This amazing group of fifth graders is the fourth generation of a new initiative our grade level team piloted during the 2016-17 school year after attending an esteemed two-day educational experience at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA.
The house system and experiential learning model we've adopted has helped to mold our children into perceptive, independent students who love learning; sensible, moral citizens who act safely; openminded, ethical leaders who earn respect; and dependable, cooperative friends who practice teamwork.
My Project
Our team has adopted the Ron Clark Academy's music, movement, and magic approach to learning. We delicately balance direct instruction and traditional learning experiences with collaborative games, innovative projects, room transformations, historical rap battles, and intentional choreography. If students learn in an environment that keeps them engaged and excited, they will be eager to arrive at school consistently and promptly.
With advancements in educational technology at an all time high, we hope to immerse students in virtual reality experiences, containing an added interactive component that can broaden their understanding of curricular content, while also expanding their global and cultural awareness of the world around them courtesy of Oculus products.
Oculus has a vast collection of applications tailored toward integrating virtual reality into the classroom. Titanic VR, Apollo 11 VR HD, 1943 Berlin Blitz, MasterWorks: Journey Through History, and more allow students to interactively experience monumental events throughout history. Google Earth VR, Ocean Rift, Smithsonian Journeys, Anne Frank House VR, and a multitude of other applications transport students around the world on land and sea. Gadgeteer, Sharecare VR, The Big Table, InCell, and NeuroExplorer enhance students' understanding of scientific concepts, such as physics, chemistry, and biology. Beat Saber, Drums Hero VR, Synth Riders, and Tribe DJ School combine the essential understandings of music and dance to for students to explore and create rhythmic experiences. Dance Central, Box VR, and Guided Tai Chi provide exercise and movement that build on physical education essentials for brain breaks needed for optimal student performance. Hundreds more applications are available, too!
Through music, movement, and the additional touch of magic from Oculus VR educational experiences, we strive to create a learning environment that leaves children yearning to see not only what new surprises await them each day, but what new knowledge awaits.
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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 Ms. Johnson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
