Creating an Outdoor Classroom to Increase Student Ownership and Engagement
Help me give my students a lawnmower and grass seed for a beautiful outdoor courtyard learning space and an opportunity to feel a sense of ownership over our school.
Located on the south-central edge of the Omaha metropolitan area, the Ralston school district includes the city of Ralston and parts of southwest suburban Omaha. The district annually serves between 3,000 and 3,200 students in six elementary buildings, one middle school, and one high school.
Our students have changed dramatically over the last twenty years.
In the year 2000, the majority of students were Caucasian and 19.6% of students received free and reduced-price lunch, to currently 49% minority students and 62% students receiving free and reduced-price lunch.
Because our students have changed, our ways of reaching them and engaging them have changed too. Ralston is a progressive school district committed to embracing the needs of everyone. We focus on not only creating an environment where students can achieve academically, but also work to create a community that values all of our students' experiences and meets them where they are.
My Project
Potentially one of the coolest spaces at RMS is our outdoor courtyard. It's located within the center of our school and would act as the perfect outdoor classroom, however, it is not maintained, leaving it an eyesore to visitors and an unused space by teachers and students due to the very tall weeds.
Donating to this project does two things: it creates a beautiful outdoor classroom for all teachers and students, and it creates an opportunity for students to have ownership over their school through weekly maintenance.
As a language arts teacher and interventionalist at my school, I spend my day with a variety of students from the highest achiever to the most at-risk. One commonality amongst all is the direct correlation between student engagement and student success. With students working alongside each other weekly to pull weeds, rake, and pick up sticks from fallen trees while I mow, a sense of pride and accomplishment will be created in a job well done and increase engagement within school, therefore increasing their success.
WORX WG958 14-inch 40V (4.0AH) WG779 Cordless Lawn Mower and WG547.9 Power Share Cordless Turbine Blower Battery and Charger Included
• Amazon Business
$299.99
1
$299.99
Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix - 3 lbs | Grows In Extreme Conditions Including Full Sun & Dense Shade |Use to Seed New Lawn or Overseed Existing Lawn | Spreads & Thickens For A Durable Lawn
• Amazon Business
$9.19
15
$137.85
Ortho Weed B Gon Weed Killer for Lawns Concentrate, 1-Gallon
• Amazon Business
$31.99
1
$31.99
Scotts 25-Year Pro Fabric, 3 by 150-Feet
• Amazon Business
$21.00
1
$21.00
Ashman Galvanized Garden Stakes Landscape Staples: 200 Pack 6 Inch Sod and Fence Stake - Sturdy Rust Resistant Gardening Supplies for Anchoring Landscaping, Weed Barrier Fabric, Ground Cover
• Amazon Business
$20.97
1
$20.97
Materials cost
$511.80
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$30.71
3rd party payment processing fee
$7.68
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$580.19
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$102.39
Total project goal
$682.58
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$682.58
15 Donors
-$482.00
Donations toward project cost
-$425.45
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$56.55
match offer
-$182.09
Match offer toward project cost
-$154.78
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. Mossman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
