Every year I am surprised at my students' resilience to overcome issues and incidents that many adults couldn't handle! Most of my kids come from socio-economic disadvantaged homes. A few are homeless. Several live with someone other than their parents. They've experienced more than I can imagine behind closed doors. While many schools are like this, I like to think my school is unique. Unique because my kids come to school in hopes of getting an education and breaking the cycle. They see the light at the end of the tunnel and I want to give them the chance to experience everything they can so they see all the amazing opportunities that await them...if they keep working hard and getting the education!
My Project
Glasswork in the classroom? Yes! It can’t get any better than that! I have applied for a grant that would allow 24 of my 56 students to participate in making glass monarch butterflies be used in a display at a local glass studio; however, I want all my students to participate.
Brazee Glass Studio hosts an annual glasswork project to be completed in the classroom that my students need to be apart of!
At the end of February, I attend a workshop at the studio to learn how to teach my students how to work with glass. I’ll be given glass materials for my class and the students will create their piece IN MY CLASSROOM!!! When all projects are complete, I take them to the studio where they will be fired and set up on display from other schools within the tri-state area. When the glass butterflies come off of display (in June), I pick them up from the studio and return each piece back to the student that created it.
Last year the theme was “bees” and only 24 of my students were able to participate because I couldn’t afford additional kits. I’d love to be able to have all my students participate and include an entire learning experience around monarch butterflies! Students could do research, I could get a guest speaker from the local park district to come in and speak to the students, we could even watch butterflies “grow” in the classroom by purchasing a kit to grow painted lady butterflies from small caterpillars!
The learning outcomes are vast with a great deal of variety! Not only will they learn through the activities mentioned above but the creative opportunities of working with glass and learning how their project will be created is yet another experience!
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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. Burns and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.