Help me give my students materials like the compasses with safety point, twistable colored pencils that you don't have to sharpen, and the stainless steel rulers that don't give my students splinters.
My diverse students can hardly contain themselves when they enter my art room. They wonder what they will be challenged with next.... experimenting with art techniques, learning about an artist or art movement, or discovering connections with a STEAM experience. Art is never boring nor is the time allotted ever enough! Each 45 minute class has between 24-30 students, due to some classes being split to accommodate all the students within a 5-day rotation.
It is vital that I have enough materials ready for these students to be fully engaged in optimal time.
In order to accomplish this, for these eager students, I need to have safe and efficient materials for the lesson and every student. This is where I need your help.
My Project
How can shapes become an animal? Children learn how parts connect to become an animal early on in art classes but how can teachers connect that knowledge with fractions? Brainstorming with a fellow teacher to answer this question produced a STEAM experience to create Fraction Animals.
The design process began with students, working in pairs, drawing out their plans on graph paper before transferring the shapes, drawn with a ruler or compass, onto construction paper before cutting them into the fractional parts that they needed.
The experience concluded with an assessment of the completed animal and the sum of all the fraction pieces.
Teaching lessons like this inspires students to form connections between math and art in order to build on vocabulary, math skills, drawing skills, and collaboration.
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. Stemple and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
