LEGO My Education - integrating STEAM in Second Grade
My students need Legos, Osmo 2.0, and yoga mats to enhance their learning. The hands-on learning through the use of these objects will improve student learning.
My students are so creative and willing to learn at high levels when given the confidence and ability to showcase their learning through hands-on experiences. The 2015-2016 school year will be our first year as a STEAM magnet school. Legos and technology will ignite our 21st century learning.
Our school is an amazing place with innovative learning and creative kids.
About 80% of my second grade students qualify for free or reduced lunches and about 62% are African American. We learn together in a neighborhood school that often feels like a family, as well as a school. Our learning is tied to our community and we are excited to start the 2015-2016 school year as a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) magnet school. We will be teaching all of the common core standards for second grade, as well as enhancing and enriching their learning, to meet each student's individual needs. A majority of our students start their day with us at breakfast and end their day with dinner before heading home. The challenges that face our students vary from poverty, constant movement and change, violence, and lack of parent involvement. The strengths of our kids include resilience, confidence, creativity, and perseverance. We ignite and support student passions daily!
My Project
I look forward to using the Legos to enhance reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. The Legos will help expand their thinking and make them "think and learn outside the box". They can use engineering skills to create their understanding of skills with the Legos. Being able to present their understanding of concepts and skills in a way other than pencil and paper will benefit all of the learners. I have also included 10 yoga mats. These mats will allow students to move around the room and use a variety of positions to work. I currently have a few exercise balls and wiggle seats that allow kids to move while learning and get the creative juices flowing. The Osmo is an interactive tool that works with the iPad to challenge thinking in all areas of their learning. Being able to show understanding through a variety of avenues builds confidence as well as overall understanding of skills. It also helps tie cross curricular ideas together in a tangible way.
Your donations will improve our classroom environment by exposing many students to hands-on thinking and learning that they may never be able to access elsewhere.
Legos, Osmos, and yoga mats will promote high level thinking and motivate students to reach for the stars and achieve their goals. Learning will become exciting and engaging instead of being a chore or something they have to do. Your donation will tough the minds of the children in my classroom for years to come.
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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. Dorrance and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
