{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Kiski Area Upper Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":17.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7776917,"projectId":10099705,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom project, \"Cracking Open Learning: A Classroom Hatchery.\" Your generosity gave my students an incredible opportunity to experience learning in a way that they will remember for years to come.\r\n\r\nWhen my students found out that our project had been funded, they were so excited! They could hardly wait to see the two incubators set up in our classroom and learn about the process of hatching chicks. After the PSSAs were completed, we were finally able to begin our hatchery adventure, and the excitement in our classroom grew each day.\r\n\r\nI purchased eggs from several specific breeds of chickens, which gave us another wonderful learning opportunity. Before the chicks hatched, students researched the different breeds we were expecting. They learned about the breeds' characteristics, appearance, history, egg colors, and other interesting facts. Each student then had the opportunity to present their research to the class, allowing everyone to become an expert on the different breeds. This turned our hatchery into much more than simply watching eggs hatch—it became a research, reading, writing, and presentation project.\r\n\r\nHaving two incubators made an especially big difference. Because we had two groups of eggs developing, each of my four ELA classes had the opportunity to actually watch a chick hatch during their class time. The students were absolutely mesmerized. They watched closely as the chicks worked their way out of their shells, cheering and celebrating when a new chick finally emerged. It was one of those special classroom moments when everyone was completely engaged in learning without even realizing they were learning.\r\n\r\nThe project also created a connection to reading. With the wonderful collection of chicken-themed fiction and nonfiction books you provided, students were eager to grab a book and read about what they were seeing right in front of them. During our Accelerated Reader time, many students chose the chicken books because they wanted to learn more about chicks, chickens, eggs, and the hatching process. You helped turn our classroom hatchery into a reason to read.\r\n\r\nThe excitement even reached beyond my current students. Students I had taught the previous year began stopping by my classroom just to get a peek at the chick-hatching action! They wanted to see what was happening and check on our newest little classroom visitors. It was wonderful to see students from different classes sharing in the excitement.\r\n\r\nOne of the most meaningful parts of this project for me was knowing that some of my students may never have the opportunity to see a chick hatch in person. For many children, this was something they had only read about or seen in a video. Having the incubators right in our classroom allowed them to experience the wonder of watching a tiny chick break through its shell right before their eyes. Their amazement, questions, and excitement reminded me just how powerful hands-on experiences can be.\r\n\r\nThis is a unit that I plan to continue every spring in my classroom. The books and resources you helped provide will continue to be used year after year, allowing future groups of students to experience this same excitement. Each spring, a new group of fifth graders will have the opportunity to research breeds, read fiction and nonfiction, make observations, ask questions, share what they have learned, and—most importantly—watch a chick hatch.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building on the curiosity this project created. Students still have so many questions about what happens after a chick hatches, how chickens grow, and what makes different breeds unique. The experience has opened the door to even more reading, research, discussion, and learning.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students more than books and incubators. You gave them a memorable experience, a reason to be curious, and a chance to see that learning can happen all around them. Your support helped make our classroom a place where students could read, wonder, discover, research, present, and celebrate learning together.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, we truly cracked open learning—and hatched some wonderful memories along the way!","fullyFundedDate":1775654029813,"projectUrl":"project/cracking-open-learning-a-classroom-hatc/10099705/","projectTitle":"Cracking Open Learning: A Classroom Hatchery","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Plazio","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7776917"},{"teacherId":10354031,"projectId":9907888,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support!\r\nMany items are needed to help run the day-to-day activities in my 6th grade classroom, and your generosity made a tremendous difference. Because of your support, I was able to create more hands-on activities that engage learners who don't always see the importance of history.\r\n\r\nThis year, I wanted to highlight the incredible city of Pittsburgh—home of the Yinzers! With your help, I was able to \"bridge\" the City of Bridges with my students through our very first Yinzer Week, which celebrated iconic Pittsburgh people, places, and traditions.\r\n\r\nOne of those beloved traditions is the Pittsburgh Cookie Table, a staple at weddings for generations. Thanks to the supplies you provided, we were able to create our very own classroom Cookie Table. It made learning both fun and delicious!\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting my students and helping bring Pittsburgh to life in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1763833059527,"projectUrl":"project/yinzer-week-creating-the-next-generatio/9907888/","projectTitle":"YINZER Week: Creating the Next Generation of YINZERS","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stankowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10354031_orig.jpg?crop=1512,1512,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763571771348","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10354031"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_122950","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":502,"numTeachers":37,"percentFrplEligible":78,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":88,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"5 - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"13.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.8,"schoolId":122950,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Kiski Area Upper Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Kiski Area Upper Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/pennsylvania/kiski-area-school-district/kiski-area-upper-elementary-school/122950"}