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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Del Gatto from Chicago, IL is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Del Gatto is requesting

Green Thumbs & Going Buggy in First Grade

My students need a ladybug land, butterfly nursery, ant farm, plant growing supplies and nonfiction books for hands-on/minds-on life science learning opportunities.

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Del Gatto's classroom raised $513

This project is fully funded

My Students

My "firsties" are very curious, inquisitive, and they thrive during hands-on learning experiences. I teach in a Title I school in an urban area, and most of my students have extremely limited access to educational opportunities beyond our classroom. Donors choose provides me with materials that allow me to create activities that maximize student engagement and foster a love for learning. When I went to college to become a teacher I never imagined the types of constraints I would encounter due to a severe lack of funding. When I plan a unit I have endless ideas for lessons and activities that flood my brain, but a shortage of money impacts what I am allowed to actually do with my students. Donors Chose affords me the opportunities to provide my students with the educational opportunities they deserve.

My Project

Did you have the opportunity to learn about nature through the exploration of large backyards and grassy parks in your neighborhood as a child?

My 27 “firsties” are very curious and inquisitive.

They are quickly developing a love for informational text and learning about animals. I would love to give them the opportunity to have hands-on learning experiences with living things that we read about.

I teach in a Title I school in an urban area, and almost all of my students have extremely limited access to educational opportunities beyond our classroom. My students do not live in an area where they are free to explore large backyards and grassy parks in their neighborhood. As much as I wish it was, this is simply not something that is a part of their reality. I need materials to facilitate activities for my students to learn about life cycles beyond books and youtube. In addition to providing rich educational experiences I want my students to develop respect and nurturing feelings for living things in nature.

The butterfly nursery, ladybug land, ant farm and growing materials will allow me to set up two science tables for students to visit during center time. I want to open two centers because my classroom is quite large (27 students) and I want every student to be able to visit at least one science table each day. Students will be recording their observations in their science journals and they will be reporting on the changes that they see each day. We will get a lot of practice with comparing and contrasting. Students will also get a lot of practice with writing questions about things they wonder about and that will lead to deeper research within the topics we are studying.

Ms. Del Gatto Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School Grades PreK-2

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

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.

Chicago, IL View local requests

More than three‑quarters 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

28 students impacted 4donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Del Gatto 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
TickleMe Plant Classroom Kit • Carolina Biological Supply Company $80.95 1 $80.95
Insect Lore Butterfly Pavilion School Kit • Kaplan Early Learning Company $50.96 1 $50.96
Watch It Grow: Seeds! Kit • Carolina Biological Supply Company $49.72 1 $49.72
Backyard Books (Set of 8) • Kaplan Early Learning Company $46.71 1 $46.71
Crystal Clay Seedling Set • Carolina Biological Supply Company $37.12 1 $37.12
GeoSafari(r) Ant Factory • Kaplan Early Learning Company $31.41 1 $31.41
Genuine Ant Farm(r) Antopia Adventuretm Virtual Explorer • Kaplan Early Learning Company $29.71 1 $29.71
Ladybug Land • Kaplan Early Learning Company $21.21 1 $21.21
Creepy Critters: Ladybugs - Paperback • Kaplan Early Learning Company $7.61 1 $7.61
Creepy Critters: Ants - Paperback • Kaplan Early Learning Company $7.61 1 $7.61
Creepy Critters: Caterpillars - Paperback • Kaplan Early Learning Company $7.61 1 $7.61
Ladybug, Ladybug, What Are You Doing? Board Book • Kaplan Early Learning Company $4.24 1 $4.24
Busy Busy Butterfly - Board Book • Kaplan Early Learning Company $4.24 1 $4.24
Can an Ant Carry Me? - Board Book • Kaplan Early Learning Company $4.24 1 $4.24

Materials cost

$383.34

Vendor shipping charges

 $16.78

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.75

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$435.87

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$76.92

Total project goal

$512.79

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $512.79

3 Donors

-$497.35

Donations toward project cost

-$435.87

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$61.48

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$15.44

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. Del Gatto and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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