Here in sunny Florida, my 6th-8th graders are learning that history is not just a bunch of facts about people who lived long ago. They are excited to discover that those men and women made changes to our world that still impact us today. They love to make connections from our world to the world of the past through hands-on activities, experiments, and real-world experiences.
My students love when they walk into my classroom and there is a hands-on project planned for the day.
Remember what it felt like when you would walk in and see the TV cart in the classroom? Hands-on projects are the new TV carts! My students get far more excited by a hands-on project or experiment than they do with anything you may show them on a TV, and I love that!
Making history come alive is one of my favorite parts of my day, and I love when my students feel the same excitement.
My Project
My goal for my classroom is to create an environment that is creative and asks students to use both sides of their brain to analyze the past. I find that activating the creative part of the brain allows students to think about history in a whole new way. They are better able to analyze, interpret, and discuss events that they have approached from a creative standpoint.
Of the projects that we will do with these supplies, the one I am most excited about is our sidewalk timeline.
For this project students will be paired up and given a period of time from American history. They will study their 15 year period and pull out important events, people, quotes, and details and will create graphic with all of those details included. They will then draw their timeline onto the sidewalk of the school using sidewalk chalk. This will give them the chance to be creative, but also to show off what they know to the other classes. They will then give a brief presentation on their piece of history.
Other projects will include using manipulatives like Play-Doh to make 3-D models of what we have learned, to create symbols, and to model the assembly process. When students use a medium that is temporary, easy to work with and quick, they are able to experiment more and feel more comfortable trying things they might not otherwise try in art projects that are more concrete.
128 Pack 16 Colors Jumbo Sidewalk Chalk Set, Washable Art Play For Kid and Adult, Paint on School Classroom Chalkboard, Kitchen, Office Blackboard, Playground, Outdoor, Gift for Birthday Party
• Amazon Business
$17.95
2
$35.90
Play-Doh Halloween Trick or Treat Bag, 80 Fun-size cans
• Amazon Business
$29.99
1
$29.99
Storex Pencil Case, 8.38 x 5.63 x 2.5 Inches, Blue, Box of 12 (STX61613U12C)
• Amazon Business
$23.99
1
$23.99
Timelines of Everything
• Amazon Business
$13.99
1
$13.99
Crayola White Chalk 12 each (51-0320)
• Amazon Business
$0.79
2
$1.58
Materials cost
$105.45
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$1.58
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$137.03
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$24.18
Total project goal
$161.21
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$161.21
2 Donors
-$143.56
Donations toward project cost
-$137.03
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 Mrs. McCabe and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
