(SPS)-- Just in time for Christmas, Sapulpa Middle School STEM students delivered gifts to special education students at their school.
6th and 7th graders in Mrs. Janet Johnson's STEM classes designed and built their own therapeutic toys to help students with disabilities hone fine and gross motor skills, problem solving, spatial recognition, hand-eye coordination and more.
Students interviewed the teacher of students with severe and profound disabilities to find out what types of toys would help her students.
Then, they presented their designs and created prototypes to illustrate their toys' benefits. The completed toys featured bright colors, complex mechanisms and puzzles -- all meant to provide cognitive, physical and sensory therapies for students with special needs.
The project was made possible through the Classroom Learning and School Supplies (CLASS 2.0) grants provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The state received $6 million in funding and distributed grants to more than 6,000 teachers statewide for innovative projects.
Mrs. Johnson was quick to apply for the funding, and is thankful it came through before the holidays so special education students could receive the toys.
"My students are learning to be global citizens and that STEM is not just a subject in school, but can actually benefit their community," wrote Mrs. Johnson in her grant request. "The grant will provide students the opportunity to learn how to plan, model, test, modify, measure, and build to specification. The project will allow students the freedom to create and think with the responsibility of creating something for someone in need."
The Oklahoma State Department of Education funded the grants through Donors Choose. To donate to a Sapulpa Public Schools' teacher project or to view all funded projects, visit
DonorsChoose.org.
