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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Fields from Rancho Cordova, CA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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How Did Medieval Africa Grow Rich Selling Salt?

Help me give my students resources for their study of the medieval kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay that grew rich on the gold, salt, and slave trade that stretched across Africa.

FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Fields's classroom raised $307

This project is fully funded

My Project

Our students are studying the foundations of civilizations and they learn how the distribution of resources affects the location of cities, trade and wealth.

These resources will help us understand how the medieval African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai grew rich on the gold and salt trade.

We will look at the uses of salt, the chemical structure of NaCl crystals and the geographic distribution of that resource. We will look at the uses for gold, why it is valued, and its geographic distribution. We look at the historic figure of Mansa Musa and trade across the Sahara desert. Having large maps to refer to helps the classroom environment speak directly to the topic.

Our years in middle school often focus on the empires of European rulers. This unit takes us deeper into exploring the empires of African history.

Mr. Fields W.E. Mitchell Middle School Grades 6-8

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.

Rancho Cordova, CA 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

175 students impacted 3donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
National Geographic Maps? Asia Classic, Laminated • Quill.com $36.89 1 $36.89
Molymod Sodium Chloride Crystal Model, Gray - Middle-High School - Adult - Durable • School Specialty $28.38 1 $28.38
National Geographic Africa Wall Map - Classic - Laminated (24 x 30.75 in) (National Geographic Reference Map) • Amazon Business $24.95 1 $24.95
School Smart Pocket Chart Plus, 52 x 34 Inches - Teacher-Parent Resources - Adult • School Specialty $23.59 1 $23.59
Dowling Magnets Magnetic Wildlife Map Puzzle, Eurasia & Africa, Grades PreK+ (DO-734110) • Quill.com $19.79 1 $19.79
Mansa Musa The Richest African King (African Moors Kings and Queens) • Amazon Business $19.78 1 $19.78
African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History • Amazon Business $14.49 1 $14.49
Ancient African Kingdoms: A Captivating Guide to Civilizations of Ancient Africa Such as the Land of Punt, Carthage, the Kingdom of Aksum, the Mali ... the Kingdom of Kush (Exploring Africa’s Past) • Amazon Business $13.97 1 $13.97
Population Patterns: What Factors Determine the Location and Growth of Human Settlements? (Investigating Human Migration and Settlement) • Amazon Business $11.08 1 $11.08
The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Life in Medieval Africa • Amazon Business $10.49 1 $10.49

Materials cost

$203.41

Vendor shipping charges

 $5.20

Sales tax

 $18.61

3rd party payment processing fee

$3.05

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$260.27

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$45.93

Total project goal

$306.20

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $306.20

2 Donors

-$294.20

Donations toward project cost

-$250.07

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$44.13

match offer

-$12.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$10.20

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$1.80

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 Mr. Fields and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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