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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Watson from Rochester, WA is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Watson is requesting

Focusing in on Primary Sources

My students need a document camera with the ability to zoom.

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Watson's classroom raised $1,008

This project is fully funded

History is often best understood in the "little things." I teach US History to juniors in a rural school. One of my sections is made up of mostly special education students who struggle with written language. In all sections, I have student for whom English is a second language. All of my students seem to appreciate history when they can "see" the history we study, and if that history seems less distant than what is in the textbook. Once they see the value, they are far more able to connect to the larger concepts in history, the concepts that will better prepare them not only for college, but for a role as a productive citizen.

Although a document camera will help all students see what I am writing, it can do much, much more. I have been involved with a group for the last three years that has focused on "place-based" history. When our classes cover traditional concepts, we try to find ways to apply those concepts locally. The students are much more engaged when they can "see" signs of what we cover in things they see every day. While some of these local connections can be photographed or copied, 3-D items, old newspapers, old annuals, and pictures in books are more problematic. Students bring in items from their own family's history to illustrate local connections to the history we cover. The class needs to see them and we need to be able to zoom in on key parts. When it doesn't hurt the artifact, we can pass them around, or have students come up an look, but that means only a few students are engaged at one time. While I know specific examples that I can show the students, learning is more effective if they find the examples. Our old school annuals, for example, contain a wealth of information.

Having a document camera in the room will allow all of the students to be able to both see and share personal and local connections to US History. We already have lots of local history to draw from. What we lack is the ability to quickly and effectively share and preserve that information. Students, in analyzing local artifacts and documents, will not only better understand and connect with our national history, but they will develop a great appreciation of our community.

My students don't always come to me with any real love of history. They rarely see how the textbook information relates to their lives, and few initially want to further historical study in college. Making history relevant to them involves not only their learning history, but also their learning how to be historians. Your support will help all students, whether AP, special ed or ELL. It will help all students see what I write, but more importantly, they can better practice critical thinking skills necessary for college courses. Having the ability to do document and artifact analysis using local items, and doing so as a class led by members of the class, will engage ALL students and make both our national and local history more relevant. Thank you for considering this project!!!!

Ms. Watson Rochester High School Grades 9-12

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Rochester, WA View local requests

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

75 students impacted 8donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
TT-02S Teacher's Tool • SchoolOutfitters.com $692.10 1 $692.10

Materials cost

$692.10

Vendor shipping charges

 $69.21

Sales tax

 $44.99

3rd party payment processing fee

$10.38

Fulfillment labor & materials

$9.00

Total project cost

$826.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$181.32

Total project goal

$1,007.32

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,007.32

6 Donors

-$503.86

Donations toward project cost

-$413.17

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$90.69

match offer

-$503.45

Match offer toward project cost

-$412.83

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$90.62

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$0.01

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Watson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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