We need a 3D printer to help our startup business flourish.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Scimone's classroom raised $1,528
This project is fully funded
About My Students
Meet the 8th grade SOAR class. Its a group of diverse thinkers, artists, makers, and visionaries. We also have a pretty awesome sense of humor. Our days usually start off with a group meeting or "stoke" to get us warmed up ready to collaborate. Luc, our class clown, helps get us laughing and lightens the mood. Dylan is our voice of reason, and makes sure we stay focused. Tom, Eleanor, and Sam are always seeking understanding and offering insights that we hadn't thought of before.
One of the most striking things about our class is that there really isn't a teacher in the traditional sense of the word. Mr. Scimone is a facilitator who makes sure the right conversations are happening, and asking students to reflect on mistakes so they can pivot in the right direction. The students have created a physical space that they think works for them. Chairs and tables are constantly being rearranged, we painted an entire wall with whiteboard paint, and we use milk crates to make structures for everything from flexible seating to role-play.
My eighth grade SOAR students are designing custom phone cases to sell as a business. The students have split up into several specialized groups to work most efficiently. We have four groups in our classroom: financing, 3D printer research, phone case design, and marketing/empathy building. They are all using what they have learned about the design process to help achieve their group goals. Our phone case design team is currently working towards creating the best-looking, most efficient phone cases, and they are learning the in's and out's of 3D printing and Tinkercad. Our marketing/empathy building group is learning more about our audience through a series of surveys and other ways of data collection. Our financing group has set up this very donation page. Finally, the 3D printer research group is looking for the very best 3D printers that fit the money we have. Our class needs donations for a new 3D printer.
In Their Own Words
Through our work in this project we hope to attain a competency in real-world business situations. In typical classroom settings, kids are generally "trained" to be at or above a 'meeting level' standard. However, for some students, this expectation is easily accomplished, and - while they may not admit it - would prefer to be challenged. Having a project in a field that none of us have ever engaged with fills the aforementioned desire for challenging work and a unique classroom environment.
We will make the most of the leadership opportunities involved in this project by running and managing our groups to meet deadlines and keep the project going. This project also enables us to get experience in a unique type of learning environment, and because of this, none of us are prepared for it; therefore, we will all have to become better leaders and team members.
Having the ability to work through a project such as this one is important to us because it offers us experience that we may apply in future jobs. Also, this is the first time something like this has been done at our school, and we would like to be a successful first attempt. This project will provide another outlet for students, faculty, or residents of Kirkwood to purchase an adequate phone case to protect their phone.
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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 Mr. Scimone and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
