Engineering, design, computer programing, and spatial reasoning are valuable skills for any student to learn, but especially for the traditionally underprivileged, underserved students who attend our school. Students love to be challenged and love knowing that they are learning high tech skills that make people say "Wow, you're a kid and you're doing that?!" At this point, we have a lot of different tools for students to use to express themselves, and are always adding more to our maker space. But one thing we don't have are building blocks like Keva Planks.

Building blocks are a low tech way to teach high tech skills. Through play and building with blocks, students gain practical knowledge around geometry, physics, planning, and collaboration. They learn hands on ways to make their ideas come to life. Student's may be able to make a 3d model on a computer, but a lack of experience building creations with physical objects is a tough barrier to overcome. The fact of the matter is, legos and other types of building blocks are expensive and not every family can afford to purchase them for their children, even though every student benefits from playing with them. Adding Keva Planks to our maker space would give more students access to a part of childhood which many of us take for granted.

Donors from organizations like the Beaverton Education Foundation have already helped out our school tremendously by outfitting our school with 3d printers and filament from an earlier grant. Through those printers, an after school club was formed, thousands of student designs have been printed, and hundreds of students lives have been permanently altered through gaining skills they would have otherwise never been exposed to. Keva Planks will give younger students (as well as older students) even more of an advantage by giving them additional experience planning, building, revising, innovating, and collaborating.

Through donating to this project, you directly affect the lives of every student who attends Kinnaman Elementary. Every student comes to STEAM specials and loves the time they get to be creative and make something they think is cool and will remember forever. And hopefully, you will remember it too! Photos of students in action using the Keva Planks will be posted to this project so you can see firsthand the results or your generous donation.