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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Kirshen from Pleasant Hill, CA is requesting lab equipment through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Kirshen is requesting

Incredible Insects!

Help me give my students a variety of insects like bessbeetles, butterflies, moths, fruit flies and planaria to observe and sketch throughout the year.

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Kirshen's classroom raised $596

This project is fully funded

My Project

My students are fascinated by insects. Their level of engagement when they recently conducted an experiment with living meal worms was impressive. I want to give them more opportunities to learn about various insects and conduct their own scientific investigations with the insects. Having real living insects in the classroom will allow them to learn first hand about the behavior of different insects and to practice detailed scientific sketches.

These living insects will engage my students in a way that wouldn't be possible from a textbook.

With the bess beetles students will observe the beetles and design the parameters of a race. The termites will allow students to observe a fascinating insect that usually strikes fear in the hearts of homeowners. They will be impressed by how much damage these small, soft-bodied insects can do. They will also be fascinated when they observe the termites following the scent of a BIC pen! Watching both moths and butterflies hatch and develop will be a great time for students to practice measurements and focus on comparing/contrasting. Fruit flies fit in well while we are studying genetics. Students will carefully observe each type of fruit fly to figure out what type of genetic mutation it has. Planaria are fascinating to experiment with as we study regeneration.

Mrs. Kirshen Sequoia 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.

Pleasant Hill, CA View local requests

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

200 students impacted 10donors

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Painted Lady Butterfly 33 Larvae/Food Culture Set, Living • Carolina Biological Supply Company $49.63 1 $49.63
Termite Behavioral Investigation: Follow That Trail! Classroom Kit • Carolina Biological Supply Company $49.23 1 $49.23
Saturniid Moth Cocoon Set • Carolina Biological Supply Company $41.40 1 $41.40
STC Living Shipment: Bess Beetle, Pack of 8 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $34.65 1 $34.65
Rotting Wood • Carolina Biological Supply Company $9.27 2 $18.54
Black Planaria Culture • Carolina Biological Supply Company $12.42 1 $12.42
Painted Lady Culture Cup Set • Carolina Biological Supply Company $10.44 1 $10.44
Brown Planaria, Living • Carolina Biological Supply Company $10.26 1 $10.26
Drosophila, Living, Antennapedia, Chromosome 3 Mutant, Vial of 2530 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59
Drosophila, Living, Wrinkled, Chromosome 3 Mutant, Vial of 2530 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59
Drosophila, Living, vestigial, Chromosome 2 Mutant, Vial of 2530 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59
Drosophila, Living, apterous, Chromosome 2 Mutant, Vial of 2530 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59
Drosophila, Living, ebony, Chromosome 3 Mutant, Vial of 2530 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59
Drosophila, Living, sepia, Chromosome 3 Mutant, Vial of 2530 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59
Drosophila, Living, Wild Type, Vial of 2530 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59
Drosophila, Living, dumpy, Chromosome 2 Mutant, Vial of 2530 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59
Drosophila, Living, White Miniature, Culture • Carolina Biological Supply Company $8.59 1 $8.59

Materials cost

$303.88

Vendor shipping charges

 $140.28

Sales tax

 $27.81

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.56

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$506.53

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$89.39

Total project goal

$595.92

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $595.92

7 Donors

-$430.46

Donations toward project cost

-$365.89

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$64.57

Matching donations from our partners

-$165.46

Match offers toward project cost

-$140.64

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$24.82

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 Mrs. Kirshen and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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