This is a guest post from Amy Serbus, Media Assistant at Kimball Elementary School. Read more reports from CMLE Mini Grants on our page.

We have received our Keva Planks that were awarded to us through your mini grant program last spring and we are LOVING them!  With COVID, it has definitely been a challenge introducing this very popular resource into our school as we must clean or close them after each use.  It is absolutely worth those challenges though as they are constantly being requested by both students and staff!

In the media center, we have the KEVA Planks open for free, creative time and they have quickly become the most popular STEAM item on the shelves!  We have had students use the planks to  build towers, make incredible “domino” trails, and play “Jenga” in small“, socially-distanced groups. 

We also check the planks out to teachers for use in their classrooms.  Our first-grade students used the planks to reinforce their reading lessons by spelling out their names and their vocabulary words for the week.  They also used the planks during their math time by making shapes and patterns.  Several older grades have plans to use them for building structures during their science lessons to demonstrate concepts like gravity, force and balance.  The possibilities are endless in how Keva Planks can be used and we are excited to see how they evolve.

We are so grateful to Central Minnesota Library Exchange for making it possible for us to purchase this wonderful resource that will enrich our entire student body in so many ways!  

Thank you so very much for your generosity and for everything you do for libraries in your community!

Kimball Elementary School