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!

Ms. Zervakos from Wyandanch, NY is requesting classroom basics through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Zervakos is requesting
Fully Funded

Ms. Zervakos's classroom raised $477

Bringing Joy Back to Recess

Help me give my students items to play with at recess and give them a reason to love recess again. The students lost their playground. They need to stay active & engaged during recess in the classroom.

Classroom photo
Ms. Zervakos profile photo
Ms. Zervakos Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School
Wyandanch, NY Grades 3-5

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 Project

Recess is more than just a break—it is an essential part of a child’s physical, social, and emotional development. Unfortunately, my students no longer have access to a playground. After lunch, instead of running, playing, and releasing energy, they return to the classroom and are expected to sit quietly with no outlet to move, socialize, or reset their minds.

Without an opportunity to play, many students struggle to regulate their emotions, focus during afternoon lessons, and interact positively with their peers.

Play allows children to release built-up energy, practice cooperation, build problem-solving skills, and return to learning calm, focused, and ready to succeed. When that outlet is removed, students miss a critical opportunity to recharge.

The items on my donation list—games, toys, and hands-on activities—will provide my students with a much-needed alternative to a traditional playground. These materials will give students a safe, structured way to play, move, and interact during recess. Board games promote teamwork and communication, while hands-on toys encourage creativity, problem-solving, and social connection. Instead of sitting idly after lunch, students will be actively engaged in positive play.

This project is about restoring balance to my students’ day. It supports their well-being, improves focus during instruction, and helps create a classroom environment where children feel happy, supported, and ready to learn. Your donation will directly impact my students’ daily school experience by giving them the opportunity to play, connect, and simply be kids again.

Thank you for helping bring joy, movement, and meaningful play back into my classroom.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

21 students impacted 1 donor
Ms. Zervakos Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School Grades 3-5

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Wyandanch, NY 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

21 students impacted 1donor

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 Ms. Zervakos 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
Pacon Adjustable Chart Stand, 48 to 78 x 42 to 77 Inches, Chrome/Black - Rubber - Heavy Duty • School Specialty $63.97 1 $63.97
Tabletop Hardwood Blocks - Master Set • Lakeshore Learning Materials $39.99 1 $39.99
AFUNX Magnetic Tiles,102PCS Magnetic Building Blocks 3D Clear Construction Playboards, Inspiration, Creativity Beyond Imagination, Educational Magnet Toy Set for Kids with 2 Cars • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
Playstix® • Lakeshore Learning Materials $29.99 1 $29.99
TOMYOU 400 Pieces Building Blocks Kids STEM Toys Educational Building Toys Discs Sets Interlocking Solid Plastic for Preschool Kids Boys and Girls Aged 3+, Safe Material Creativity • Amazon Business $28.99 1 $28.99
Hadley Designs Parts Of Speech Posters For Classroom - 12 Grammar Posters For Classroom Must Haves, Language Arts For Elementary & Middle School, Writing Process & ELA School, Retro Class Decor • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
Coodoo 60 PCS Magnetic Building Tiles Kids Toys STEM Magnetic Blocks Sensory Toys Kids Games Magnet Building Toy for Boys and Girls Aged 3+, Kid Brain Development Preschool Kindergarten Toddler Toy • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
Hadley Designs 11" x 14" Colorful Sound Wall Phonics and Vowels English Posters, 9/Set (HDDX004ACFGFJ) • Quill.com $17.99 1 $17.99
Barker Creek Compound Words Grammar Activity Book (LL1601) • Quill.com $17.18 1 $17.18
LEGO Classic Creative Suitcase 10713 - Includes Sorting Storage Organizer Case with Fun Colorful Building Bricks, Preschool Learning Toy for Kids, Boys and Girls Ages 4 Years Old and Up • Amazon Business $15.99 1 $15.99
Toddler Magnetic Blocks Building Toys, Kids Montessori Toys for 3 4 5+ Year Old Girls Boys, Educational Magnetic Sticks and Balls Learning Stem Preschool Toys, Construction Sensory Toys Birthday Gifts • Amazon Business $14.98 1 $14.98
16 Sound Wall Classroom Phonics Language Arts Charts for Kids Toddler Learning Vowels Sounds, Phonics Posters for Classroom, Digraphs and Blends Poster, Reading Poster, Sound Wall Phonics Routine(16 x 11 Inch) • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
Coodoo Upgraded Magnetic Blocks Tough Tiles STEM Toys for 3+ Year Old Boys and Girls Learning by Playing Games for Toddlers Kids, Compatible with Major Brands Building Blocks - Starter Set • Amazon Business $12.39 1 $12.39
Tic Tac Toe Game (Pack of 24) 5"x5" Foam Tic-Tac-Toe Mini Board Game - Bulk Toys for Kids, Birthday Party Favors, Birthday Goody Bag Stuffers, Classroom Prizes & Occupational Therapy • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Sproutbrite Parts of Speech Poster Grammar Educational Poster for Classroom - ELA Classroom Decor Decorations Language Arts Wall Chart for Elementary, Middle School (Bright) • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Sproutbrite Parts of Speech Poster Grammar Educational Poster for Classroom - ELA Classroom Decor Decorations Language Arts Wall Chart for Elementary, Middle School (Neutral) • Amazon Business $9.95 1 $9.95
SpriteGru 10 Pieces Part of Speech Posters, Educational Grammar Posters Bulletin Board Decorations for Classroom Schools and Homeschooling (can wipe with damp cloth, 16.7” x 11.5“) • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99

Materials cost

$363.35

Vendor shipping charges

 $6.40

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.45

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$405.20

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$71.51

Total project goal

$476.71

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $476.71

1 Donor

-$476.71

Donations toward project cost

-$405.20

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$71.51

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 Ms. Zervakos and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"NY","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":2,"name":"Elementary School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/bringing-joy-back-to-recess/10042260/","mayHaveReplacements":true,"numStudents":21,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Ms. Zervakos","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1151682741","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Wyandanch","teachersOnPage":[6235414],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":10042260,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":22702,"schoolName":"Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School","authorIds":{"6235414":{"owner":"Ms. Zervakos","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[10042260],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6235414_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y579&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1768848616596","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":22561805,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":6235414,"schoolCounty":"Suffolk","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"NY","name":"New York"}}