second grade in an urban neighborhood where all the students at school are eligible for free breakfast and free lunch.
Some students live below the poverty line and their families struggle to provide them with basic necessities needed to be successful in school. Despite these obstacles, our school has hard-working students, as well as teachers and staff, who strive to make our school a welcoming and inviting place. In addition, our school is one of the top-performing schools in the city.
My Project
My students love playing board games. I have a few great board games in the classroom but we need new board games to keep students engaged. The games I have selected for this project are ones that are strategy-based and most involve using math skills. Research has shown that playing board games can have positive outcomes for children. This will help students improve critical thinking skills as well as social skills.
Strategy games help children identify patterns, anticipate and plan ahead, solve problems, and use trial and error.
Board games can also help improve students social skills, such as collaboration, following directions, and cooperative learning. Academic skills will be enhanced as students have to use different strategies while playing. And board games are just great fun!!
Many of the board games I am requesting are perfect for helping students improve critical thinking skills. Kanoodle is a game where players have to create designs using specific pieces. Some designs can even be three-dimensional, making it an ideal game to boost spatial reasoning. I'm sure the Roller Coaster Challenge game will be a student favorite. Students have to build different roller coasters using the game cards. The pieces have to fit perfectly to allow the coaster to move through without falling off the track. This takes focus, concentration, and trial and error, necessary problem-solving skills that translate to academic excellence. 7 Ate 9 is a great game to maintain students' basic fact fluency. Students have to be accurate and quick as they solve problems. I reached out to several people who belong to a Board Game Club, one of whom owns a toy store. I asked for their recommendations and many of the games I am requesting are based on their ideas.
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. Shaw and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
