Collaborate, Communicate, Create...Hands-On STEM Materials for Curious Minds
Help me give my students engaging, hands-on STEM materials such as the Crafty Connects Construction Building Set that will encourage open-ended problem solving and collaboration.
I am lucky to spend my days with a group of enthusiastic, curious, diverse, and creative learners. My 1st grade class in a Kentucky public school is made up of students with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, challenges, and opportunities. I want every student to come to school each day ready to tackle a new challenge and to go home at the end of the day feeling like they are a valued part of our classroom community.
My students arrive each day brimming with questions, ideas, and arguments, and it is my job to keep them thinking, wondering, and learning.
They are eager for hands-on projects and activities that challenge and engage their thinking and creativity. My school fosters out of the box thinking that challenges our students to find solutions and encourages them to communicate and collaborate with each other.
My Project
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities in an elementary classroom create an interdisciplinary approach to instruction in an engaging way. STEM activities will create a life-long love of learning and help teach '21st Century' skills that all students need to succeed.
The variety of open-ended, hands-on activities I am requesting will grab the attention of even the most hesitant student and encourage problem solving, communication, and collaboration, which is an overarching goal at my school.
I will use these STEM materials including puzzles, games, and activities to create morning Brain Boxes. Every week I will fill five Brain Boxes with different STEM materials. My students will arrive each day, complete their morning responsibilities, and then spend about 30 minutes collaborating and creating with their classmates using the activities found in their Brain Box. Unlike so much that is now expected (and dictated) in the elementary classroom, this morning time of exploration will be completely dictated by the curiosity and creativity of the students.
Because the materials will change often and each task is open- ended and engaging, the use of morning Brain Boxes will lead my students to excitedly and curiously anticipate each new day of learning. The STEM materials I will use will allow all students, regardless of their strengths or challenges, to find ways to be successful. I hope that the use of Brain Boxes will allow my students to work together to find new strengths!
The sky's the limit on how much learning, conversation, and creativity my students can pull from each Brain Box!
STEM Learning Toys for Boys and Girls Age 3 4 5 6 7, Crafty Connects Construction Building Set for Kids, Educational Childrens Birthday Gift; Creative Engineering Activities (408 Piece Set)
• Amazon Business
$33.97
1
$33.97
Continent Puzzle Combo Pack (171 Pieces in 5 Puzzles)
• Amazon Business
$24.98
1
$24.98
ETI Toys, STEM Learning, 505 Piece Mosaic Puzzle. Build Cat, House, Alligator, and More. 100 Percent Non-Toxic, Fun, Creative Skills Development. Gift, Toy for 3, 4, 5 Year Old Boys and Girls.
• Amazon Business
$22.22
1
$22.22
Marble Run Set 105 Pcs - Construction Building Blocks Toys Game for 4 5 6 7 Year Old Boys Girls Kids
• Amazon Business
$21.99
1
$21.99
Hasbro Connect 4 Game
• Amazon Business
$6.89
3
$20.67
Wooden Puzzles Brain Teasers Toy for Kids Adults, 16 Pcs Colorful Hexagon Fun Geometry Logic Tangrams Puzzle Table IQ Game Montessori Educational Toys for Children (Color May Vary)
• Amazon Business
$9.99
2
$19.98
eeBoo I Never Forget a Face Matching Game
• Amazon Business
$18.95
1
$18.95
Zooawa [500 Pcs] Building Blocks, Creative Interlocking Construction Tiles Kit for Kids and Toddlers Over 3 Years Old - Colorful
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
EMIDO 480 Pcs Building Toy Building Blocks Bars Different Shape Educational Construction Engineering Set 3D Puzzle , Interlocking Creative Connecting Kit, A Great STEM Toy for Both Boys and Girls!
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
Coogam Wooden Tetris Puzzle Brain Teasers Toy Tangram Jigsaw Intelligence Colorful 3D Russian Blocks Game STEM Montessori Educational Gift for Baby Kids (40 Pcs)
• Amazon Business
$7.99
2
$15.98
Dinosaur Puzzle,3 to 12 Year Wooden Puzzles 60 Pieces Puzzles for Kids Ages 3-12 Dino Toys 2 Pack Boys Girls Gift
• Amazon Business
$14.88
1
$14.88
FRIMOONY Dough Tools for Kids, Various Plastic Molds, Assorted Colors, 45 Pieces
• Amazon Business
$11.99
1
$11.99
MasterPieces Animal Planet Matching Game, Includes 56 Cards, 1 or More Players, for Ages 3+
• Amazon Business
$11.62
1
$11.62
MasterPieces Explorer Kids - USA Map - 60 Piece Kids Puzzle
• Amazon Business
$5.33
1
$5.33
Materials cost
$256.54
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$3.85
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$290.39
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$51.25
Total project goal
$341.64
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$341.64
7 Donors
-$279.87
Donations toward project cost
-$239.39
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$40.48
match offer
-$60.00
Match offer toward project cost
-$51.00
Match offer 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 Mrs. Beach and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.