My classroom of 35 fifth grade students is in a school of high poverty. All of our students receive free lunch and breakfast here at school. Many of my children are homeless, living in shelters or in their cars. I have children who have hard to handle behaviors due to the high stress in their lives. The background knowledge that most of the children have is lacking due to the fact that most of their parents speak another language, are unable to read in their home language, don't speak English, didn't graduate high school, and most of them are working more than one job, leaving many of my kids home alone. Due to the negative outside impact of this world on their lives, the parents and children have other things to focus on.
Many children in the surrounding areas don't have to worry about the daily impacts that my students face, such as witnessing shootings in their apartment complex and having to hide behind a dumpster so they don't get shot.
I try to expose them to various activities that they wouldn't be able to access otherwise.
My Project
My students are participating in a classroom economy. Learning how to save and when to splurge. However, I need high interest activity kits to help my children learn about needs versus wants. Every week I hold an auction for my students to spend their money. This is an opportunity to teach them about what happens if they spend more than they have. Also thinking about the future: "if rent is due every month and I barely make enough to pay rent, can I afford this luxury? Will I need to make more money?" These kits are exciting enough to entice them to ask the hard questions and do the extra things to make more money.
My students need to understand how the economy works and how to use their money responsibly, so they don't end up evicted or without utilities due to money mismanagement.
My students live in very high poverty situations, and my students, like every other child, want things and don't understand why they can't have it.
My ultimate goal is to help my students understand how the"real world" works. Especially before they are out there in it. My students have been in this economy since the start of the year, and they absolutely love it. The prizes I have used so far are nice but haven't been valuable enough to them to work for the extra money.
Super Spirograph 75-piece Jumbo Kit (50th Anniversary Edition)
• Amazon Business
$27.99
5
$139.95
Bits And Pieces - 1500 Piece Puzzle Caddy-Porta-Puzzle Jigsaw Caddy - Puzzle Accessory Puzzle Table
• Amazon Business
$69.99
1
$69.99
Dabit Shrinky Art Paper 20-Pack, Shrinky A Dinks Sheets For Boys And Girls, Clear Shrink Film Sheets, Kids Activities For All Ages, Bonus Traceable Pictures And Keychains
• Amazon Business
$13.95
5
$69.75
IlllumiPeg Lite Brite Refills for Original Lite Bright Toy - Alphabet Learning Art Templates (26 Sheets)
• Amazon Business
$11.99
2
$23.98
IllumiPeg Lite Brite Refill: Little Miss (9x12 Rectangle) - NOT for New LITE Brites - for pre-1990 Lite Brites only
• Amazon Business
$8.99
2
$17.98
Space Puzzle 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle Kids Adult – Planets in Space Jigsaw Puzzle
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
Tube O Lite Brite Pegs for Magic Screen (150 round pegs)
• Amazon Business
$14.99
1
$14.99
lllumiPeg Lite Brite Refills for Original Light Bright Toy - Sea Animal Art Templates (10 Sheets)
• Amazon Business
$8.99
1
$8.99
Materials cost
$362.62
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$5.44
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$398.06
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$70.25
Total project goal
$468.31
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$468.31
2 Donors
-$202.78
Donations toward project cost
-$199.03
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$3.75
Matching donations from our partners
-$234.15
Match offers toward project cost
-$199.03
Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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 Mrs. Ferber and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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