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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Smith from West Peoria, IL is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Mrs. Smith's classroom raised $716

Searching for Dragons

My students need these art supplies in order to create and render in watercolor their dragons.

Mrs. Smith Harold B Dawson Middle School

West Peoria, IL Grades 6-8

My Students

Our Middle School has NEVER had an Art program--until now. Art is essential for creativity and higher order thinking skills. "Searching for Dragons" allows my students to create an animal that has existed only in legend and imagination. They name them and write a story about them.

My students come from diverse backgrounds, though most are inner city minority students.

We are a district that is trying to maintain the Arts because we have extremely creative kids with few outlets to positively express themselves. This is my first year in this particular school, though not in this district. We are a high-poverty district whose kids deserve the best we can give. Unfortunately, the budget does not allow it. I am half-time in this school and half-time in another. Both schools need the Arts.

My Project

Most of these kids will not get a chance to paint and be creative in this medium-watercolor. I chose dragons because they are not real animals, yet by learning the structure of the dragon, they learn the structure of many animals, including people, and they have the basics of drawing and painting techniques. Once the basic structure is learned, the dragons can look any way they want them to look since they never existed. My students study different cultures' dragon legends and must decide what their particular dragon will look like and what the culture and story of that dragon is. They will develop creativity in visual arts and in writing (this part is new). I teach for success, and students' self-worth increases as they create their masterpieces. They also learn about history and culture.

I see self-worth and creativity develop.

So many kids think they "can't draw, can't paint, can't create artistically." They have to be taught. This project teaches them and proves them wrong, and I love it. We start with a blank sheet of paper and build our dragon from basic shapes. The finishing - texturing, color, etc. is their choice. The name and story is from their mind. It is worth the trip.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

150 students impacted 3 donors

Project tagged as

West Peoria, IL
Grades 6-8
Visual Arts
History & Geography
Traditional School
Supplies
Nearly all students from low‑income households

Mrs. Smith Harold B Dawson Middle School Grades 6-8

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

West Peoria, 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

150 students impacted 3donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total

BLICK CAMEL ROUND/144PC ECONOMY • Blick Art Materials $55.30 1 $55.30

DB CAML HAIR WC OVAL/1/2IN WASH • Blick Art Materials $2.58 10 $25.80

DB CAML HAIR WC OVAL/3/4IN WASH • Blick Art Materials $3.70 10 $37.00

BLICK FRISKET/35ML • Blick Art Materials $7.69 1 $7.69

YARKA STUDENT WC/SET12 • Blick Art Materials $4.10 25 $102.50

INGENTO PAPER CUTTER/!O 24X24 • Blick Art Materials $219.39 1 $219.39

TRACING PAPER PAD/19X24 100SHT • Blick Art Materials $16.99 2 $33.98

FOUNDATION WC PAD/18X24 15/SHT • Blick Art Materials $10.42 8 $83.36

Materials cost			$565.02
Vendor shipping charges			FREE
Sales tax			$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee			$8.48
Fulfillment labor & materials			$35.00
Total project cost			$608.50
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			$107.38
Total project goal			$715.88
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal			$715.88
2 Donors			-$715.88
Donations toward project cost			-$608.50
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$107.38
Still needed View calculation Hide calculation			$0.00

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

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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. Smith and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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This teacher needs your help!

Searching for Dragons

My Students

My Project

Project tagged as

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

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.