My students need balls for inside and out, balance cushions and discs, sensory balls, bean bags, a cart, and ribbon wands to give them the movement their minds and bodies need to be successful learners in the classroom.
First grade is an exciting year for children that is filled with lots of learning and growth! My classroom is a fun, vibrant place where children make huge gains both academically and socially throughout the year! First graders are active throughout the day and need opportunities to move and groove all day long!
My students are eager and excited to learn every day at school!
Teaching is such an exciting adventure because no two days are ever the same! The 6 and 7 year old boys and girls I teach have very diverse cultural, economic, academic, language, and emotional needs. My school is a fantastic place where the students meet every day to learn with and from one another! My students work hard every day at school to become better readers, writers, thinkers, and learners...providing the classroom resources to help them strengthen their skills provides endless benefits!
My Project
My classroom is full of very active and energetic learners. It is hard for many of them to stay focused during instruction. I have found that hands-on activities and resources that allow my students to move help them to stay more focused to complete daily tasks.
During our school day, we take frequent breaks to rest our brains and move our bodies in order to stay focused on our learning.
As a class, we have brainstormed ideas to keep our bodies and minds active during brain breaks, outside recess, and inside recess during our cold North Dakota winters. Since children love to move their bodies in various ways, they have requested items to balance on, things to toss and throw, and creative movement activities like ribbons and scarves.
Providing a variety of balls that children can use inside and out will allow the children to participate in gross motor activities by rolling, throwing, kicking, and bouncing. The children can play creatively both inside and out with the items requested as well as participate in team and partner games all while using their imagination and exercising their bodies.
Children often do not have enough opportunity to exercise and move throughout the school day. Studies show that the rate of childhood obesity is increasing due to these sedentary environments. By encouraging an active learning environment throughout the school day, we are helping to combat this sedentary lifestyle. Children were made to move, explore, and play - the items requested will help them to fulfill these needs.
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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. Pedersen and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
