Little Hands, Big Hearts: Building Compassion with Calm Down Jars
Help me give my students individual, partner and classroom calming jars filled with glitter and mica, and compassion-building stories to help them recognize emotions in others, soothe themselves and their peers, and become compassionate, empathetic individuals.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Serena's classroom raised $586
This project is fully funded
My Project
I’m a teacher, but I nurture more than academic foundations—I cultivate kindness and understanding through meaningful, hands-on experiences.
My Calm Down Jar project introduces children to the building blocks of compassion while giving them a beautiful, self-made calming tool they’ll cherish as they share their kindness with others.
To help children “see the world through the eyes of another”, I’ve requested materials like sensory bottles, glitter, mica powders, and calming books. These supplies encourage emotional regulation and empathy through creative expression. Each child will create a personalized jar, selecting colors and textures that feel soothing to them—building self-awareness and recognizing emotional needs.
Children will also craft jars for their peers, asking questions like “What makes my friend feel calm?” and choosing elements based on their answers. This act of thoughtful creation becomes a hands-on lesson in compassion.
Books like My Calm Down Book and The Calm Down Jar will anchor these activities in language-rich stories that reinforce emotional vocabulary and model empathetic behavior.
To sustain this practice, the children will create a set of Calm Down Jars for each classroom and ensure newly enrolled children are welcomed with a jar made just for them. This allows students to pay compassion forward and ensures the emotional needs of all children are honored.
I will measure student success through:
- Peer Reflections: Students share how they chose materials and how they hoped their friend would feel.
- Compassion Journals: Children draw or dictate stories about kind actions they gave or received.
- Behavioral Observations: I’ll track moments of empathy, sharing, and conflict resolution.
- Family Feedback: Families will share how jars supported emotional regulation and kindness at home.
Thanks to you, kindness will become something our students can hold in their hands and carry in their hearts.
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
Geyee 100 Pads Mini Notebooks Bulk Colorful Blank Notebooks for Kids to Write Stories Pocket Size Blank Journals Colored Unlined Composition Notepads for Students 10 Colors(4 x 5.5 Inch)
• Amazon Business
$37.99
2
$75.98
My Calm Down Book
• Amazon Business
$21.10
2
$42.20
Amazon Basics All Purpose Washable School Clear Liquid Glue - Great for Making Slime, 1 Gallon
• Amazon Business
$14.62
2
$29.24
Jinei 30 Pcs 6 oz Ball Shape Plastic Sand Art Bottles Spherical Clear Plastic Potion Bottles Christmas Cocktail Ornament Balls for DIY Wedding Party Gift Crafts Decoration (Gold,Aluminum Cap)
• Amazon Business
$27.99
1
$27.99
My Calming Book - A Self-Regulating Book for Kids: Grounding Sensory Exercises and Activities for Kids 4-14
• Amazon Business
$12.99
2
$25.98
Suttmin 24 Pcs Empty Plastic Sensory Bottles with Aluminium Lids Fillable Candy Container Clear Water Bottles Plastic Candy Jar Reusable for Sensory Crafts Handmade Supply
• Amazon Business
$24.99
1
$24.99
Oungy 50 Pack 65ML Plastic Test Tubes with Screw Caps Plastic Candy Tubes Clear Bath Salt Tubes Gumball Tubes Container Vials for Candy Bath Salts Spices Party Favors
• Amazon Business
$23.99
1
$23.99
The Calm Down Jar: A Social Emotional, Rhyming, Early Reader Kid's Book to Help Calm Anger and Anxiety (Teacher Tools)
• Amazon Business
$10.33
2
$20.66
