My students need an engineering center; a table that is conducive to group work/building and storage shelf for recycled "construction materials" such as paper towel tubes, cardboard, plastic containers, tape, glue etc.!
We are a Kindergarten class with 26 active and curious students! It is exciting to have so many different passions, strengths, ethnic backgrounds, learning styles and personalities in our community! Our classroom empowers each child to pursue their own inquiries as we navigate a rigorous, integrated curriculum.
As an IB/STEAM magnet we work to provide equitable access to engaging learning opportunities for all students!
Our school has a majority of low income students, many English language learners, and students with special needs, so it is especially important these children have all the resources they need to thrive. We want to differentiate the curriculum and learning environment to meet the needs of each individual!
My Project
Children need an opportunity to create and build!
An Engineering Center would perfectly compliment our design and engineering curriculum that is implemented throughout the year.
Through literacy, math and science connections, we always have a need for children to build and engage in the Design Cycle independently. At the "Imagination Station" children have the opportunity to pursue their ideas by planning, creating and improving models of their thinking.
Each unit has an engineering component and it would be so beneficial to have a permanent work space where children can independently access materials to help their ideas take form! We need a table and seat cushions that facilitate construction, access to materials, and collaboration. We need a shelf that allows student to view and easily access a variety of construction materials. Right now I have a giant cardboard box labelled "Imagination Station" that I pull down off the shelf everyday and place on student desks. It is the most popular choice center and we desperately need a space and storage boxes that reflect the passion they have for engineering!
Here is one way we integrate our "Imagination Station". We start off the year with our unit on Rights and Responsibilities in our community. As our engineering component, we study form and function. After looking at how everyday items have been strategically designed by an engineer to perform their function, students are encouraged to imagine, plan and create tools that we can use in our community (classroom, home, garden or neighborhood) to make our responsibilities easier. This provides an authentic context for them to imagine and create practical solutions to an everyday problem. They are empowered to take action and be engineers!
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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. Leavitt and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
