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Ms. Armstrong from Springfield MO is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Court Is Now In Session: Mock Trials & Public Speaking

My students need a video camera and tripod to record their mock trials so they can critique and practice their public speaking skills for high school and college and the book, Our Living Constitution.

  • $394 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

The history of our country is as important today as it was when the framers created our government! In order to reach my students I must find innovative and exciting ways to make history come alive for them! I see this as a passion and a calling. It is so exciting to see students love history!

My students are inquisitive and active 8th graders who love to learn history "outside of the box".

They need more than just a textbook to encourage their inquiry skills and examine their own thoughts and those of their peers. Our school is a low-income school that rises above to challenge each student to his or her potential on a daily basis. My students have really enjoyed learning about government through court cases this year! If this project was funded it would give students an amazing opportunity to build important speaking skills for their future endeavors!

My Project

A few years ago my students used reader's theater to act out plays about the American Revolution. I borrowed a video camera and taped their plays. Students then were able to watch themselves. They were excited to see themselves on the "big screen" and learned more about public speaking from critiquing their own performances. Now, the students are very interested in our Judicial System and want to record themselves completing mock trials in our class "court room". We have completed one court case so far and they keep asking if we can record them! It really builds their confidence to see themselves on film and I want to foster their excitement, confidence, creativity and desire to become better public speakers.

This project will help my 8th graders learn to be public speakers while learning about the importance of our Constitution and Judicial System!

My students need a camcorder so we can record our historical reenactments of trials, like Julia Franke vs. The City of St. Louis and the Dred Scott Trial that started in St. Louis and went to the higher courts! We have an abundance of amazing court cases to utilize thanks to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Park in St. Louis, Missouri!

Ms. Armstrong
Grades 6-8
  • Pipkin Middle School
  • Springfield, MO
  • More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

    This project will reach 85 students.

    6 donors have given to this project.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Dynex™ 53' Tripod • Best Buy $34.99 1 $34.99
Sanyo 14.0MP Camcorder with 2.7' Color LCD Widescreen - Silver • Best Buy $229.99 1 $229.99
BOOK OUR LIVING CONSTITUTION GR 5-8 • ABC School Supply, Inc $16.62 1 $16.62

Materials cost

$281.60

Vendor shipping charges

$13.66

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.22

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$334.48

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$59.03

Total project goal

$393.51

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$393.51

3 Donors

-$196.75

Donations toward project cost

-$167.24

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$29.51

match offer

-$196.75

Match offer toward project cost

-$167.24

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$29.51

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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