Help me give my students the supplies needed to attract, identify and compare schoolyard birds as we teach a science unit on birdwatching.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Ford's classroom raised $768
This project is fully funded
My Project
Our students are a remarkable group of learners—curious, energetic, and deeply caring. They light up when given opportunities to explore the natural world and are especially excited by science and the outdoors. Their compassion for living things drives their desire to understand and protect the environment. With the right tools and opportunities, our students can grow into thoughtful citizen scientists, whose love for birds and nature will ripple outward into their families, schools, and neighborhoods.
The materials requested in this grant—bird seed, suet blocks, binoculars, and bird identification field guides—will make a powerful difference in student learning by creating a vibrant, living classroom just outside of the one we spend our days in.
With bird seed and suet, we can attract a wide variety of local bird species, giving students regular opportunities to observe bird behavior, feeding patterns, and interactions. Field guides and binoculars will empower students to carefully identify and compare different species, sharpening their observation and research skills. These hands-on experiences will allow students to engage deeply with scientific practices such as data collection, note-taking, and drawing conclusions based on evidence, all while fostering a sense of wonder and discovery.
The goals of the Schoolyard Birds unit go beyond just learning to name different bird species. We want students to understand the complex role birds play in an urban ecosystem and to recognize that even in a city environment, nature is thriving all around them. By observing birds in our school courtyard, students will gain a meaningful connection to their immediate surroundings. Ultimately, we aim to inspire students to become lifelong learners and environmental stewards—curious, thoughtful individuals who appreciate biodiversity and take action to protect the habitats of wild creatures in their own communities.
More than half of 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
SkyGenius 10x25 Compact Binoculars for Adults and Kids, Small for Bird Watching, Theater and Concerts, Outdoor Travel Sightseeing Hunting Hiking
• Amazon Business
$33.99
8
$271.92
Book Birds Western Region Field Guide
• Ward's Science
$24.23
4
$96.92
Wagner's 76027 Black Oil Sunflower Wild Bird Food, 25-Pound Bag
• Amazon Business
$41.98
2
$83.96
Lyric Delite Wild Bird Seed - No Waste Bird Food Mix with Shell-Free Nuts & Seeds - Attracts Buntings, Chickadees & Finches - 5 lb bag
• Amazon Business
$15.99
4
$63.96
Heath Outdoor Products birds DD4-10 All Season High Energy Suet Cake, Case Of 10
• Amazon Business
$15.82
4
$63.28
Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides: Young Naturalists)
• Amazon Business
$5.59
6
$33.54
Materials cost
$613.58
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$9.20
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$652.78
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$115.20
Total project goal
$767.98
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$767.98
6 Donors
-$628.99
Donations toward project cost
-$534.64
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$94.35
match offer
-$138.99
Match offer toward project cost
-$118.14
Match offer 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 Ms. Ford and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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