My students need more options for flexible seating, along with a variety of activities to stimulate their brains. These activities will be so exciting for the kids to rotate through as they have the opportunity.
As you all can imagine, 1st graders are very active little beings who don't like to sit still in a chair at a table all the time. I work very hard to incorporate brain breaks and movement, but that isn't always enough.
My students would greatly benefit from the option to move around the classroom, providing the opportunity to pick different workplaces and stations that will stimulate their brains in a more creative manner.
After 15 years of teaching, it is obvious that kids spend less time being active and getting the time to be creative with their thinking. This is unfortunate because that is exactly what their little bodies and minds need.
The demands placed on our kids at school have increased greatly over the years, but their need to move has not. These flexible seating options and stem materials will greatly help provide them more chances for movement and creative thinking.
My Project
I would love to add a variety of STEM activities (brain flakes, gears, and lings, magnetic tiles, etc) in my classroom to offer as an option for early finishers and for kids who need a break from the routine activities of the day. I have chosen to get Brain Flakes, Star Builders, Engineering Kits, Magnetic Blocks, Geostix, and Playstix to offer my kids the chance to work together, or independently, to engineer and create a variety of different objects using their creativity.
Our kids spend too much time in front of screens and need more time to use their creative powers hands-on.
The balance balls provide extra seating, as well as helping to work on core stability for the kids.
It is wonderful to see how much positive change comes when kids are given choice and freedom.
AILUKI 110PCS Magnetic Building Blocks All of Which Are Actual Strong Magnetic Tiles Educational Stacking Blocks Boys Girls Toys for Children Educational and Creative Imagination Development
• Amazon Business
$35.99
1
$35.99
GS364 - Geostix®
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$24.99
1
$24.99
DB251 - Playstix®
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$24.99
1
$24.99
VIAHART Brain Flakes 500 Piece Interlocking Plastic Disc Set | A Creative and Educational Alternative to Building Blocks | Tested for Children's Safety | A Great STEM Toy for Both Boys and Girls!
• Amazon Business
$14.99
1
$14.99
Bo Toys Deluxe Gears Building Set, Learning Blocks , Spinning Gears, 170 pcs
• Amazon Business
$14.75
1
$14.75
NextX Building Construction Toy 300 PCS Creative Plastic Engineering Toys 3D Puzzle Toys Educational Building Blocks For Kids
• Amazon Business
$13.99
1
$13.99
EMIDO Building Blocks Kids Educational Toys STEM Toys Building Discs Sets Interlocking Solid Plastic for Preschool Kids Boys and Girls, Safe Material for Kids - 120 pieces with Storage Bag
• Amazon Business
$13.55
1
$13.55
LC108 - Pattern Cards for Magnetic Designer
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$6.99
1
$6.99
Materials cost
$370.15
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$23.69
3rd party payment processing fee
$5.55
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$429.39
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$75.77
Total project goal
$505.16
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$505.16
1 Donor
-$495.00
Donations toward project cost
-$422.25
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$72.75
match offer
-$8.40
Match offer toward project cost
-$7.14
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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. Craun and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.