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Ms. Parham-Cortez from Kansas City MO is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Parham-Cortez is requesting

Braiding Futures: Bringing Traditional Eco-Knowledge to Inner-City Youth

Help me give my students a chance to explore traditional scientific knowledge and see their place within the world through the lens of the YA book, Braiding Sweetgrass.

  • 23 donors
  • $3,616 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Project

Our students are a vibrant and diverse group, each possessing unique perspectives and a strong desire to learn. Yet many of our students haven't had the opportunity to spend significant time outdoors, which can limit their understanding of the natural world and their place within it. "Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults" by Robin Wall Kimmerer bridges this gap. The book explores the interconnectedness of ecology, traditional plant knowledge, and indigenous wisdom. Through engaging stories and scientific exploration, students will learn about the delicate balance within ecology and how it can apply to our local ecosystem here in Kansas City. By using the book for cross-curricular lessons between IB English and science classes, students will delve deeper into the concept of traditional stories acting as instructions on how to be stewards of the environment, fostering a more holistic understanding of environmental issues.

Our primary goal for this project is to cultivate a sense of environmental stewardship in our students and for them to develop their own personal narratives in relation to their impact on the environment.

We acknowledge that the land on which we gather, Kansas City, is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of many Indigenous Nations, including the Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), Kaw/Kansa, Osage, Shawnee, Nutachi (Missouria), and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux) tribes. "Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults" honors this history by highlighting the importance of respecting and caring for the land, a message that aligns perfectly with our desire to teach students about traditional scientific knowledge. This knowledge, combined with modern environmental awareness, will equip our students with the tools they need to become responsible stewards of their local ecosystem. We hope to encourage them to take action by participating in local environmental initiatives, citizen science projects, or even starting their own projects to improve their corner of Kansas City.

Ms. Parham-Cortez
Grades 9-12

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants • Amazon Business $14.99 200 $2,998.00

Materials cost

$2,998.00

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$44.97

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$3,072.97

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$542.29

Total project goal

$3,615.26

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $3,615.26

20 Donors

-$1,833.21

Donations toward project cost

-$1,569.98

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$263.23

match offer

-$1,768.22

Match offer toward project cost

-$1,502.99

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$265.23

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$13.83

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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 Ms. Parham-Cortez and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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