Creative Constructors: Engineering Toys for Third Grade | Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation

Moderation state

funded

Grant Applicant

Dana Seaborg

Grant Co-applicants

School Site

Grant Category

Mathematics & Science

Grant Date

2025-03-31T12:00:00

Description

Each week our third grade students have free choice time where students can create, imagine, and build. We’d like to increase our high-quality toys to rotate through our classrooms. Open-ended and engineering play is beneficial for all of our students and gives opportunities to explore and improve fine motor skills. Additionally, this type of play helps students develop their language skills by giving them opportunities to communicate with their peers as they plan and solve problems together. This grant would allow us to include more open-ended STEM toys to all three classrooms.

Benefits of Program

This grant would benefit all the 3rd grade students at our school, about 75+ students each year. We want to give them all the chance to learn and grow through engaging play.

Success of Program

This grant will enhance our classroom by offering students hands-on, sensory experiences that will allow them to explore several different engineering concepts. This would support the 3rd grade curriculum by introducing science concepts and giving opportunities for students to construct, test, and modify. We would measure the success of these materials by observing the students in their hands-on play time. We would apply this knowledge to their science lessons.

Implementation

We'll put these materials to use right away. They'll become a regular part of our math, science, and free play activities.

Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?

Yes, absolutely. We'll rotate the toys monthly between our three third-grade classrooms, ensuring everyone gets to enjoy them.

Sustainability

Yes, these materials will be a lasting investment. We'll keep them in our classrooms for years to come, providing ongoing learning opportunities for our students.

Amount Funded

$1141.66

Individual Budget Items(s)

$542 - Micro Magna-tiles x 6- 2 per classroom

$474 - Kodo Discovery Ramp Set and Rubber Marble Run

Shipping

$47.40

Taxes

$78.26

Supporting Links

Mirco Magna-Tiles and Tegu Blocks

Rubber Marble Run

Discovery Ramp Set