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Mr. Smithgall from Rochester NY is requesting instructional technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Experiencing That “Wow” Moment.

Help me give my students that “wow” moment. Seeing Jupiter or Saturn for the first time with their own eyes provides that experience that makes what is learned in class that much more real and personal.

  • $341 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Celebrate Black Teachers and Students

This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.

My Students

My students are part of a large, urban school district. Most students come from low-income households. There are many challenges but also many opportunities for these students.

They come to my Earth Science class everyday with questions about the world around them.

Unfortunately their first hand experiences are usually very limited.

While I can provide the basic materials that they need in class such as folders, pens, pencils and binders. Many materials that can provide unique and meaningful experiences are not available to us or within most teachers means.

I strive to have interactive and engaging lessons with materials I have either created or been lucky to have received.

My Project

This telescope will be used to give students an opportunity to experience space and the cosmos first hand. Kids growing up in a big city today rarely get to experience the true splendor of the night sky.

Seeing the Moon up close and the planets reveals to kids that these are real objects and not just pictures in a book.

It has a way of altering ones view of the world and their perspective of things. I’m trying to provide an experience that has the chance to do this for kids.

This telescope will be the start of a school astronomy club, and hopefully motivate students to pursue a career in STEM, or inspire the next Neil deGrasse Tyson, or just give students a different perspective on life.

Mr. Smithgall
Grades 9-12

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. Smithgall is requesting.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Celestron 31045 AstroMaster 130 EQ Reflector Telescope • Amazon Business $227.99 1 $227.99
892LT by LiftMaster • Amazon Business $27.55 1 $27.55

Materials cost

$255.54

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$3.83

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$289.37

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$51.07

Total project goal

$340.44

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $340.44

2 Donors

-$224.00

Donations toward project cost

-$190.40

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$33.60

Matching donations from our partners

-$116.44

Match offers toward project cost

-$98.97

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$17.47

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

Project Activity
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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 Mr. Smithgall and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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