For the last week, teacher Deb Whipple has hand-delivered bags with STEAM-themed goodies to the homes of 40 of her students at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST).
Thanks to a $1,000 “Keep Kids Learning” grant from DonorsChoose, Whipple was able to buy lots of cool gizmos related to STEAM – short for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Whipple randomly chose students from grade 2-6 to receive the bags. Each student on her list received a journal, and she doled out a range of goodies based a student’s particular interest. Among the loot: gemstone dig kits, electric motor STEAM robot kits, 3D gardens, NASA freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches, crystal grow kits, STEAM project activity kits and more.
Once she divvied up the materials, she wrote a personal note to each student. She then loaded up her car and spent the next several days delivering bags (the reusable bags were donated by our community partners at Hannaford Supermarkets).
“My students were so surprised to see me after 13 weeks at home. I loved seeing their eyes light up and the expressions on their faces when they looked inside their bag. They were excited and very thankful,” Whipple said.
to see more photos of surprised students receiving their gifts.
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