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. Benbrook from Chicago, IL is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Benbrook is requesting

Little Minds, Big Thinkers: Building Problem Solving Through Play!

Help me give my students the tools to build a foundation for academic success and emotional resilience.

  • $638 goal

This project expired on August 29, 2025.

This project expired on August 29, 2025.

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 Pre-K students are naturally curious, energetic, and eager to learn through play. They love hands-on activities that let them think, explore, and solve problems. This project will bring high-quality tabletop games into our classroom that are designed to nurture problem-solving, collaboration, and early math and logic skills—all through fun and engaging play.

With your support, I want to add a collection of developmentally appropriate tabletop games that encourage children to reason, make decisions, take turns, and persevere through challenges.

These games will be used during small group centers and free play, giving students daily opportunities to practice essential thinking and social skills.

Problem-solving is a critical life skill that starts developing early. When students learn to think through problems, try different solutions, and collaborate with peers, they build the foundation for academic success and emotional resilience.

With your generous support, our classroom will be filled with laughter, thinking, and growth. These games will inspire our students to become confident, creative problem-solvers—one move at a time!

Mrs. Benbrook Cardenas Elementary School Grades PreK-2

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.

Chicago, IL 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

15 students impacted

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. Benbrook 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
ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up: Toy of the Year Award Winner • Amazon Business $24.72 4 $98.88
YEEBAY Flower Garden Building Toys for Girls Age 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Year Old - STEM Gardening Pretend Toys for Kids - Stacking Game for Toddlers Play Set - Educational Activity for Preschool (148 PCS) • Amazon Business $25.99 2 $51.98
Coogam Wooden Puzzle Pattern Blocks Brain Teasers Game with 60 Challenges, 3D Russian Building Toy Wood Tangram Shape Jigsaw Puzzles Montessori STEM Educational Toys Gift for Kids Adults • Amazon Business $11.98 4 $47.92
Solobo Toys: LOWERCASE Alphabet Puzzle (lightweight, wooden puzzle for preschool kindergarten elementary; tactile abc learning tools, trace letters) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $22.00 2 $44.00
Solobo Toys: UPPERCASE Alphabet Puzzle (lightweight, wooden puzzle for preschool kindergarten elementary; tactile abc learning tools) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $22.00 2 $44.00
961 Pcs building toys for kids ages 4-8, Educational STEM Building Blocks for Brain Development & Hands-On Ability Improvement, Construction Toy for Preschool and Kindergarten Boys & Girls Aged 3+ • Amazon Business $21.83 2 $43.66
Juboury 1054Pcs Building Toy Building Blocks Bars Different Shape Educational Construction Engineering Set 3D Puzzle, Interlocking Creative Connecting Kit, Great STEM Toy for Both Boys and Girls • Amazon Business $20.98 2 $41.96
Coogam Wooden Hexagon Puzzle for Kid Adults - Shape Pattern Block Tangram Brain Teaser Toy Geometry Logic IQ Game STEM Montessori Educational Gift for All Ages Challenge • Amazon Business $9.99 4 $39.96
Learning Resources STEM Explorers Pixel Art Challenge, 402 Pieces, Ages 5+, STEM Toys for Kids, Coding Basics for Kids, STEM Activities for Classroom • Amazon Business $9.99 4 $39.96
Brain Flakes 500 Piece Set, Ages 3+, Interlocking Plastic Disc Toy for Creative Building, Educational STEM Learning, Construction Block Play for Kids, Teens, Adults, Boys, and Girls • Amazon Business $16.99 2 $33.98
Coogam Wooden Blocks Puzzle Brain Teasers Toy Tangram Jigsaw Intelligence Colorful 3D Russian Blocks Game STEM Montessori Educational Gift for Kids (40 Pcs) • Amazon Business $8.98 2 $17.96

Materials cost

$504.26

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$7.56

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$541.82

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$95.62

Total project goal

$637.44

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

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

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. Benbrook and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"IL","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":1,"name":"Early Education"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":638,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/little-minds-big-thinkers-building-pro/9300329/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":15,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Benbrook","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1589590812","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":0.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Chicago","teachersOnPage":[327416],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":9300329,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":5844,"schoolName":"Cardenas Elementary School","authorIds":{"327416":{"owner":"Mrs. Benbrook","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":0.0,"proposalsOnPage":[9300329],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp327416_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1522425020838","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":6,"teacherChallengeId":47613,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":327416,"schoolCounty":"Cook","fullyFunded":false,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"IL","name":"Illinois"}}