We serve 580 fifth and sixth graders at a rural school in Western North Carolina. About 50% are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. About a fourth of them report reading for fun. Most would be the first in their families to attend college. I am the language arts and social studies teacher for a team of 60 sixth graders at this school.
They are energized by projects that engage them socially, creatively, and kinesthetically.
I want them to be engaged in pro-social behavior at all times. I endeavor to keep them busy with meaningful work at all times in the classroom and out.
My Project
My students are ready to get active at recess. We need equipment so all kids can be engaged in healthy activity! Children need to move to stay healthy in both mind and body.
Having fresh equipment will give them a focus for team work and building bonds.
If there are 75 kids at recess, having more equipment means more small groups of kids are engaged. They'll have a chance to get to know each other in low-stress, low-stakes play. Kids are more likely to be participants rather than spectators. When there's plenty of equipment, kids don't have to argue over who gets to use it. Those playground power dynamics that can lead to bullying are snuffed out before they get a chance to develop.
Having these new basketballs, kick balls, octoballs, soccer balls and Frisbees will also get more kids involved in more total minutes of physical exercise. They will increase muscle mass and cardiovascular health. They will be able to work with peers toward a common goal. They will practice being gracious in victory and defeat. They will learn to test their limits as athletes in a safe environment.
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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 Ms. Tarantino and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
