Choose a Seat, Join a Team: Building a Collaborative Classroom
Paulina Kerskie
ID-2897
School Name:Herbert Cambridge Elementary
Grant Request Grade:5
Grant Request Subject:Science
Additional Details
My project goal is to create an organized, flexible fifth-grade science classroom that encourages students to work proactively and successfully with partners and small groups. Science is naturally collaborative, requiring students to share ideas, investigate questions, solve problems, and learn from one another. I want our classroom environment to reflect and support this type of learning.
Students will use scoop chairs and lap desks during small-group investigations, science stations, and collaborative assignments. These options will allow students to move from their traditional desk groups to another workspace when an activity requires closer collaboration or a different learning environment.
Each desk group will have a milk-crate Collaboration Station containing communal supplies, student-friendly dictionaries, and language-translation resources. Students will be taught how to independently retrieve, share, and return these materials. Seat sacks will provide additional storage at student desks, while magnetic file folders will keep papers and resources separated and organized for each of my three science class blocks.
During group work, students will use “I Need Help” flip charts to quietly signal when they need teacher assistance. While waiting, groups will be expected to continue discussing the problem, consult their reference materials, or attempt another strategy. These classroom systems will be explicitly taught, modeled, and practiced so students can become responsible and proactive members of their learning teams.
Students will benefit from having greater access to the seating, supplies, and language resources they need to participate successfully in collaborative science learning. Flexible seating will provide additional locations for students to discuss ideas, analyze information, and complete investigations with their peers without crowding their traditional desk groups.
The Collaboration Stations will give every group immediate access to shared supplies, dictionaries, and translation resources. This will be especially beneficial for multilingual learners who may need language support to understand scientific vocabulary, communicate their thinking, or contribute to a group discussion. Keeping these resources at each desk group will reduce unnecessary movement and prevent students from losing learning time while searching for materials.
The organizational systems and “I Need Help” flip charts will also encourage students to become more independent. Students will learn to locate resources, manage shared materials, communicate their needs appropriately, and try available strategies before relying on the teacher. As a result, students will have more opportunities to remain engaged, collaborate productively, and take responsibility for their learning.
Funding will be used to purchase materials that address specific barriers to productive partner and group work in my fifth-grade science classroom.
Flexible chairs and lap desks will create flexible workspaces for students. These materials will allow students to work in different areas of the classroom without requiring additional tables or large pieces of furniture.
Milk crates and seat sacks will be used to create a Collaboration Station for each desk group. Magnetic file folders will keep handouts and materials organized by science class block, preventing papers from different classes from becoming mixed together.
“I Need Help” flip charts will provide each group with a quiet and visible way to request teacher assistance. This will reduce interruptions and allow the teacher to identify which groups need support while other students continue working.
Together, these purchases will maximize the classroom’s existing space, improve access to learning resources, and establish sustainable systems for independent and collaborative learning.
526.15
Lakeshore At-Your-Seat Storage Sacks (10 sacks at $14.99 each)
158.89
Sterilite 8 Qt. Dishpan, Multi-Purpose Plastic Wash Tub (8 tubs at $1.98 each)
16.79
Leaf Scoop Indoor/Outdoor Floor Seat, 6-Piece
100.69
Sterilite File Crate (Milk Crate) (5 crates at $7.37 each)
