Challenged with spatial awareness? Do you have students who would better understand engineering and mathematics through hands-on building activities? Magna Tiles could be the creative solution to acquiring STEM skills so that students can engineer their own creations.
We are a fifth grade class in a New York City public school in the borough of Queens.
We are one of the most diverse areas in the nation and our school serves an international community of first generation of Americans. Our parents look to our school to provide the best 21st century skills for their children's academic success. Our school is a tapestry of many cultures and languages, all of which enrich our community and expand the lens through which we view education. This global perspective is one that emphasizes science, technology, engineering and mathematics which requires us to provide the resources to support these subjects. Magna Tiles would be a creative and innovative way to enhance STEM learning in the classroom. Students could create structures that would bring joy to STEM learning.
My Project
Magna Tiles come in many shapes and have magnetic edges that allow children to build as the sides of these tiles magnetically snap together. All sorts of shapes, sizes, and structures result giving children spatial understanding of how design is affected by the placement of geometric shapes. Building up or across, our emerging engineers will see the relationship between mathematics and design, science and technology. We have requested three kits, each with 100 pieces so that the children will have an adequate number to develop significant work that demonstrates basic STEM principles. One kit has translucent pieces while the other two are opaque with different colors on each side of the shapes. This affords the opportunity to include color design as part of developing an aesthetic awareness with construction.
Magna tiles are wonderful tools for creative explorers of any age.
With a new emphasis on STEM learning in the Common Core Curriculum, these are just the hands-on vehicles for learning. Differentiated perspectives in a collaborative atmosphere are where we ought to find Magna Tiles to spark inquisitive young minds.
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. Alperstein and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
