Help me give my students jumbo magnetic building tiles, log builders, foam rock wall builders and a safe and soft balance beam so they can work on gross motor and social skills.
My students greet each day with a smile, hug or high five. They are a diverse group of hardworking, energetic children. They are considered at-risk academically or behaviorally.
My young learners are eager to learn and engage in hands-on activities.
We are a Title I preschool in an urban, public school system. Most of our students receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch. For most of my students this is their first school experience, and they are more than ready for the challenge.
My Project
The magnetic building tiles, jumbo log builders and foam rock wall builders will be used in the carpeted block area for small group building during my students' work time. These builders will replace our large, heavy wooden blocks, and while increasing safety, they will still provide all the benefits of gross motor and mental stimulation. Building with these large materials provides a challenge in math by working with various shapes and sizes and determining how they fit together to build the desired structure. Science comes into play with regard to gravity and balance.
Blocks provide an interactive STEM experience for my young students while encouraging positive social interactions and stimulation.
Because of the size of these materials, my students need to work cooperatively developing vocabulary and promoting our school family values.
The wooden train encourages puzzle making cognitive, fine motor and cooperative skills while engaged in play. While my students love to lay our current large wooden blocks in a track formation and walk on them, they pose a potentially dangerous situation should a child slip. The soft and safe balance beam will be used to replace the blocks and still provide my students the same opportunity for creativity and learning.
The addition of these materials in my classroom will provide new stimulation and promotion of STEM learning in a safer manner as my young students develop engineering skills for their future.
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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 Mr. Reinert and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
