You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Your school email address was successfully verified.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Gessner from Philadelphia, PA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Gessner is requesting
Fully Funded

Mrs. Gessner's classroom raised $613

A Short History of a Nearly Perfect Class

My students needs 35 of the books titled, "A Really Short History of Nearly Everything" to learn history in an enjoyable way.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Gessner profile photo
Mrs. Gessner J Hampton Moore Elementary School
Philadelphia, PA Grades 3-5

My Students

History doesn't have to be taught through boring textbooks anymore! The social studies series my students use is 5 inches thick and intimidating to look at and read through. Do you remember the first time you read a history book and enjoyed it? My students need that memory to start now.

Our class consists of 34 ethnically diverse students.

With over 40 languages in our school, 10 languages exist in our classroom. Built in 1951, our K-5 school houses close to 1,200 students in a large urban city. We are extremely overcrowded, with an average of 6 classes per grade with about 30-34 students per class. My class is very unique. What makes us unique is that I was their 4th grade teacher last year. Because all of our personalities clicked so well, I was able to loop with my class into the 5th grade. This makes entering 5th grade seamless. Our first week won't be spent getting to know each other, rather catching up like old friends.

My Project

Taking as territory everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, our class seeks to understand how we got from there being nothing at all to suddenly there being an "us." In "A Short History of Nearly Everything," by Bill Bryson, Bryson has attached himself to a host of the world's most advanced archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, traveling to their offices, laboratories, and field camps. He has read, or tried to read, their books, pestered them with questions, apprenticed himself to their powerful minds. Students need to be able to enjoy learning again. Our district has everything so scripted that teachers can't step out of their boxes anymore to create diverse and differentiated learning environments. Bill Bryson makes learning fun and enjoyable again in this book. But most importantly, it makes the kids want to pick up this book to read and learn.

I'm teaching future doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and potentially a future US President.

I'm also teaching future teachers, electricians, and social workers. It's my job to make sure they all have the tools to help them succeed in the future. The tools to help them succeed come in all different forms. In this case, it comes in the form of a book called, "A Short History of Nearly Everything." It's one of those books that makes students want to read and learn about history.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

34 students impacted 28 donors
Mrs. Gessner J Hampton Moore Elementary School Grades 3-5

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Philadelphia, PA View local requests

Nearly all 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

34 students impacted 28donors

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mrs. Gessner is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
A Really Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson • Barnes and Noble $13.67 35 $478.45

Materials cost

$478.45

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$7.18

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$520.63

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$91.88

Total project goal

$612.51

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $612.51

19 Donors

-$610.74

Donations toward project cost

-$520.63

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$90.11

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$1.77

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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. Gessner and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"PA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":2,"name":"Elementary School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/a-short-history-of-a-nearly-perfect-clas/429351/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":34,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Gessner","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"897718100","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Philadelphia","teachersOnPage":[288477],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":429351,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":90941,"schoolName":"J Hampton Moore Elementary School","authorIds":{"288477":{"owner":"Mrs. Gessner","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[429351],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp288477_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651253378460","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":57614,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["NTg1NzQw","NzM4MjM5","NzM4Njkx","NTI1NzQ1","NzM5NDAz","NzM5NDY2","NzM5NTMw","NzM1MjIy","NzM4NzY0","NzM5MDkw","NzM5NTYw","MTAyMTQx","Njc0MTE0","NzE0OTMy","NzA0MTE4","NzM4NDAx","Njc5NDIy","NzM4OTIx","NzAyOTQz"],"teacherId":288477,"schoolCounty":"Philadelphia","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"PA","name":"Pennsylvania"}}