The cost of a Bug World Floor Puzzle from KaplanCo, a Giant Butterfly Puzzle, a Giant Sea Life Puzzle, and a Giant Insect Puzzle from Teachersource.com, and a Pets Floor Puzzle and a Dinosaur Floor Puzzle from Science Stuff, Inc. is $117, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
I am assigned to teach first grade in the upcoming school year. I loop with my students, which means I start with them in first grade and go all the way to third or fourth grade with them. It is a very powerful program, as I get to know the students, their strengths, needs, learning styles and personalities so intimately. I am currently finishing a four-year loop with my current class of 27 fourth graders.
As I take stock of the materials that I have in my classroom, I see a need for floor puzzles. First grade students need to develop spatial reasoning skills and puzzles are a fantastic way to do that. Floor puzzles are oversized puzzles that are easy for children to manipulate. The size of the pieces also makes it easier to locate parts of the picture that match.
I have no floor puzzles in my room and really feel that they are needed. I have selected several puzzles that I can use to integrate science into our math time. I have selected several puzzles about insects, sea life, animals, and dinosaurs.
Floor puzzles also encourage cooperation and communication between students. I am a big proponent of creating a safe and secure classroom community for my students. One way to do this is to have ample opportunity for students to talk to one another, support and help each other, and learn each other's strengths.
Again, I feel that having a small supply of floor puzzles for my students to work time and again will improve spatial reasoning, problem solving, oral communication, cooperation, and the sense of community in our classroom.
I would also like to add that some of my fourth graders would benefit from the spatial reasoning practice that these puzzles provide. Having this resource for this school year would be an added bonus in the number of children that can benefit from these resources.
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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 Mrs. Burke and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.