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!

Mr. Thomas from Philadelphia, PA is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Thomas is requesting
Student-led project

Southwest Community Playas-Performances To Bring Concepts To Life

We need musical instruments such as two guitars, a saxophone, and Metallophones to supplement the performances with raps, songs and music. Also, students need art supplies such as markers, pencils, and paint to create signs, posters, and props for the Playas performances.

FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Thomas's classroom raised $1,954

This project is fully funded

About My Students

Our group, the Southwest Community Arts Playas, has been formed during the past school year to address the needs of both high school, elementary, and middle school students. The goal of the Playas group is to perform skits and plays for students of all ages to implement ideas, goals, and objectives from the Common Core Curriculum through poetry jams, rap contests, and skits based upon themes and concepts from classes here at our school. There will be a monthly competition judged by local community members, teachers, and parents to award the best performances by students at the school.

The group includes students such as Tracey, Haleem, Nadine, Albert, Alvis, Latoya, Simeon, Alexander, Josie, and Roneisha. These are the original Playas team who will guide others through the process of how to perform for others both at the high school as well as the elementary and middle schools. Students will acquire a lot of knowledge through these fun and exciting performances.

The Playas group will do research using technology in order to reach many different grades. They will have to review, design and create raps, poetry, skits, and speeches through this research about different subjects. The implementation of these performances will help students make connections to the Common Core curriculum. Our group can provide interesting and effective performances using art supplies to make props and instruments to provide music which will allow students to design their own activities and develop their sense of self-worth. This will help nurture and strengthen the skills, whether academic or artistic, of every participant. Art classes have disappeared, so this will enable budding artists to use the art supplies such as paint, markers, and pencils as a catalyst to new paintings, drawings, and sketches. In addition, musical instruments like the guitars, a saxophone, and Metallophones will allow students to use the music as therapy for autistic and life skills students. Allowing the integration of mainstream and special education students will lead to many positive interactions.

In Their Own Words

We, the Bartram Community Playas, want to change the way lessons are presented in classrooms. We want to bring a fresh perspective to the concepts taught by teachers with energetic, exciting performances to breathe life into the old methods of teaching many still use today. Sometimes teachers do not understand how we learn best. That is why we created our group. It is a group of students teaching other students to learn in an entertaining way. We will work with teachers to find out what difficulties their students are having with challenging concepts in the classroom. Then, we will work our magic with fun and engaging performances for the students.

Many of us already serve as leaders in the community at places like the Recreation Center, public gardens, and the local seniors center. We do the same at school by being the leaders of the Gardening Club, Art Club, Bartram Wellness Warriors, and other organizations to help students here. Leadership comes through being a stakeholder in our education. We will be responsible for educating others, and this is a great way to build our leadership skills. We will be making our own decisions with a few teachers as facilitators to keep the process running smoothly. We will meet once a week to review our successes, failures (hopefully none), and how we can improve the group in the future.

There are very few resources in our community especially at the schools. We need to find better ways to educate our peers and younger students within the community. The Playas group will bring a fun and educational way to entertain students while teaching different concepts. We have been able to receive some supplies through writing grants and getting donations. Additional items are needed to create new art work and props for our performances. We can make a positive impact upon the younger generations in our community and our peers in high school. Family members and community leaders can also help out using their talents in music, rapping, poetry and other fields. It will become a true community effort with everyone actively involved in building a positive learning environment.

Mr. Thomas Bartram High School Grades 9-12

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

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.

Philadelphia, PA 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

500 students impacted 4donors

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 Mr. Thomas 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
Series 1600 Orff Metallophones • Woodwind and Brasswind $379.50 1 $379.50
EAS-100 Student Alto Saxophone • Woodwind and Brasswind $284.99 1 $284.99
20508-0150: Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Complete Set - Assorted Colors, Set of 150 • Blick Art Materials $139.39 2 $278.78
A+ 3/4 Size Steel String Acoustic Guitar • Woodwind and Brasswind $110.00 2 $220.00
00464-1029: Bob Ross Master Paint Set - 37 ml Tubes • Blick Art Materials $81.78 2 $163.56
21218-1109: Crayola Classic Original Marker Set - Assorted Colors, Broad Tip, Set of 256 • Blick Art Materials $71.71 2 $143.42
01012-1009: Crown Odorless Paint Thinner - Gallon • Blick Art Materials $23.90 3 $71.70
Standard Shipping • Blick Art Materials $0.00 1 $0.00

Materials cost

$1,541.95

Vendor shipping charges

 $65.75

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$23.13

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,660.83

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$293.09

Total project goal

$1,953.92

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,953.92

2 Donors

-$976.96

Donations toward project cost

-$830.42

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$146.54

match offer

-$976.95

Match offer toward project cost

-$830.41

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$146.54

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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 Mr. Thomas and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"PA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"his","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":4,"name":"High School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/southwest-community-playas-performances/2038626/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":500,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Mr. Thomas","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"965427590","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Philadelphia","teachersOnPage":[3135685],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":2038626,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":90699,"schoolName":"Bartram High School","authorIds":{"3135685":{"owner":"Mr. Thomas","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[2038626],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3135685_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450456191789","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":19,"teacherChallengeId":20651459,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":3135685,"schoolCounty":"Philadelphia","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":true,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"PA","name":"Pennsylvania"}}