My students are children in grades kindergarten through fourth grade. We have six kindergarten classes, five classes of grades one through three, and four classes of fourth grade students. Our students come from a variety of home environment and socioeconomic situations, yet they are all eager to learn and grow in their understandings of the world around us. STEM is a new class in our special area rotation this year. As the STEM Specialist, I see each class weekly for 45 minutes.
Our STEM class was borne of the desire to create more opportunities for children to become confident in carrying out the Scientific Method, following the Engineering Design Process, and coding robots such that they can perform specific and detailed tasks.
I am amazed at how far they have come in such a short time! Our focus is on the Four C's - Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. I'd add a fifth C - Compromise - for children are learning to navigate teamwork and its many facets in new ways. They are learning to take apart, put together, discuss, imagine, and create physical and technical systems as teams and as individuals.
My Project
I am requesting construction sets, such as the Brickyard Construction and Engineering kit, K'Nex Simple Machines kits, and Brickyard Building Blocks and Base plates because my K-4 students need opportunities to actively engage in the engineering design and building processes.
Aristotle stated,“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” This could not be more true for students in STEM!
They have to tinker, plan, build, disassemble, and rebuild to understand the way things work. This project seeks to set up a "Tinker Town" in which students can do exactly that. They will learn and grow in their understandings of successful mechanical systems, in their ability to collaborate with their peers, and in their problem-solving skills as they design, build, and improve their engineering projects.
Building Bricks - 1,100 Pieces Compatible Toys by Brickyard Building Blocks - Bulk Block Set with 154 Roof Pieces, 2 Free Brick Separators, and Reusable Storage Box with Handle (1,100 pcs)
• Amazon Business
$29.95
3
$89.85
Strictly Briks Classic Brick Baseplates Building and Stacking Toys (12 Piece), 12 Colors, 10" x 10"
• Amazon Business
$35.99
2
$71.98
K'NEX Education ‒ STEM Explorations: Roller Coaster Building Set – 546 Pieces – Ages 8+ Construction Education Toy
• Amazon Business
$35.07
1
$35.07
K’NEX Education ‒ STEM Explorations: Swing Ride Building Set ‒ 486 Pieces ‒ Ages 8+ Engineering Education Toy
• Amazon Business
$34.49
1
$34.49
K’NEX Education – Intro to Simple Machines: Wheels, Axles, & Inclined Planes Set – 221 Pieces – Ages 8+ Engineering Educational Toy
• Amazon Business
$34.29
1
$34.29
101 Piece STEM Toys Kit | Educational Construction Engineering Building Blocks Learning Set for Ages 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Year Old Boys & Girls by Brickyard | Best Kids Toy | Creative Games & Fun Activities
• Amazon Business
$28.95
1
$28.95
K'NEX Education STEM EXPLORATIONS: Levers & PULLEYS Building Set Building Kit
• Amazon Business
$14.99
1
$14.99
Materials cost
$467.96
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$7.02
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$504.98
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$89.11
Total project goal
$594.09
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$594.09
1 Donor
-$594.09
Donations toward project cost
-$504.98
Donations 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. McClelland and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.