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Ms. Lewis from Norwalk, CT is requesting classroom basics through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Investigating and Making Connections in Marine Science

Help me give my students a hydroponics system and supplies to help them make real-world connections in Marine Science.

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  • $657 still needed thanks to a match offer

expires Oct 03

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Ms. Lewis profile photo
Ms. Lewis West Rocks Middle School
Norwalk, CT Grades 6-8

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate 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.

My Project

My middle school marine science students are an incredibly special group of young explorers. They are naturally curious, deeply empathetic, and highly driven by hands-on experiences. For many of them, the local waterways aren't just lines on a map—they are the backyards of our community. However, making the leap from looking at a body of water to understanding the delicate, invisible ecological balances within it can be challenging for 6th and 8th graders. They learn best when they can touch, build, and manipulate things, transforming abstract environmental concepts into tangible realities.

The goal of this project is to foster a lasting connection between classroom science and human environmental impact.

By providing physical models and creative supplies, I want my students to visualize how everyday human choices ripple through local ecosystems. For my 6th graders, the goal is to build a foundational understanding of aquatic food webs and habitats. For the 8th graders, the focus shifts to a more sophisticated analysis of human impacts, such as runoff, pollution, and conservation strategies. Ultimately, I want to empower them to see themselves not just as students, but as active stewards of our local environment.

The supplies and models requested will completely transform how my students engage with these concepts. Instead of just reading about watersheds or human impact in a textbook, students will use models to simulate pollution runoff, witness the mechanics of an ecosystem firsthand, and use creative art and building materials to design their own conservation solutions. These tactile tools turn passive listening into active problem-solving. When a student can physically alter a model to see how simulated plastic or chemical runoff degrades a local waterway, the lesson sticks. These materials give them the creative freedom to show what they know, making their learning personal, memorable, and impactful.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than half of students from low‑income households

140 students impacted
Ms. Lewis West Rocks Middle School Grades 6-8

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Norwalk, CT 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

140 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
SJZX Hydroponics Growing System, Hydroponic Tower with Full-Spectrum Grow Lights, 5/14Tiers Indoor Outdoor Garden Planter, Vertical Home Gardening Germination Kits for Vegetables, Fruits, Herb (5L6H) • Amazon Business $227.98 1 $227.98
Cardinal 1 Inch 3 Ring Binders, White, 12 Pack, Round Ring Binder, Holds 225 Sheets, PVC Free, Customizable Covers, 2 Pocket View Binders for Office and School Organization • Amazon Business $26.45 8 $211.60
Elmer's Washable Disappearing Purple Glue Stick - 0.24 oz, Pkg of 60 • Blick Art Materials $23.26 6 $139.56
Koogel Wide Ruled Loose Leaf Paper, 8 x 10.5 Inch Filler Notebook Lined Paper, 5 Color, 3 Hole Punch Lined Writing Notebook for 3 Ring Binders for College Essentials School Office Supplies, 300 Sheets • Amazon Business $13.29 7 $93.03
BOX USA Shipping Boxes 12"L x 9"W x 6"H, 25-Pack Small Corrugated Cardboard Boxes for Shipping, Mailing, Packing, Packaging and Storage • Amazon Business $18.75 4 $75.00
SKKSTATIONERY 200 Count Pre-sharpened #2 Pencils with Erasers – Bulk Yellow HB Lead Pencils for Classroom, Home & Office – No.2 Pencil Box for Back to School • Amazon Business $23.59 3 $70.77
ALIMITOPIA 24pcs Mini Notebook Portable Pocket Notebook Journal Steno Memo MiniDaily NotePad,3.5X5 inches,24 sheets,College Ruled Pages(Candy Colors) • Amazon Business $9.99 6 $59.94
Elmer's Glow in the Dark Liquid Glue, 5 Ounces, Blue • School Specialty $11.77 3 $35.31
Elmer's Glow in the Dark Liquid Glue, 5 Ounces, Pink • School Specialty $11.77 3 $35.31
Avery Binder Dividers - 5-Tab Insertable Multicolor Big Tabs for Binders, 6 Sets of Dividers (11109) • Amazon Business $5.78 5 $28.90
Pacon Tru-Ray Construction Paper - 12" x 18", Atomic Blue, 50 Sheets • Blick Art Materials $5.92 4 $23.68
Tru-Ray 9 x 12 Construction Paper Black 50 Sheets (P103029) • Staples $4.49 4 $17.96
Pacon Tru-Ray Heavyweight Construction Paper, Black, 9" x 12", 50 Sheets, Sulphite Construction Paper • Amazon Business $3.44 4 $13.76
Hydroponics Nutrients for Aerogarden(800ml in Total), Plant Food A & B Hydroponics Supplies, Indoor Plant Fertilizer for Hydroponics Growing System, Hydroponic Solution for Vegetables Thrive • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99
Elmer's Rubber Cement, 4 Ounces, Pack of 4 • School Specialty $10.87 1 $10.87
Sow Right Seeds - Most Popular Herb Seed Collection for Planting - Mint, Lavender, Sweet Basil, Cilantro, and Parsley - 5 Packets with Instructions to Grow a Home Kitchen Garden or Hydroponics • Amazon Business $7.54 1 $7.54

Materials cost

$1,062.20

Vendor shipping charges

 $8.15

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$15.93

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,116.28

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$196.99

Total project goal

$1,313.27

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,313.27

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $1,313.27

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 Ms. Lewis and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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