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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. R. from ME is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. R. is requesting

The Circle of Life--Learning about Life Cycles

My students need certificates for live caterpillars, ladybugs, ants, and tadpoles (and the habitats they live in), literature that supports our life cycle study, magnifying glasses, and activities for the students' centers.

  • $549 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

I am a first grade teacher in a wonderfully diverse school in Portland, Maine. We have a very large percentage of low income families and many English language learners.

In first grade, our science curriculum's focus is Life Cycles. This is high interest for my students because they are learning about the things they love--caterpillars, butterflies, ladybugs, ants, and frogs. For a few years now, I have ordered live caterpillars online when we are studying about the life cycle of the butterfly. First Graders just love having living things in their classroom! We watch the caterpillars grow, go into a chrysalis, and finally emerge as butterflies. After a few days we set them free as the children all cheer and say goodbye. It is truly something to see!

I thought since the students are so invested in their study of butterflies when we have live ones in the classroom, why not extend this to other components of our Life Cycle study? I would like to incorporate live ladybug larvae, ants, and tadpoles into our science curriculum. I am also requesting books that support our Life Cycle Study at a variety of levels--some for me to read aloud, some for students to read independently. In addition, I am asking for magnifying glasses to study our creatures closely, and some activities for the students to use during their centers (such as puzzles and games) that reinforce the concept of life cycles.

I cannot tell you how excited the children get when working with the live caterpillars! I can only imagine how wonderful it will be for them when they get many opportunities throughout the year to learn with live creatures. You can make it possible for my students to have a greater understanding of life cycles by allowing them to see these changes happen right before their eyes! It does not get more meaningful than that! Thank you so much for considering our proposal.

Mrs. R.
Grades PreK-2

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Ant Habitat • Kaplan Early Learning Company $19.74 1 $19.74
Live Frog Habitat • Kaplan Early Learning Company $21.46 1 $21.46
Backyard Books (set of 8) • Kaplan Early Learning Company $40.38 1 $40.38
BOOK LIFE CYCLE SERIES • Childcraft, Inc. $36.00 1 $36.00
CARDS POCKET CHART GRADE 1 LIFE CYCLES • Childcraft, Inc. $9.99 1 $9.99
GS163 - Life Cycles Science Vocabulary Readers • Lakeshore Learning $69.95 1 $69.95
RR920X - Science Discoveries Pocket Chart Kits - Complete Set • Lakeshore Learning $79.95 1 $79.95
JJ365 - Life Cycle Puzzle Set • Lakeshore Learning $9.95 1 $9.95
TT692 - Life Cycles Instant Learning Center • Lakeshore Learning $19.95 1 $19.95
LC63 - Coupon for 3-5 Extra Caterpillars • Lakeshore Learning $16.95 1 $16.95
LA444 - Hand Magnifiers - Set of 12 • Lakeshore Learning $27.50 1 $27.50
LADYBUG LAND W/CERTIFICATE • Sargent Welch $16.99 1 $16.99

Materials cost

$368.81

Vendor shipping charges

 $36.88

Sales tax

 $18.44

3rd party payment processing fee

$9.22

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$450.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$98.78

Total project goal

$548.78

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $548.78

3 Donors

-$529.41

Donations toward project cost

-$450.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$79.41

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$19.37

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. R. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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