This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. McCool Berry from Lakewood, OH is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. McCool Berry is requesting

Fully Funded

Mrs. McCool Berry's classroom raised $1,266

Mother Nature Recycles

My students need composting supplies, red worms and a worm composter to study the science of composting, understand ecosystems, and to be exposed to sustainable practices. The intention is to inspire by reducing our carbon footprint.

This project is fully funded

Mrs. McCool Berry Emerson Elementary School

Lakewood, OH Grades PreK-2

My Students

Children explore, observe, question and problem solve through Project Based Learning experiences in our classroom. "If I had influence with the good fairy, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life." Rachel Carson

Our school is a lively, happy place and visitors feel the positive energy.

More than half of our students live in poverty and receive free or reduced meals. We have the highest number of refugee students in our school district and over 40 languages are spoken in our district. School is an oasis, a haven, where our children have the freedom to test their ideas, collaborate, question, debate, and find solutions. We believe that children need hands-on learning experiences to build their background knowledge. Our intention is for children to learn and be challenged so they may enter the world with knowledge that will enable them to gain access to higher education and good jobs. It is our firm belief that every child deserves high quality educational experiences to succeed.

My Project

The planet Earth is in peril. Our children will learn they can make a difference by composting.

According to the EPA, rotting food in landfills is a substantial source of methane—a greenhouse gas with 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.

In the U.S., landfills account for more than 20 percent of all methane emissions.

In this project our children will :

• Learn soil is alive and can be improved by “feeding” it organic material by actively composting.

• Observe composting happens naturally, and people can speed up the process.

• Learn their activities on land affect the quality of the soil.

• Observe that soil is alive and must be fed to maintain fertility.

• Understand that it is possible to increase the quality and fertility of soil by adding organic material.

• Learn how to compost and hopefully continue the practice in their own lives for decades.

"Students will actively compost and learn the importance of decomposers in the food web, as well as, the concept of recycling through composting. As students add kitchen waste to a 14-gal "vermi-composter," they observe the quick and efficient conversion of organic matter into enriched soil components by redworms." (Source: Carolina Biological)

It is our goal to use compost to enrich the flower gardens around Emerson Elementary. There is no composting program in existence at our school. The vision is to generate enthusiasm for sustainable agriculture and involve all grade levels in creating a community garden and agricultural learning laboratories.

Tom's of Maine inspires companies, communities, and individuals to adopt sustainable practices. "Lightening our environmental footprint is an important goal." Tom's of Maine

Tom's of Maine donates 10% of profits back to communities to help make the world a better place.

Involving children in sustainability will change our planet.

More than a third of students from low‑income households

70 students impacted 14 donors

Project tagged as

Lakewood, OH
Grades PreK-2
Climate & The Environment
Science
Traditional School
Supplies
More than a third of students from low‑income households

Mrs. McCool Berry Emerson Elementary School Grades PreK-2 Lakewood, OH View local requests

More than a third 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

70 students impacted 14donors

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. McCool Berry is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Copy this cart

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total

Carolina EcoKits: Solid Waste Management (with prepaid coupon) • Carolina Biological Supply Company $137.65 3 $412.95

Worm Composter Classroom Kit • Carolina Biological Supply Company $112.45 3 $337.35

Worm Farm with 50 Earthworms • Carolina Biological Supply Company $48.15 3 $144.45

Redworms (Eisenia foetida), Living, Small Size • Carolina Biological Supply Company $14.35 3 $43.05

Materials cost			$937.80
Vendor shipping charges			$93.78
Sales tax			$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee			$14.07
Fulfillment labor & materials			$30.00
Total project cost			$1,075.65
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			$189.82
Total project goal			$1,265.47
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal			$1,265.47
12 Donors			-$969.36
Donations toward project cost			-$825.46
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$143.90
match offer			-$294.34
Match offer toward project cost			-$250.19
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$44.15
Excluded support for DonorsChoose			-$1.77
Still needed View calculation Hide calculation			$0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Project Activity

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. McCool Berry and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works

{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"OH","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":1,"name":"Early Education"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/mother-nature-recycles/2653049/","mayHaveReplacements":true,"numStudents":70,"isEquityFocusV1":false,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. McCool Berry","isEquityFocus":false,"proposalHash":"1291001029","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Lakewood","teachersOnPage":[2212316],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":2653049,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":83731,"schoolName":"Emerson Elementary School","authorIds":{"2212316":{"owner":"Mrs. McCool Berry","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[2653049],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2212316_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1471466236028","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":366489,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["MzE3MTExNw==","NDgwOTMwNQ==","MzAyMDY0Mw==","NDQ5ODY2OA==","NDU3MDM3OQ==","NDY5NTM0Mw==","NDgwMjQ2NQ==","MzE2NDIyMQ==","NzQwOTEx","MjIxMjMxNg==","NDQ1NDgyNA==","MjQ1NTY0NQ==","NDc5NjI3Mw=="],"teacherId":2212316,"schoolCounty":"Cuyahoga","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"OH","name":"Ohio"}}

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

This teacher needs your help!

Mother Nature Recycles

This project is fully funded

My Students

My Project

Project tagged as

Boost your odds

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

How we calculate what's needed

Project Activity

Project Activity

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.