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Mrs. Helsel from Manton MI is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Tools For Successful Problem-Solving

My students need lab equipment to practice science concepts including an electronic balance with precision of 0.001, and safety goggles to keep them safe.

  • $706 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

Isaac Stern said, "It is only through failure and through experiment that we learn and grow." This addresses two pillars of my classroom: we learn from mistakes and we learn from doing. I want my students to become problem solvers, which means being willing to take risks and create experiments.

My students are part of a small, rural community.

They are hardworking, honest, and very traditional. The school is small and hardworking as well. The elementary, middle school, and high school are housed in one building. We are not only connected by our walls, but our philosophy, too. Our motto is "Whatever it takes, our students are worth it." We understand the reality that for children in poverty, success in school is really a matter of life and death. We strive to supply our students with meaningful learning opportunities and the chance to contribute back to their community in a meaningful way.

My Project

In my science classes, I try to provide my students with practical applications of science every single day. I am very passionate about making science education relevant and attainable to every student. I enjoy science so much because it's simple problem-solving approach. In order for my students to see this, it is very important that they are able to take a physical approach and actually do labs and experiments. Unfortunately, this is often difficult to do, given the added expense of lab supplies and equipment. Because safety is the most important part of a lab, I am requesting safety goggles for proper eye protection. Many of the lab activities and experiments we would like to do involve the use of specialized equipment, which is why I am asking for a precision scale. Teaching a fundamental law, such as the Law of Conservation of Mass, is aided by tools like this. Students are able to prove or disprove hypotheses when they have accurate data in front of them to analyze.

A perfect day of learning would involve my students actively solving problems centered around content relevant to their lives, using tools to gather evidence to support their ideas.

I want my students to realize that problem solving isn't an ability that's only practiced within the walls of our classroom. Through lab practice and experimentation, I hope my students will develop a mind-set that they can have a positive impact on their world. These donations will help provide the means for this

Mrs. Helsel
Grades 9-12
  • Manton School
  • Manton, MI
  • More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

    This project will reach 80 students.

    6 donors have given to this project.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
BALANCE, PRIVATE LABEL PORTABLE 100G • Frey Scientific $434.70 1 $434.70
GLASSES TECHNO II BLACK FRAME/CLEAR LENS • Frey Scientific $2.24 30 $67.20

Materials cost

$501.90

Vendor shipping charges

$60.23

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$7.53

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$599.66

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$105.82

Total project goal

$705.48

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$705.48

5 Donors

-$619.61

Donations toward project cost

-$599.66

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$19.95

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$85.87

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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