Safari To Go!

I am a third grade teacher. I have a class of nine students that need all of my attention and require a very hands on method of teaching. Our school is high need as we have very little to no monetary parent involvement and our budget is almost non-existent. Our school is made up of amazing teachers with so much potential, but we don't have all of the resources to make our visions reality.

I am in a particularly taxing position. At the end of last school year I was assigned to a position as a sixth grade teacher. After a long summer of hard work and planning and personally funding everything I possibly could I was ready to start the year. We began the year and things were going so well. My students loved the room I worked so hard on. They were loving my hands-on activities. Here we are, two weeks later, and a major change has occurred. Because we are a small school that is constantly under pressure of enrollment numbers I was reassigned. I was sent to 3rd grade. I will begin with my third graders this Tuesday. I am very excited to be starting with a new group of students that need me, but I am desperately in need of help where supplies are concerned. I can make this a great year for these kids, but I need some help.

The plans I have are ones that these kids have been waiting for. The resources that I am requesting will help with a central theme that I have created for these students. Our school has no concrete curriculum and text for Social Studies. This year I plan to take my students on safari "around the world". Each new place we learn about will give my students a chance to explore. We will make passports to document our visits. We will take pictures as we are doing projects that reflect that particular culture from that particular part of the world. The frames will be made to hold these special photos. I remember back to when I was in the fourth grade (I'm 29 years old now) to a project that my teacher had us do similar to this one. It left such an impression that I am eager to share this with my students now. My students will learn by being immersed in culture...not just studying it.

By choosing my project you will be able to help reach students that truly need reaching. You will make it possible for my students to have an experience that they will remember for a very long time. With your help they will experience and live social studies. Instead of just reading a map they will feel like they are there. Some of my students have not even been outside of their own state. You are giving them a chance to see the world.