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

In a rush to make a major tax-deductible gift before the year's end?
Purchase account credits now, and choose projects later!

In a rush to make a major tax-deductible gift before the year's end? Purchase account credits now, and choose projects later!

For direct assistance with credits or anything else, please call The DonorsChoose Scholar Society at (646) 556-9941.

Time is running out! Make your 2025 tax-deductible gift before midnight on December 31.

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.

This teacher needs your help!

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

See what Mrs. Saurman is requesting

Zooming In: Seeing The Microscopic

My students need a microscope camera so we can examine and discuss the microscopic as a class.

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Saurman's classroom raised $528

This project is fully funded

My Students

If you were like me when you learned to use a microscope, it was hard to get things into focus, and even more difficult to determine what the teacher wanted you to identify. With a pupil-cam, the entire class can see into the microscope together in addition to doing the lab themselves.

My students come to school with a lot of burdens.

The neighborhood can be treacherous. However, almost all of my students are enthusiastic about science. There is something magical about science class that is transformative. I teach at a catchment area charter school in North Philadelphia. All of our students qualify for free breakfast and lunch. The school's mission is to use a focused, progressive educational approach designed specifically to close the achievement gap for low-income students who come to us severely under-prepared.

My Project

By using a digital microscope camera, all of my students will be able to see clear, identifiable images of plant, animal and bacteria cells in real time. They will also be able to closely examine the macro-invertebrates that I have living in the back of the classroom. I strive to keep my students focused and interested in what we are doing so that it will leave a lasting impression on their memories, just like my Middle School science teacher did for me. I believe this digital microscope camera will help to make those lasting impressions.

I want my students to leave my class knowing that a career in science is not only possible, but it is also engaging and fulfilling.

A digital microscope camera is not going to save the world, but it will uncover it. It will give my students a shared experience and a common understanding so that they can then confidently explore on their own.

Mrs. Saurman Mastery Charter School - Douglass Grades 6-8

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

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

240 students impacted 21donors

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. Saurman is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Ken-a-Vision PupilCAM 2.0 with 10 Eyepiece (USB) • Carolina Biological Supply Company $370.50 1 $370.50

Materials cost

$370.50

Vendor shipping charges

$37.05

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.56

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$448.11

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$79.08

Total project goal

$527.19

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$527.19

17 Donors

-$522.78

Donations toward project cost

-$448.11

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$74.67

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$4.41

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

Project Activity

{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"PA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":3,"name":"Middle School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/-/611376/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":240,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Saurman","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"640705568","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Philadelphia","teachersOnPage":[1027383],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":611376,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":90739,"schoolName":"Mastery Charter School - Douglass","authorIds":{"1027383":{"owner":"Mrs. Saurman","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[611376],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherHasProfilePhoto":false,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":23,"teacherChallengeId":191064,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":1027383,"schoolCounty":"Philadelphia","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"PA","name":"Pennsylvania"}}