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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Pitochelli from Fullerton, CA is requesting lab equipment through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Pitochelli is requesting

Animatronic Insectosaurs! - Part 1

Help me give my students the essential equipment (servo motors, arduinos, DC motors and connection hardware) necessary to automate their Prehistoric Bugs.

FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Pitochelli's classroom raised $2,170

This project is fully funded

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

"Study the science of art. Study the art of science," Leonardo Da Vinci. Empowering students through art to learn biology and anatomy is the goal of our new Biological Arts Design Engineering (BADE) course.

Our Biology Engineering Arts Science Technology (BEAST) is a STEAM program in which students study art, biology, and physics through the lens of the film and theme park industries to innovate and create animatronics, machines that move like living creatures.

Our student body ranges across many socioeconomic levels and cultural backgrounds (with many Title I and minority students). Their backgrounds vary widely from "high achieving" students who plan to move on to four year colleges and universities (including Ivy league schools, film schools, and art schools) to other students who struggle with grades, and work after school to help support their families. All our kids want to believe that they can have a future in the Arts and Sciences!

My Project

The overall objective of the ANIMATRONIC INSECTOSAURS project (Parts 1 and 2) requires our B.E.A.S.T. (Biology, Engineering, Art, Science, and Technology) students to design and fabricate life-sized prehistoric mechanical insects that not only look like the gigantic creatures that once flourished our planet, but move like them too!

Part 1 of the project will focus on the development of the creature's mechanical structure and movement automation.

Part 2 will focus on the development of the creature's exoskeleton and various body parts that bring it to life!

The materials we are requesting will enable the students to automate their creatures in a variety of ways. Servo motors will be used to help create the motion of insect wings, heads, and various other body parts. The electric motors will make the creatures mobile as they can be used to rotate hidden wheels to move and steer the creature. A distance sensor will be used in order for the creature to "see" its surroundings and make turns in order to avoid obstacles. Students will program/code Arduino's in order to develop the necessary motion for their creature. The portable battery packs will power the Arduino's, motors, and sensors, and will allow for full self-containment of the creature. The B.E.A.S.T. students will fabricate the entire mechanical structure using raw materials, mainly aluminum and wood. The students will not be utilizing a kit of any type to create their creatures. The students will additionally utilize 3D modeling and printing in order to make gears, pulley, and other parts unique to their design. Students will apply physics of gearing and rotation rates, levers, torque, rotational inertia, mechanical advantage, forces, and motion. Students will additionally research the biology and anatomy of their creature in order to produce a realistic design.

This project covers every aspect of STEAM!

Mr. Pitochelli Fullerton Union High School Grades 9-12

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.

Fullerton, 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

80 students impacted 1donor

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
ESD High Temperature Mat Kit | 16" x 24" | Emerald Green | with (1) ESD Wrist Strap, (1) ESD Grounding Cord, (1) Bottle of Mat Cleaner • Amazon Business $39.99 10 $399.90
Longruner 10 x MG996R Metal Gear Torque Digital Servo Motor For RC Model Car Boat Helicopter LKY62 • Amazon Business $46.99 5 $234.95
Greartisan DC 12V 100RPM Gear Motor High Torque Electric Micro Speed Reduction Geared Motor Eccentric Output Shaft 37mm Diameter Gearbox • Amazon Business $14.99 12 $179.88
Elegoo EL-CB-003 MEGA 2560 R3 Board ATmega2560 ATMEGA16U2 + USB Cable for Arduino • Amazon Business $14.56 12 $174.72
Tenergy 2 pcs 7.2V 3000mAh Flat NiMH High Power Battery Packs with Tamiya Connectors for RC Cars • Amazon Business $28.99 5 $144.95
Tenergy Universal RC Battery Charger for NiMH/NiCd 6V-12V Battery Packs, Fast Charger for RC Car, Airsoft Batteries, Compatible with Standard Size Tamiya/Mini Tamiya/Alligator Clips Connectors • Amazon Business $17.99 5 $89.95
ELEGOO 3PCS 400 tie-points breadboard, 4 power rails for Arduino Jumper Wire • Amazon Business $7.83 10 $78.30
Elegoo EL-CP-004 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire 40pin Male to Female, 40pin Male to Male, 40pin Female to Female Breadboard Jumper Wires Ribbon Cables Kit for arduino • Amazon Business $6.84 10 $68.40
Online Best Service 12 Pack Caster Wheels Swivel Plate Casters On Blue Polyurethane Wheels PU • Amazon Business $22.99 2 $45.98
BQLZR Black and Green RC 1: 10 On-road Racing Car Plastic Wheel Rims&Rubber Tires Pack of 4 • Amazon Business $8.55 5 $42.75
TIMESETL 5Pack L298N Stepper Motor Driver Controller Board Dual H Bridge Module for Arduino Electric Projects • Amazon Business $13.99 3 $41.97
DROK 4pcs Black 37mm DC Gear Motors Mounting Bracket, Iron Anti-rust Gearbox L-shape Fixed Seat, Gear Reduction Motor Holder • Amazon Business $12.99 3 $38.97
Cable Matters 3-Pack USB 2.0 A to B USB Printer Cable - 3 Feet - Available 3FT - 15FT in Length • Amazon Business $8.99 4 $35.96
BQLZR Durable Rubber Hub Wheel Rim&Tires 1:10 On-road Racing Car RC Pack Of 4 Black • Amazon Business $6.74 5 $33.70
Elegoo HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Module Distance Sensor for Arduino UNO MEGA2560 Nano Robot XBee ZigBee, Set of 5 • Amazon Business $9.78 3 $29.34

Materials cost

$1,639.72

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $150.03

3rd party payment processing fee

$24.60

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,844.35

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$325.47

Total project goal

$2,169.82

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $2,169.82

1 Donor

-$1,844.35

Donations toward project cost

-$1,844.35

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$0.00

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$325.47

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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