When you were a child did you prefer pencil and paper tasks or hands-on learning? The students in my classroom prefer messy, fun, hands-on activities to help them develop important academic skills.
I teach Kindergarten in a low income school with a diverse population.
The students at my school receive a free breakfast and lunch everyday. Many of my students are learning English as their second language. They are kind, curious and eager to learn and experience new things.
My Project
As the weather warms I would like to provide additional learning opportunities during recess. If I had the set of 4 sand and water tables I requested, I could extend the learning through play on nice days outside. I could fill each of the 4 tubs with various literacy, math and science items from the classroom. Students could explore sink/float concepts with various objects, mix colors to create new ones, create volcanoes, goop and glarch to investigate scientific properties.
Alphabet cookie cutters and sand would be a fun way to create words and sentences.
Scales and objects for weighing items could extend their math knowledge.
Creating water tunnels and watching water travel through the translucent pipes requires planning, designing and collaboration from peers. It is a meaningful way to develop positional language - on, over, beside, above, below, etc..
While pencil and paper tasks are important for developing skills; so are fun, messy outside activities!
Thanks for caring and reading about ways to help my students extend their learning through play.
These items will be appreciated and will last for many years, which will enable many students to benefit from their use.
Nearly all 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 Ms. Newberry and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
