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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Sowa from Chicago, IL is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Sowa is requesting

Playing IS Learning!

My students need hands-on activities (puzzles, puppets, building blocks, etc.) to promote collaboration, exploration and creativity!

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Sowa's classroom raised $593

This project is fully funded

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 Students

In a largely underserved community, we work so hard to ensure our students are in an environment where they feel like they can collaborate, explore,problem solve and innovate! We serve 531 students in an urban environment. As a staff, we are dedicated to supporting and accelerating our students, who come from traditionally undeserved backgrounds.

40% of our students are English Language Learners, 20% of our students receive Special Education Services and 96% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunches, but we refuse to let these statistics define who our kids are and what they deserve to achieve success TODAY.

Our goal, is to create a learning experience that is so rich and personalized that we have kids knocking down the doors to get in, not out.

My Project

My students need games and activities that encourage collaboration, creativity and critical thinking! Our students do not have access to a playground so they rallied together to create a list of things they would enjoy while outside during the warm months or inside during winter.

Playtime promotes bonding; it also helps kids achieve the intellectual, social and physical growth needed for future success.Our youngest students will use their imagination through the use of puppets or puzzles to help build teamwork and collaboration with a friend!

Our K-3 students will use interlocking blocks to promote creation and imagination as they work with friends to build masterpieces! Our aspiring artists will use the arts and crafts buckets to bring their art to life and showcase their work in our display case! Students will use the games and activities during our recess time.

Our students will use these materials to explore their growing abilities through building, drawing, problem solving, creation, drama and more ! These activities will be used during recess or non-academic times throughout the day. Your generous donation to our project will improve our K-8 school by building relationships with peers that promote collaboration, problem solving, creativity and imagination! This will change our students' lives for the better and more importantly- this was THEIR idea to bring in more for them to explore with during the school day! They will love school and --- they will love that PLAYING IS LEARNING!

Ms. Sowa CICS - West Belden 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

More than three‑quarters 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

300 students impacted 2donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Sowa is requesting.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
IRIS 44 Quart Buckle Down Storage Box, 6 Pack • Amazon Business $30.97 2 $61.94
VIAHART Brain Flakes 500 Piece Interlocking Plastic Disc Set | A Creative and Educational Alternative to Building Blocks | Tested for Children's Safety | A Great STEM Toy for Both Boys and Girls! • Amazon Business $19.99 3 $59.97
KOVOT Mini Wooden Tabletop Bowling Game • Amazon Business $12.99 4 $51.96
ArtSkills Activity Bucket, 404 Count (AMYS-138) • Amazon Business $12.98 4 $51.92
MICHLEY Interlocking Builders Blocks Play Set for Child • Amazon Business $15.99 3 $47.97
Fibre Craft 3-in-1 Foam Kit, Butterflies/Dragons, 1000 pcs • Amazon Business $10.05 4 $40.20
EduKit Jumbo 500 PC Crafting Kit for Kids | Pipe Cleaners, Pompoms & Googly Eyes Large Assortment of Colors & Size | DIY Art Supplies for Children's Craft Projects, Paper Crafts, Holiday Crafts • Amazon Business $8.99 4 $35.96
Melissa & Doug Animal Hand Puppets (Set of 2, 4 animals in each) - Zoo Friends and Farm Friends • Amazon Business $34.99 1 $34.99
Sponge Balls (12 pc) • Amazon Business $11.23 2 $22.46
Melissa & Doug Jolly Helpers Hand Puppets (Set of 4) - Construction Worker, Doctor, Police Officer, and Firefighter • Amazon Business $16.42 1 $16.42
Melissa & Doug Storybook Friends Hand Puppets (Set of 4) - Princess, Fairy, Mermaid, and Ballerina • Amazon Business $14.59 1 $14.59
Wondrous Ocean Kid's Jigsaw Puzzle 100 Piece • Amazon Business $11.95 1 $11.95
Happy Campers 100 pc Jigsaw Puzzle by SunsOut • Amazon Business $8.34 1 $8.34
Good Companions 100 pc Jigsaw Puzzle • Amazon Business $7.65 1 $7.65

Materials cost

$466.32

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.99

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$503.31

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$88.82

Total project goal

$592.13

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $592.13

1 Donor

-$296.06

Donations toward project cost

-$251.65

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$44.41

match offer

-$296.07

Match offer toward project cost

-$251.66

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$44.41

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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Project Activity

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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. Sowa and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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