Help me give my students access to sensory based items to play and learn! I will creating a "calm down" corner with bean bags and fidgets for my students as well as pretend play centers.
My students attend a full-day public school program in Wewoka, OK. The community is tight-knit, but the majority of students’ families fall below the poverty line. Even with all the challenges they face outside of school, my students come to school ready to learn. My students come from diverse backgrounds, yet come together to create our classroom family. I have very sweet students who not only love to learn but love to help each other. This year I have several students who have various sensory needs, ranging from sensory processing issues to autism diagnoses. This environment has given us a unique need and opportunity to dive into topics we may not have made time for in the past.
COVID-19 has impacted my students' ability to interact with the world in many meaningful ways.
Many of them have not attended any learning-based programs before starting Pre-K. This means we get to teach our students about things such as the alphabet and numbers, but it also allows us to teach them acceptable social behaviors at school. Pre-k teaches these abstract principles as well as practical skills like holding a pencil and following routines.
My Project
To help my students learn amid the pandemic, I could use items to aid my Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) students toward self-regulation. Pre-K students learn best through play and interacting with their environment. My classroom is in desperate need of toys and sensory-based objects. The sensory-based objects will be used to create a sensory corner, or "calm down" corner. The pandemic has created a potentially unsafe environment for students to interact with each other. Sharing, taking turns, and other life skills such as cleaning or organizing have not been the primary focus due to health and safety concerns. Access to more of these tools would create more opportunities for my students to play and work on these skills while maintaining safe distancing guidelines.
To make an upcoming unit of lessons more engaging, my students would love the use of sensory toys to help the lessons come alive.
This year I have four students who have varying sensory needs along with the rest of my class who, like adults, need to take a break at times. We have been attempting to address these needs since the beginning of the school year with varied amounts of success. The items will be the missing piece to better assist the needs of my students.
To bring my dream learning activity to life, I’d love to get more toys that aren’t necessarily educational, but aid in creating an environment where learning and peer engagement can take place. Research states that play helps with development of emotional regulation, incorporates physical activity, and provides numerous other cognitive benefits. When my students play, they refine their thresholds for different sensory information. This helps their brains create stronger connections to process and respond to external stimuli. These are vital skills as more children struggle with sensory needs than in the past.
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
Art3d Liquid Fusion Activity Play Centers for Children, Toddler, Teens, 12" X 12" Pack of 9 Tiles
• Amazon Business
$139.99
1
$139.99
Big Joe Classic Beanbag Smartmax, Stretch Limo Black
• Amazon Business
$32.95
3
$98.85
hand2mind Mini 20-Bead Rekenrek, Wooden Rekenrek, Abacus for Kids Math, Number Rack, Math Rack, Small Abacus for Kids, Counting Beads, Counting Rack for Kids, Math Toys, Rekenrek Class Set (Set of 4)
• Amazon Business
$10.57
5
$52.85
Little Tikes First Washer Dryer - Realistic Pretend Play Appliance for Kids, Interactive Toy Washing Machine with 11 Laundry Accessories, Unique Toy, Ages 2+
• Amazon Business
$38.99
1
$38.99
Meland Marble Run - 132Pcs Marble Maze Game Building Toy for Kid, Marble Track Race Set&STEM Learning Toy Gift for Boy Girl Age 4 5 6 7 8 9+ (102 Translucent Marbulous Pcs & 30 Glass Marbles)
• Amazon Business
$38.98
1
$38.98
Hape Checkout Register Kid's Wooden Pretend Play Set Yellow, L: 7.6, W: 7.9, H: 4.8 inch
• Amazon Business
