Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on DonorsChoose

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Students experimented with light and heat by popping balloons with focused sunlight, melting ice on different colored surfaces, and creating sundials and thermometers to better up understand how we measure and observe our world.\r\n\r\nBeyond energy and light, students explored growth and life cycles in a way that connected science, creativity, and responsibility. After learning about nocturnal animals, students painted their own owl planters. We then connected this work to our study of plant life cycles and photosynthesis by planting grass seed and observing growth over time. Students took real ownership of the process, checking their plants daily, noticing changes, and discussing what plants need to survive. As their grass grew, they became especially invested and excited to give their owls their first \"haircut.\"\r\n\r\nWe also used the National Geographic Crystal Growing Tree kit to bring chemistry and geology to life. Students observed crystallization as it happened and watched colorful crystal structures form within hours. This hands-on experience helped them understand concepts like solubility, absorption, and crystal structure in a way that felt real and immediate.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, the set of three geoboards from this project became a favorite part of our math rotations. Students used them to build and explore polygons and quadrilaterals, creating trapezoids, rhombuses, triangles, and more while investigating angles, size, and structure. These rotated through groups every two weeks and consistently sparked excitement, engagement, and deeper understanding.\r\n\r\nThis project did more than support academic learning. It built curiosity, confidence, perseverance, and joy. My students were not just learning. They were creating, questioning, and taking pride in their work.\r\n\r\nI truly cannot express how grateful I am. 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I decided to wait and open all of the packages with my students, they love getting mail. They were beyond excited and very interested with all of the new materials that had arrived in our classroom. My students got right to playing with the toys and exploring all they could do with them. \r\n\r\nOne of the most used tools has been the light table manipulatives. There are numbers, letters, counters, buttons, gems, and more. The students have used these to support their math learning. We have learned what it means for things to be the same and what it means for things to be different. Students then used the light table manipulatives to sort same and different in a variety of ways. They used the buckets to separate by color, shape and size. \r\n\r\nAnother widely used tool has been the counting bolts. Students have been building in their number recognition and number sense. My students also enjoy that the nuts are fun to put on and take off of the bolt. 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About this school

Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School is a rural public school in Great Barrington, Massachusetts that is part of Berkshire Hills Regional School District. It serves 365 students in grades Pre-K - 4 with a student/teacher ratio of 10.1:1. Its teachers have had 26 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 4

365 Students

36 Teachers

318 Monument Valley Rd

Great Barrington, MA 01230 View local requests

http://www.bhrsd.org

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School Demographics

70%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

23%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Apr 9, 2026

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.