"Play is a child's work," Jean Piaget once said, and my students are desperately seeking the materials to do their work!
I teach a multi-age classroom of wonderful kindergarten and first grade students.
Our school is a Title I school located in a beautiful neighborhood where many families do not have the funds to provide their children with necessities such as food and clothing. We have many families who are newly arrived to the country, and they have nothing to spare for our classroom.
The students in my class are bright and energetic individuals. They are so excited to learn and be at school! Most of my families qualify for free or reduced price lunch, and are non-English speakers including Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Tigrinya.
My Project
For my students, I am requesting materials that will enhance their dramatic play time. Dramatic play is critical during the early childhood development years. This type of learning allows students to feel empowered, creative, and practice important social skills. With the use of puppets, dolls, costumes and other materials, students are able to explore ideas of others, share, and problem solve.
Additionally, the child's language development is furthered when they speak from another perspective, or pretend to be different characters. Children at this age often have difficulty dealing with emotional tension, and these materials can help students explore their feelings and relieve that tension. Dramatic play also holds important benefits for first generation students who are still learning cultural norms of the classroom, as well as helping students who may be shy or reserved to take risks with their play.
With these materials, my students will enjoy countless hours of dramatic play that will increase their confidence, social/emotional skills, and provide them a way to learn about their peers and the classroom!
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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 Ms. Woods and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.