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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Zalewski from Cedar Rapids IA is requesting reading nooks, desks & storage through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Zalewski is requesting

Courtyard Savanna Outdoor Classroom

Help me give my students stepping stones and outdoor seating to learn and grow!

  • $1,334 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

I teach a college and career readiness class for a very special group of 7th and 8th graders. This is our third year of the program at our middle school, though they can continue on with it through high school where they will also receive follow-up services after graduation.

My students face barriers to post-secondary success, including financial, academic, emotional, and motivation barriers, but through project-based learning, my students learn to apply 21st century skills that will set them up for success as they transition to high school and ultimately the workforce.

My Project

Covid-19 and the devastating derecho wind storm in Cedar Rapids this year mean that many of the outdoor spaces where students could once have learned and socialized more safely have been destroyed. My students have decided to turn this destruction into something beautiful and sustainable. We are transforming our courtyard into a native savanna where students can learn about ecosystems and pollinators and spend time outside to support their emotional well-being in the midst of 2020's challenges.

The table, bench, and stepping stone mix will give students an opportunity to work outside, keep safer while talking with peers, and walk on a handmade pathway through native wildflowers to learn and self regulate during these challenging times.

Each student in my class will get to cast their own stepping stone, and we'll wind the path through the courtyard that we've replanted, bringing new life to our school this spring when flowers bloom. All students will be able to enjoy the savanna and learn in this space for years to come! We will always remember the challenges of 2020, but this re-imagined courtyard will remind us of the perseverance of students in the face of it all--and a crucial skill they'll carry into the rest of their lives.

Ms. Zalewski
Grades 6-8

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
TK46997610T 68 inD x 72 inW Rectangle Pressure Treated Wood Picnic Table Woodtone • Grainger $492.00 1 $492.00
TK46997609T Wood Outdoor Bench Woodtone 21 14 in Length 96 in Width 17 18 in Height • Grainger $380.00 1 $380.00
60999-0012 - Mosaic Stone Cement - 20 lb, Outdoor • Blick Art Materials $20.92 7 $146.44

Materials cost

$1,018.44

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $69.76

3rd party payment processing fee

$15.28

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,133.48

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$200.03

Total project goal

$1,333.51

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,333.51

11 Donors

-$665.00

Donations toward project cost

-$568.22

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$96.78

match offer

-$665.01

Match offer toward project cost

-$565.26

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$99.75

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$3.49

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Zalewski and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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