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Mrs. Dimas from San Jose, CA is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Engineers In The Making and Destroying

My students need 80 bottles of glue and 225 boxes of round wood toothpicks.

  • $644 goal

This project expired on September 30, 2008.

This project expired on September 30, 2008.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Dimas profile photo
Mrs. Dimas Santa Teresa High School
San Jose, CA Grades 9-12

Students learn and remember more from doing a real physical project than listening and reading about the information. I currently teach 2 levels of physics, AP and regular, to mainly juniors and seniors in a suburban high school.

My students enjoy creating engineering projects. Many of my students that might not be great at math problems, find they excel at building projects. All of sudden, they realize they have abilities they never knew they possessed and their self confidence increases. Without these types of projects, the students might never discover they might like to be engineers, a field in which the US currently has a severe shortage. The problem is that these engineering projects cost money because the students actually need to create something. Also, the materials are used up, so every year I am required to find a way to find the money for these projects. This money is getting harder and harder to find.

This particular project requires the students to build a bridge out of 750 toothpicks and one 4 oz bottle of glue. While I allow and encourage the students to work in groups, with 6 physics classes and 35 students per class, that is a great deal of toothpicks and glue. The project requires them to have certain restrictions about the bridge dimensions and a minimum vertical load requirement. The day we test bridges is both stressful and rewarding to the students as they hang weights under the bridge and watch to see if their bridge can pass the test.

By funding this projects, you will help inspire students to want to build and learn more about physics. More than that, you will help them find self esteem they cannot achieve other ways and learn real life group dynamic skills. This project will encourage many students to pursue some sort of engineering field.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than half of students from low‑income households

210 students impacted
Mrs. Dimas Santa Teresa High School Grades 9-12

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

San Jose, CA View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

210 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
TOOTHPICKS - ROUND BX250 • Sargent Welch $1.58 225 $355.50
ELMER'S GLUE-ALL 4-OZ -- Elmer's Glue-All ; 4-oz. Bottle • Quill Corporation $0.89 80 $71.20

Materials cost

$426.70

Vendor shipping charges

 $42.67

Sales tax

 $30.94

3rd party payment processing fee

$10.67

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$528.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$115.90

Total project goal

$643.90

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Dimas and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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