My six and seven year old students take on school adventures with a smile and a growth mindset. We are nestled in a rural community. More than half of our students in our school come from economically disadvantaged families. All students in our district are offered free breakfast. Students within my classroom are surrounded with lack of structure and stability in their homes. Despite these facts, my students come to school eager to learn and to be surrounded by loving and caring first-grade friends.
We strive to grow our minds in ways we may have never imagined!
Play is a must in our classroom. Through play my students engage in conversations with each other. These interactions foster their literacy and mathematics development, as well as, their social development.
My Project
Now more than ever our schools in the United States are focused on rigor and performances on standardized tests. Since the release of Common Core State Standards in 2010, school districts are pushing for standards-based curriculums. While this curricula may intend to reflect higher test scores and school rankings, it may be make negative effects on early elementary students. Preschool through first grade classrooms are being held to high standards and benchmarks. Such rigor are requiring these classrooms to contain more work and less play.
Play is a part of children’s social and intellectual development.
We currently have a limited number of tools/toys in our classroom. The addition of these tools/toys would provide a variety of for my students to play with.
My students will start their mornings with time to play with these tools/toys. Some students may choose to begin their morning by building structures with Legos, Playstix, or Snowflake building blocks. While other students may choose to create stories and pretend using the doctor and vet kit, mini-figures, dinosaur figures, or ocean and jungle animal figures. They may also creatively sort and organize the mini vehicle figures. Playing in the morning will prepare their brains for a day of learning! Playing during the school day will allow for well-deserved brain breaks. Again, these play interactions foster my student's social and intellectual development.
Let's let the children play because the power of play is limitless!
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698
• Amazon Business
$47.99
1
$47.99
Doctor Toys & Vet Kit Set – 20 pc Set for Imaginative Play, Fun & Development – Includes Cute Dog, Carrier, Doctor Toy Set, Other Pet Grooming & Care Essentials – Appealing Colors
• Amazon Business
$33.99
1
$33.99
Popular Playthings Playstix Deluxe Set (211 pieces)
• Amazon Business
$32.95
1
$32.95
Harlerbo Minifigures Set of 40 - Compatible Minifigures with Interchangeable Accessories Set Mini Figures Community People Building Bricks Interlocking Toy Playset
• Amazon Business
$16.59
1
$16.59
750PCS Snowflake Building Blocks Flakes Set Toy Interlocking Plastic Disc Educational Stem Toys for Boy and Girls Ideal from age 3 to adult
• Amazon Business
$15.88
1
$15.88
Prextex Realistic Looking 7" Dinosaurs Pack of 12 Large Plastic Assorted Dinosaur Figures With Dinosaur Book
• Amazon Business
$14.99
1
$14.99
Ocean Sea Animal, 52 Pack Assorted Mini Vinyl Plastic Animal Toy Set, Funcorn Toys Realistic Under The Sea Life Figure Bath Toy for Child Educational Party Cake Cupcake Topper,Octopus Shark Otter
• Amazon Business
$11.98
1
$11.98
Animals Figure,54 Piece Mini Jungle Animals Toys Set,ValeforToy Realistic Wild Vinyl Plastic Animal Learning Party Favors Toys For Boys Girls Kids Toddlers Forest Small Animals Playset Cupcake Topper
• Amazon Business
$11.48
1
$11.48
Yeonhatoys Pull Back Vehicles,12 Pack Assorted Construction Vehicles and Race Car Toy,Yeonha Toys Vehicles Truck Mini Car Toy For Kids Toddlers Boys,Pull Back And Go Car Toy Play Set
• Amazon Business
$7.98
1
$7.98
Materials cost
$193.83
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$2.91
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$226.74
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$40.01
Total project goal
$266.75
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$266.75
5 Donors
-$157.93
Donations toward project cost
-$141.74
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$16.19
match offer
-$100.00
Match offer toward project cost
-$85.00
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 Ms. Speich and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
