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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Willis from Durham, NC is requesting lab equipment through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Willis is requesting

Fully Funded

Ms. Willis's classroom raised $750

Calm Waters, Kind Hearts: STEM & SEL Aquarium for Growing Minds

Help me give my students a beautiful classroom aquarium set-up that creates a calming, hands-on learning environment where they can discover science, build responsibility, strengthen social-emotional skills, and experience the joy of caring for living things every day.

Ms. Willis Bethesda Elementary School

Durham, NC Grades PreK-2

My Project

My K–3 Exceptional Children (EC) students thrive when learning is hands-on, meaningful, and connected to the world around them. A classroom aquarium would provide a unique opportunity to combine STEM exploration with Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) while creating a calming and welcoming environment for students who often need support with self-regulation and emotional well-being.

This classroom aquarium will provide meaningful opportunities for students to strengthen both STEM knowledge and social-emotional learning through daily exploration, observation, collaboration, and hands-on care of a thriving, living habitat.

In Science, students will learn about fish species, habitats, life cycles, ecosystems, and the basic needs of living organisms. In Technology, they will explore how aquarium equipment such as filters, heaters, and automatic feeders help create a healthy environment. In Engineering, students will investigate how each component works together to maintain water quality and design an optimal habitat for aquatic life. In Mathematics, students will measure water temperature, track feeding schedules, collect observation data, and compare growth and behavior patterns.

Students will participate in age-appropriate fish care routines, helping them develop responsibility and hands-on problem-solving skills. Caring for living creatures also strengthens SEL competencies by encouraging empathy, kindness, patience, respect, and understanding of how our actions affect others. As students work together to feed the fish, monitor the aquarium, and complete daily care routines, they will develop cooperation, communication, and teamwork skills while sharing responsibilities and solving problems together. These collaborative experiences foster a sense of community, accountability, and pride as students learn that working together helps create a healthy environment where both the aquarium and every classroom member can thrive.

I am assured that this project will definitely help create a classroom where students can learn, connect, and thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally!

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

HBCU Alum 30 students impacted 3 donors

Project tagged as

Durham, NC
Grades PreK-2
Mental Health
Science
Traditional School
Lab Equipment
Nearly all students from low‑income households

Ms. Willis Bethesda Elementary School Grades PreK-2

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Durham, NC 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

HBCU Alum 30 students impacted 3donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total

Coralife BioCube, Aquarium Kit, Nano Tank, Customizable LED Lighting, for Saltwater and Freshwater Environments, 16 Gallons • Amazon Business $319.85 1 $319.85

Coralife BioCube Aquarium Fish Tank Wood Stand For 16 Gallon Size • Amazon Business $164.25 1 $164.25

PINVNBY Aquarium Resin Castle Decoration Fish Tank Driftwood Castle Cave Hideouts House Plants Supplies Accessories(Purple) • Amazon Business $18.59 1 $18.59

The Little Book of Pets: Children's Book about Pets, Animals, How to Care for Pets, Kids Ages 3 10, Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade • Amazon Business $16.89 1 $16.89

Where the Weird Things Are: An Ocean Twilight Zone Adventure (Marine Life Books for Kids, Ocean Books for Kids, Educational Books for Kids) • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99

YINMIK YK-P01 pH Tester Digital pH Meter for Water Hydroponics, Accurate pH Temp Meter with ATC for Pool, Spa, Hot Tub, Indoor Plants, Drinking Water, Wine Beer Home Brewing, Aquarium • Amazon Business $11.19 1 $11.19

Coralife BioCube Aquarium Fish Tank Water Filter Cartridge, 2 Pack • Amazon Business $7.98 1 $7.98

GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Pink/Green/Blue Mix, Complements GloFish Tanks, 5 Pounds • Amazon Business $4.48 1 $4.48

Materials cost			$555.22
Vendor shipping charges			FREE
Sales tax			$43.31
3rd party payment processing fee			$8.33
Fulfillment labor & materials			$30.00
Total project cost			$636.86
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			$112.39
Total project goal			$749.25
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal			$749.25
2 Donors			-$699.25
Donations toward project cost			-$594.36
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$104.89
match offer			-$50.00
Match offer toward project cost			-$42.50
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$7.50
Still needed View calculation Hide calculation			$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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. Willis and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

This teacher needs your help!

Calm Waters, Kind Hearts: STEM & SEL Aquarium for Growing Minds

My Project

Project tagged as

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

Boost your odds

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

How we calculate what's needed

Project Activity

Project Activity

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.