Full STEAM Ahead

Bonnie Draeger, Kindergarten/First Grade

Good Shepherd Christian Academy

$677.89

"But, why? But WHY?" asked EVERY child ever! Now, you can help Ms. Draegar support her students in finding the answers to the questions they seek! By funding this request for the STEAM app, you will allow this amazing science teacher to foster a scientifically engaged classroom of young, critical thinkers. This app combines scientific education and the fun, and hands-on use of technology to educate children on the importance of science.

According to Ms. Draeger, "This dream includes many items from a variety of areas of science and is hands-on. We will study and explore the human body, health, and nutrition. We will also perform real field experiments on a nature walk, and discover the habitats of many animals, particularly some of their favorites. Also included in this dream is the scientific investigation of magnetism and, in another area of study, how different surfaces affect motion."

So now...you ask, BUT WHY? BUT WHY? Because funding this dream will allow students to keep asking this important question while bringing the study of science to life!

Build Your Own Adventure!

Jill Certosimo, Preschool

Concordia Place on Seeley

$1,988.55

Certainly we all remember the seemingly infinite fun we had using our wildest imaginations to create wacky structures with Legos! Now, imagine bringing that amount of fun into the classroom! Ms. Certosimo's dream is to enhance learning by adding more STEM materials to the classroom so that her students can work hard through play. Adding these STEM lego sets will help increase student's understanding of STEM concepts through hands-on learning.

Additionally, these Lego sets will help build creativity and imagination and support SEL concepts. These materials will help support social emotional development and growth, as the materials are designed to be used in small groups. This will promote sharing and group cooperation. The use of Legos in small groups will also help develop community and will allow students to find value in considering the opinions, contributions and ideas of others. These are important life skills that need to be fostered early.

Supporting this dream will help Ms. Certosimo to build a classroom where the possibilities are endless.

STEM Materials for Concordia Place Students

Estafania Ornelas, Home Visitor

Concordia Place on Whipple

$1,400

Preschool age children love learning about science, math, and other STEM topics. Preschool is the time that children build the foundations of these subjects that will follow them through the rest of their education. Manipulatives like gears, magnets, and ramps expose students to new ideas and allow them to learn through play. This is why Ms. Ornelas is asking for these materials in order to enhance STEM learning in classrooms.

Additionally, Concordia Place is dedicated to providing a rich and equitable learning experience to all children that walk through the doors. STEM concepts can be difficult to teach without hands-on materials that children can engage with. Funding this project will allow our teachers to give all of their kiddos a chance to explore new topics and ideas!

Missing What Fits

Renque Portillo, PreK

Lutheran Day Nursery

$270

It has been proven, both in research and personal experiences, that the use of puzzles during the years of early childhood is of great benefit to students that will carry on and build from for years to come. Ms. Portillo would like to continue building a strong foundation for her students, which is why she is asking that she receive her dream of replacing her old puzzle sets with new ones. Ms. Portillo's puzzles are old and worn down and many of them are missing pieces, so the young ones are not able to benefit from completing them as they should be.

Ms. Portillo adds, "Fulfillment of this Dream enhances the quality in our classroom in the most meaningful manner and that is the development of the "whole" child. It provides cognitive, language, social-emotional, motor skills and creativity development."

Support this dream and give this preK classroom the missing pieces!

Mad about Early Math and Science!

Laura Gonzales, Preschool

Lutheran Day Nursery

$1,292.30

Ms. Gonzales wants nothing more than to peak the interests of her students and lead them to new discoveries! She simply needs some new materials that will allow her to do so. Hence, her dream is to update her math and science learning centers with new materials that will support fun and learning!

According to Ms. Gonzales, "The fulfillment of this dream will enhance our children's learning in science and math. They will be able to measure, weigh, sort, and group with their new materials. They will also be able to investigate, observe, compare, and predict!"

Fuel this dream and inspire future scientists and engineers!

Building our Imagination with Loose Parts in Construction

Brittani Mosinski, Junior Kindergarten

St. James Lutheran School

$875

Building and creating is a pillar of Early Childhood Education. When a child is in a construction center it may look like she/he is just building a tower but there is so much more happening. Children are building imagination, self-expression, problem solving skills, mathematics, creativity, social skills, and self esteem. Ms. Mosinski wants to enrich and enhance the construction area in the classroom by incorporating loose parts, ramps, chutes, and arches. These items will help students challenge themselves while building and help create new play opportunities.

Loose parts are open-ended materials such as blocks, ramps, sheets, pipes, log rounds, cups, and rocks that children can adapt, move, design and transform in many different ways. They can be moved, combined, redesigned, lined up, taken apart and put back together in multiple ways. Adding these pieces to the program would give students more open ended play time, allowing students to stretch and push the limits of what they can build.

Provide Ms. Mosinski's dream, and help create an environment where students can challenge each other to build and grow!