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Mrs. Mandel from Novi MI is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Exploration Hour

My students need more resources to implement STEM activities during Exploration Hour such as magnetic tiles, K'NEX, Legos, blocks and sand compound.

  • $380 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

As first grade teachers in an extremely diverse school, we are challenged with finding new ways to engage our students. In our classrooms, we strive to foster creativity and independent thinking through hands-on activities which promote discussion and collaboration.

Over fifty different languages are spoken at our school, making sixty-six percent of our student population English Language Learners.

Due to this, it is difficult to find hands-on activities that engage our English Language Learners in discussion. Through our research and experience, we have found that STEM activities have given students an outlet to explore their thinking in different ways.

My Project

We have decided to devote one hour each week to what we call "Exploration Hour". During this time, students have worked collaboratively to explore in various ways. Explorations we have done so far include problem solving activities, constructing objects with given materials, team building activities, and exploring students' interests through questioning.

With new materials such as blocks, bricks and tiles, we hope to expand Exploration Hour to incorporate more STEM activities and provide students with additional ways to show their thinking.

With our large English Language Learner population, these resources will provide concrete modes of showing student thinking and will act as a springboard for discussion. These materials can be utilized in many different ways. No matter the task, students will be verbalizing their reasoning and thinking critically and independently.

Mrs. Mandel
Grades PreK-2

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Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Melissa & Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks • Amazon Business $55.79 1 $55.79
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698 • Amazon Business $49.99 1 $49.99
Magnetic Stick N Stack Magnetic Tiles Starter set With 4 Windows, 60 Piece, Red, Orange, Blue, Green & Yellow • Amazon Business $44.99 1 $44.99
Dr. Eureka Speed Logic Game • Amazon Business $18.96 2 $37.92
WABA Fun Mad Mattr Smartest Doh to Ever Flow! Sand Compound, Pink, 10oz • Amazon Business $12.99 2 $25.98
Sterilite 16428012 6 Quart/5.7 Liter Storage Box, White Lid with Clear Base, 12-Pack • Amazon Business $24.73 1 $24.73
WABA Fun Mad Mattr Smartest Doh to Ever Flow! Sand Compound, Red, 10 oz • Amazon Business $11.05 2 $22.10
K'NEX Education - Motor Pack • Amazon Business $14.10 1 $14.10
50 Piece Blank Unfinished Natural Wood / Wooden Art Craft Stacking Toy Cubes Blocks 1 Inch (2.54 Centimeter) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99

Materials cost

$288.59

Vendor shipping charges

FREE

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.33

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$322.92

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$56.99

Total project goal

$379.91

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$379.91

9 Donors

-$349.91

Donations toward project cost

-$297.42

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$52.49

match offer

-$30.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$25.50

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$4.50

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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