$37.59
1
$37.59
Coogam Wooden Letters Practicing Board, Double-Sided Alphabet Tracing Tool Learning to Write ABC Educational Toy Game Fine Motor Montessori Gift for Preschool 3 4 5 Years Old Kids
• Amazon Business
$17.98
2
$35.96
Snuggle Stuffs Basket of Buddies 8" Plush Diversity Dolls - Set of 5
• Amazon Business
$33.99
1
$33.99
40 Pcs Sensory Fidget Toys Pack , Pop its Simple dimple Fidget Pack , Figit Toys Stress & Anxiety Relief Tools Figetget Toys Pack for Kids & Adults, Sensory Toys for Autistic Children Fidget Packs
• Amazon Business
$31.99
1
$31.99
hand2mind Sensory Fidget Tubes, Anxiety Relief Toy, Occupational Therapy Toys, Fidget Toys for Kids, Kids Sensory Toys for Sensory Play, Play Therapy Toys, Calm Down Corner Must Haves (Set of 4)
• Amazon Business
$29.99
1
$29.99
Brickyard Building Blocks 177 Pieces Large Building Block Toys for Children Ages 1.5 - 5, Bulk Block Set, Compatible with Duplo (177 pcs)
• Amazon Business
$29.99
1
$29.99
Melissa & Doug Let's Play House Dust! Sweep! Mop! 6 Piece Pretend Play Set
• Amazon Business
$29.98
1
$29.98
hand2mind ColorMix Sensory Fidget Tubes, Anxiety Relief Toy, Occupational Therapy Toys, Fidget Toys for Kids, Kids Sensory Toys for Sensory Play, Play Therapy Toys, Calming Corner Must Have (Set of 3)
• Amazon Business
$27.46
1
$27.46
TOY Life Wooden Rainbow Stacking Rocks, Stacking Toys with 26 Stacking Stones, Peg Dolls, Rainbow Stacker, Stacking Blocks Montessori Shape Building Stone Balancing Learning Educational Toys for Kids
• Amazon Business
$24.97
1
$24.97
Dayeto Toy Cutting Play Food Set, Kids Pretend Fruit Vegetables Reading Card Dishes Knife and Shopping Basket, Learning Educational Play Kitchen Accessories Set Gifts for Boys & Girls
• Amazon Business
$20.95
1
$20.95
27 Pcs Kitchen Tableware Play Set for Kids – Realistic Colorful Kitchen Children Toys – Learning Multicolor Dishes and Cutlery Set Children Toys - Kids Play Kitchen Accessories Kit
• Amazon Business
$20.89
1
$20.89
Aitbay Balance Cool Math Game for Toddlers Ages 3-5, Piggy Educational Counting Toys STEM Preschool Number Learning Games for 3 4 5 Year Old Boys and Girls (63 Piece)
• Amazon Business
$19.99
1
$19.99
Star Projector Night Light, Bedroom Decor Night Lights for Kids Room Fun Gifts for 1-4-6-14 Year Old Girls and Boys Rotating Star Sky Moon Lighting Projector for Kids
• Amazon Business
$18.99
1
$18.99
iPlay, iLearn Friction Powered Construction Vehicle Set, Inertial Push Go City Rescue Car Toy, Dump, Garbage, Cement, Fire Truck, Police, Gift for 18 24 Months 2 3 4 Year Olds Kids Toddler Boy Girl
• Amazon Business
$17.99
1
$17.99
Melissa & Doug Laundry Basket Play Set With Wooden Iron, Ironing Board, and Accessories (14 Pcs)
• Amazon Business
$14.55
1
$14.55
DINOBROS Dinosaur Toy Pull Back Cars, 6 Pack Dino Toys for 3 Year Old Boys and Toddlers, Boy Toys Age 3,4,5 and Up, Pull Back Toy Cars, Dinosaur Games with T-Rex
• Amazon Business
$11.99
1
$11.99
Fidget Dodecagon –12-Side Fidget Cube Relieves Stress and Anxiety Anti Depression Cube for Children and Adults with Autism (A2 White)
• Amazon Business
$9.99
1
$9.99
nutty toys 8 pk Pop Tube Sensory Toys - Fine Motor Skills & Learning for Toddlers, Top ADHD Fidget 2022, Unique Kids & Adults Valentines Day Gift Idea for Him & Her, Best Tween Boy & Girl Present
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$8.97
1
$8.97
Stages Sensory Builder: Liquid Motion Bubbler Timer for Sensory Calming from The Makers of Language Builder
• Amazon Business
$7.99
1
$7.99
Materials cost
$803.88
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$65.52
3rd party payment processing fee
$12.06
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$911.46
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$160.85
Total project goal
$1,072.31
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$1,072.31
2 Donors
-$1,050.00
Donations toward project cost
-$892.50
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$157.50
match offer
-$22.31
Match offer toward project cost
-$18.96
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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 Mrs. Timperley and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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