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
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

Mrs. M. from Cedar Rapids IA is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Building Our Future Leaders Through Creative Play

My students need STEM materials for center-based learning to foster creativity and originality.

  • $891 goal

This project expired on January 16, 2018.

This project expired on January 16, 2018.

My Students

My students walk into the classroom ready to learn, excited to be at school, and full of wonder. I always tell my students, "Let's make it the best day ever!" I want them to know I believe in them and they can do anything.

As one of only six Alternative Kindergarten (AK) classrooms in our school district, I impact early learners from diverse backgrounds.

Our AK program builds social skills, all while introducing these younger students to the scholastic environment. Within my classroom, I apply center-based learning to ensure creative growth and personal expression for all my students.

Our AK program follows kindergarten standards, but accommodates these younger learners with slower instructional pace. This adjustment allows my students to embrace the scholastic experience, while building the academic background necessary for kindergarten.

AK presents a wonderful place to foster a love of learning, creativity, while learning how school works.

My Project

My young students learn best through hands-on activities. They will use these STEM materials in their center-based learning environments as well as other educational lessons throughout the school day. These STEM materials will provide opportunities for imagination and learning in math, science, and literacy.

These materials will allow students to let their creativity shine through STEM projects.

I have a Makerspace Center where students can utilize the materials to make creations based on our current classroom theme. They can explore important concepts in a hands on way. In addition, the materials provide students options to demonstrate their understanding of math standards. The math manipulatives will provide opportunities for my students to be engaged, construct objects, show success and excitement, and have fun while learning!

The students can demonstrate problem solving by listening to the three beloved fairy tales and discovering ways to help the characters in the stories solve a problem. Goldilocks will have sturdier furniture, the 3 Little Pigs will have sturdier homes, and the billy goats will not interrupt the troll as they make their way over the bridge. Students can show their own individuality by demonstrating their own ways to help the characters in these stories find success.

The Beebot is such an exciting piece of technology and a captivating introduction to directionality, estimating, and problem solving. My students will help Beebot get from point A to point B by coding directions. Beebot will be used both whole-group and as a center. My AK students have the opportunity to create and nurture their learning by using all these amazing materials!

Mrs. M.
Never Before Funded Grades PreK-2
    More than a third of students from low‑income households

    This project will reach 18 students.

    Never Before Funded

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. M. 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
KT8086 - STEM Bundle - K-Gr.1 • Lakeshore Learning Materials $376.99 1 $376.99
TT225X - Lakeshore Manipulative Library 1 • Lakeshore Learning Materials $169.00 1 $169.00
PP750X - Design & Build Engineering Centers • Lakeshore Learning Materials $125.00 1 $125.00

Materials cost

$670.99

Vendor shipping charges

FREE

Sales tax

$45.96

3rd party payment processing fee

$10.06

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$757.01

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$133.59

Total project goal

$890.60

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

View complete list Show less

Support your local school!

Donate directly to any school in the US. Your donation will go towards directly purchasing urgent supplies.

Find a local school

Project Activity

{"pmaHash":"","schoolCity":"Cedar Rapids","showProjectRecommendations":true,"teachersOnPage":[3929058],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"IA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":1,"name":"Early Education"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"proposalId":2798014,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"completingDonationAmount":891,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/building-our-future-leaders-through-crea/2798014/","verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":18,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. M.","isEquityFocus":false,"authorIds":{"3929058":{"owner":"Mrs. M.","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":0.0,"proposalsOnPage":[2798014],"proposalHash":"-1282646929","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":0.00,"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3929058_272x272.jpg?width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1505657049429","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":7,"teacherChallengeId":20849983,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":3929058,"schoolCounty":"Linn","fullyFunded":false,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"IA","name":"Iowa"}}