You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Your school email address was successfully verified.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Stratton from Vestaburg, MI is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Stratton is requesting
Fully Funded

Mrs. Stratton's classroom raised $571

Hands on STEM Materials

Help me give my students STEM materials to learn about science and the world around them through hands on experiences.

This project expired on January 4, 2026.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Stratton profile photo
Mrs. Stratton Vestaburg Elementary School
Vestaburg, MI Grades 3-5

My Project

Using hands-on STEM items will benefit my special education students by catering to their unique learning styles and needs. For students with autism, these projects provide a predictable, rule-based environment that aligns with their natural inclination toward systems and patterns, reducing anxiety and increasing focus. Hands-on activities also allow for multi-sensory engagement, which helps learners with diverse processing styles move from abstract concepts to concrete experiences. For students who exhibit behavioral issues, the structured, project-based nature of STEM offers clear expectations and built-in opportunities for active movement and purposeful engagement, which can decrease challenging behaviors and improve self-regulation. The tactile manipulation of items is also excellent for strengthening fine motor skills and improving hand-eye coordination.

The goals for this project are focused on holistic student growth and leveraging my class's monthly themes to create meaningful learning experiences.

Through structured problem-solving, students will practice critical thinking, sequencing, and organizational skills, which are transferable to many areas of life. Collaborative projects require teamwork, communication, and patience, providing a safe and natural setting for students to practice and improve their social skills with peers. By tying activities to our monthly themes and tapping into creativity and exploring, we will boost their intrinsic motivation and excitement for learning.

My students are special because they do not have just resilience in navigating the world with autism and behavioral challenges, but their amazing personalities and innate curiosity. Many autistic individuals possess unique strengths that are a perfect match for STEM, such as exceptional attention to detail, logical reasoning, and strong visual-spatial skills. This project is a way to celebrate their individuality and tap into their potential, proving that every child deserves the opportunity to explore, experiment, and succeed in a way that is meaningful to them.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

10 students impacted 4 donors
Mrs. Stratton Vestaburg Elementary School Grades 3-5

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Vestaburg, MI View local requests

Nearly all 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

10 students impacted 4donors

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

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

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
KOOKAROO Wooden Sensory Play Bin Set – Montessori Fine Motor & Tactile Exploration Kit with Wooden Tools, Natural Mango Wood • Amazon Business $46.99 1 $46.99
Scoop-A-Bug Sorting Kit • Lakeshore Learning Materials $39.99 1 $39.99
Faber-Castell Creativity for Kids Sensory Bin, Outer Space - Preschool-Early Childhood - Toddler • School Specialty $31.57 1 $31.57
Zulay Kitchen 12 Piece Plastic Mixing Bowls with Lids Set - Colorful Mixing Bowl Set for Kitchen - Nesting Bowls with Lids Set - Microwave and Freezer Safe (Turquoise Ombre) • Amazon Business $31.35 1 $31.35
Gumball Grab Pre-Writing Game • Lakeshore Learning Materials $29.99 1 $29.99
Measuring Cups and Spoons Set 13 Piece. Includes 10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons and Cups Set and 3 Plastic Measuring Cup. Liquid Measuring Cups Set and Dry Metal Measuring Cup Set • Amazon Business $28.49 1 $28.49
Tweezer Tongs Color Sorting Kit • Lakeshore Learning Materials $24.99 1 $24.99
Learning Resources Attribute Apples, Sorting and Matching, Set of 27 Pieces, Toddler Learning Toys, Ages 3+ • Amazon Business $24.99 1 $24.99
Find the Letter Activity Center • Lakeshore Learning Materials $24.99 1 $24.99
AGENTLAN Ocean Sensory Bin, Ocean Sensory Water Toys with Sea Animal for Toddlers Boys and Girls, Kids Toys Gift Sand Box for Age 3 4 5 6 7 8 • Amazon Business $23.99 1 $23.99
Learning Resources Super Sorting Pie - 68 Pieces, Ages 3+ Toddler Fine Motor Toy, Preschool Learning Games, Develops Counting and Color Recognition, Pretend Play Food, Kids Tweezers • Amazon Business $23.79 1 $23.79
Woodtoe Life Cycle Toys for Kids, 12 Themes Montessori Preschool Science Center Materials, Wooden Learning & Educational Toys for Toddlers, Learning Game Travel Gift STEM Toys for Boys Girls Age 3-6 • Amazon Business $21.99 1 $21.99
Creativity for Kids Sensory Bin: Beach - Toddler and Preschool Toys, Sensory Box with Toys for Toddlers, Kids Gifts for Toddler Boys and Girls Ages 3-4+ • Amazon Business $19.95 1 $19.95
Learning Resources Rainbow Sorting Activity Set, Assorted Colors (LER3378) • Quill.com $18.89 1 $18.89
Panda Brothers Montessori Screwdriver Board Set - Wooden Montessori Toys for 4 Year Old Kids and Toddlers, Sensory Bin, Fine Motor Skills, STEM Toys • Amazon Business $17.95 1 $17.95
Blosssound 265 Pcs Fall Fine Motor Thanksgiving Counting Sorting Sensory Bin Filler Set Includes Pom Poms Fall Leaves Sorting Cups Tweezers Scissors Clips for Autumn Thanksgiving Decor Early Education • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
RAEQKS Counting Sorting Toys Matching Stacking Toys With Bowls Preschool Learning Activities For Math Montessori Fine Motor Skills Sensory Animals Toy Sets Gift for Toddlers Kids Boy Girl Aged 3+ Year • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
RAEQKS Counting Sorting Toys Matching Stacking Toys with Bowls Preschool Learning Activities Educational Sensory Game Montessori STEM Toy Daycare Sets Animals Gifts for Toddlers Kids Boys Girls • Amazon Business $9.79 1 $9.79

Materials cost

$444.68

Vendor shipping charges

 $3.16

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.67

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$484.51

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$85.50

Total project goal

$570.01

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $570.01

2 Donors

-$285.00

Donations toward project cost

-$242.25

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$42.75

match offer

-$285.01

Match offer toward project cost

-$242.26

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$42.75

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

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 Mrs. Stratton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"MI","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":2,"name":"Elementary School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/hands-on-stem-materials/9690115/","mayHaveReplacements":true,"numStudents":10,"isEquityFocusV1":false,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Stratton","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"2048825177","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Vestaburg","teachersOnPage":[6901583],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":9690115,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":71447,"schoolName":"Vestaburg Elementary School","authorIds":{"6901583":{"owner":"Mrs. Stratton","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[9690115],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6901583_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1578062315982","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":21514811,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":6901583,"schoolCounty":"Montcalm","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"MI","name":"Michigan"}}