TORC Iridescent Hot Pink Fine Glitter 1 Pound 16 OZ Glitter Powder for Slime Tumblers Resin Crafts Nail Cosmetic Festival Decoration
• Amazon Business
$14.24
1
$14.24
TORC Blue Fine Glitter 1 Pound 16 OZ Glitter Powder for Tumblers Resin Crafts Slime Cosmetic Nail Painting Festival Decoration
• Amazon Business
$13.29
1
$13.29
TORC Bright Green Fine Glitter 1 Pound 16 OZ Glitter Powder for Tumblers Resin Crafts Slime Cosmetic Painting St Patrick's Day Decor
• Amazon Business
$13.29
1
$13.29
TORC Extra Fine Purple Glitter 1 Pound 16 OZ Glitter Powder for Tumblers Resin Crafts Slime Cosmetic Nail Painting Festival Decoration
• Amazon Business
$13.29
1
$13.29
TORC Iridescent Orange Fine Glitter 1 Pound 16 OZ Glitter for Resin Crafts Tumblers Slime Makeup Nail Fall Christmas
• Amazon Business
$13.29
1
$13.29
Mica Powder,7.05OZ（200g）,Primary Red Mica Powder Pigment for Epoxy Resin，Lip Gloss，Car Paint，Dye，Soap Making，Nail Polish,Epoxy Resin,Candle Making,Bath Bombs
• Amazon Business
$11.98
1
$11.98
Mica Powder,7.05OZ（200g）,Universal Blue Mica Powder Pigment for Epoxy Resin，Lip Gloss，Car Paint，Dye，Soap Making，Nail Polish,Epoxy Resin,Candle Making,Bath Bombs
• Amazon Business
$11.98
1
$11.98
Mica Powder,7.05OZ（200g）,Candy Corn Mica Powder Pigment for Epoxy Resin，Lip Gloss，Car Paint，Dye，Soap Making，Nail Polish,Epoxy Resin,Candle Making,Bath Bombs
• Amazon Business
$11.39
1
$11.39
12 Colors Mica Powder Pigments Soap Dye for Soap Coloring - Soap Making Colorants Set - 0.18oz 12 Bags - Skin Safe for DIY Soaps, Bath Bombs, Candle Making, Nail Polishes, Resin Makeup Dye.
• Amazon Business
$4.99
2
$9.98
Ceya Holographic Chunky Glitter, 4.9oz/ 140g Green Craft Glitter Powder Mixed Chunky & Fine Flakes Iridescent Nail Sequins for St Patricks Day Party Decor, Epoxy Resin, Tumblers, Slime, Painting
• Amazon Business
$7.89
1
$7.89
Ceya Holographic Chunky Glitter, 4.9oz/ 140g Cyan Craft Glitter Powder Mixed Fine Flakes Iridescent Nail Sequins for Nail Art, Hair, Epoxy Resin, Tumblers, Slime, Painting, Festival Decor
• Amazon Business
$7.89
1
$7.89
Ceya Holographic Chunky Glitter, 4.9oz/ 140g Sky Blue Craft Glitter Powder Mixed Chunky & Fine Flakes Iridescent Nail Sequins for Nail Art, Hair, Epoxy Resin, Tumblers, Slime, Painting, Festival Decor
• Amazon Business
$7.89
1
$7.89
Ceya Holographic Chunky Glitter, 4.9oz/ 140g Orange Craft Glitter Powder Mixed Chunky & Fine Flakes Iridescent Nail Sequins for Nail Art, Hair, Epoxy Resin, Tumblers, Slime, Painting, Festival Decor
• Amazon Business
$7.89
1
$7.89
Ceya Holographic Chunky Glitter, 4.9oz/ 140g Lazurite Gold Craft Glitter Powder Mixed Fine Flakes Iridescent Nail Sequins for Nail Art, Hair, Epoxy Resin, Tumblers, Slime, Painting, Festival Decor
• Amazon Business
$7.89
1
$7.89
Ceya Holographic Chunky Glitter, 4.9oz/ 140g Wine Red Craft Glitter Powder Mixed Fine Flakes Iridescent Nail Sequins for Nail Art, Hair, Epoxy Resin, Tumblers, Slime, Painting, Festival Decor
• Amazon Business
$7.89
1
$7.89
Ceya Holographic Chunky Glitter, 4.9oz/ 140g Light Purple Craft Glitter Powder Mixed Chunky & Fine Flakes Iridescent Nail Sequins for Nail, Hair, Epoxy Resin, Tumblers, Slime, Painting, Festival Decor
• Amazon Business
$7.89
1
$7.89
Materials cost
$438.99
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$21.95
3rd party payment processing fee
$6.58
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$497.52
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$87.80
Total project goal
$585.32
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$585.32
5 Donors
-$271.86
Donations toward project cost
-$248.77
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$23.09
match offer
-$292.65
Match offer toward project cost
-$248.75
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 Ms. Serena and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
