If We Build Up Girls, Then We All Become STEMinists
Help me give my students the craft items and circuitry materials they need to integrate arts with science to help build their self-confidence in STEM.
$782 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
I teach at a Title One, performance improvement school with the majority of our students participating in the free lunch program. Yet, even though many of them have limited resources, my students are inquisitive and they love to learn; they inspire my teaching everyday!
By the age of 6, most girls believe they are not as smart as boys and they do not believe they can be good at math and science; but "if girls see people like themselves belonging everywhere, then they grow up believing they can become anything"--Ana Maria Porras.
To me, this means both my girls and boys need to know that women can work in and contribute successfully to STEM careers. And, decisions I make on my classroom decor, how and what I teach, and how I interact with my students affects their self-perception. And scientist Beata Mierzwa believes if we make science accessible through art and fashion, we can inspire girls to consider STEM fields. This is why, I want to tap into my students' interests to help them make connections between what they like and STEM careers to help promote gender equity in STEM in a fun and engaging manner.
My Project
My 4th graders love learning about animals & art, especially sewing string art--I know this because I taught them as second graders! So I want to use what they love to build my girls' confidence in doing science, while helping them learn about successful and inspiring women in their STEM fields.
"We need girls who are creative, who are confident, and who are equipped to lead in technology; it's important to explore your creativity at a young age because it is that ability to create that can lead to important innovations that our world needs"-Yamilee Toussant Beach.
My students will learn about Dr. Jane Goodall & Dr. Cynthia Moss, whose research and conservation efforts help endangered animals around the world. The felt, glue, embroidery floss, & kits will be used to tap into my students' sewing skills to make a felt animal that they will research, create a diorama of its habitats, using found materials at home, and report on their learnings. Next, my students will use the IF/Then Collection to research Ana Maria Porras, Beata Mierzwa & Yamilee Toussant Beach, who have combined their love of arts & fashion with STEM. Once inspired by these women, and the possibility of integrating the arts with STEM, the copper tape, LED lights, batteries and card stock will be used to learn basic circuitry to make a greeting card that lights up. Finally, my students will then be challenged to create a piece of wearable art (a glowing pin) with the felt, conducive thread, adhesive badge pins & LilyPad LED lights, battery, & battery holder that illustrates a concept in science.
I truly believe that In building up my girls, all my students can become STEMinists, people who believe women can be as successful as men in STEM fields.
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue, 0.66oz, Multi 18 Piece
• Amazon Business
$17.63
2
$35.26
ARTEZA 50 Assorted Stiff Felt Fabric Sheets, 12"x14" Squares, 1.5mm Thick for DIY Crafts, Sewing, Crafting Projects
• Amazon Business
$30.99
1
$30.99
Lilypad Sewable Starter Kit for Arduino | Lilypad Main Board | 20m Conductive Thread |10x Lilypad LED | Lilypad Coin Cell Battery Holder | Lilypad Light Sensor (Lilypad Starter Kit)
• Amazon Business
$29.97
1
$29.97
JOOBEF CR2032 Lithium 3V Battery, Electronic Coin Cell Button for Toys Calculators Watches(40 Pcs)
• Amazon Business
$9.99
3
$29.97
Safari Jungle Animals Sewing Kit Zoo Felt Animal DIY Crafts for Girls and Boys Educational Nursery Sewing for Kids Art Craft Kits for Beginners Set of 10
• Amazon Business
$21.99
1
$21.99
Klutz Sew Mini Animals Sewing & Craft Kit
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
flic-flac 44PCS 4 x 4 inches (10 x10cm) Assorted Color Felt Fabric Sheets Patchwork Sewing DIY Craft 1mm Thick
• Amazon Business
$6.28
2
$12.56
Neenah Cardstock, 8.5" x 11", 90 lb/163 gsm, White, 94 Brightness, 300 Sheets (91437)
• Amazon Business
$12.29
1
$12.29
Bohin Crewel Embroidery Needles, Size 3/9, 15 Per Package
• Amazon Business
$6.00
2
$12.00
500pcs LED Diode Lights, KingSo 5 Colors×100pcs 5mm Light Emitting Diodes LED Assortment Kit Electronics Components, Diffused Round Light Bulb for Arduino, White Red Orange Green Blue
• Amazon Business
$9.99
1
$9.99
TecUnite 50 Pieces Gourd Shaped Plastic Needle Threaders with Clear Box, Assorted Colors
• Amazon Business
$8.99
1
$8.99
30 Adhesive Bar Safety Pins ID Badge Crafting Parts
• Amazon Business
$8.42
1
$8.42
Materials cost
$573.04
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$52.43
3rd party payment processing fee
$8.60
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$664.07
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$117.19
Total project goal
$781.26
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$781.26
2 Donors
-$373.98
Donations toward project cost
-$346.19
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$27.79
match offer
-$373.97
Match offer toward project cost
-$317.87
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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. Trochez MacLean and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
