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Mrs. Noack from Fayetteville, NC is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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The Lemonade Lab: Growing Business from Roots to Riches

Help me give my students hydroponic grow towers, nutrient solution, seed starter pods, heirloom seeds, and class sets of The Lemonade War (English and Spanish editions) to create a hands-on, STEM-powered entrepreneurship lab.

  • $1,490 goal

This project expired on January 21, 2026.

This project expired on January 21, 2026.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Noack profile photo
Mrs. Noack Pine Forest High School
Fayetteville, NC Grades 9-12

My Project

In my high school Economics & Personal Finance classroom, students usually learn about money from worksheets and examples. This year, they’ll grow their knowledge—literally.

“A broken partnership, like a broken lemonade stand, is hard to fix” — The Lemonade War.

This project transforms a story into a high-impact STEM experience. Instead of reading about how business works, my students will build and manage one—using live hydroponic systems, financial models, and coded logic to simulate real-world decision-making.

Each of my three classes will take ownership of a smart hydroponic tower. Students will plant, monitor, and grow herbs and greens, tracking variables like nutrient levels, growth rates, and lighting cycles. They’ll log this data and use it to calculate cost of goods sold, break-even points, and projected profits—connecting classroom math to living systems they manage themselves.

But this goes deeper than plant growth or personal finance. Students will use block-based programming to create basic automated pricing logic—decision trees that respond to real variables. If yield drops, their system might adjust pricing or flag a risk. If nutrient costs rise, their code can suggest a shift in strategy. These visual algorithms help students understand how businesses adapt using data—not guesswork.

Throughout the project, students explore careers tied to their roles. They’ll research the training, tools, and responsibilities of agricultural engineers, environmental systems techs, data analysts, and financial planners. Each team includes a career profile in their final presentation to connect their classroom work to real-world pathways.

This experience blends science, technology, engineering, and math with true financial literacy. It’s creative, hands-on, measurable, and tied directly to skills students need in today’s workforce. Most of all, it gives them a chance to think critically, solve problems, and grow something real—one decision at a time.

Equity Focus

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

250 students impacted
Mrs. Noack Pine Forest High School Grades 9-12

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.

Fayetteville, NC 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

250 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
The Lemonade War (The Lemonade War Series, 1) • Amazon Business $6.93 100 $693.00
Sjzx Hydroponics Growing System Kit, 8L Large Capacity Hydroponic Tower with 25 Pods, APP WiFi Controlled Smart Water Pump & Auto Timer, Indoor Outdoor Gardening for Beginners • Amazon Business $111.98 3 $335.94
Gardeners Basics, 15 Herb Seeds For Planting Varieties Heirloom Non-GMO 5200+ Seeds Indoors, Hydroponics, Outdoors - Basil, Catnip, Chive, Cilantro, Oregano, Parsley, Peppermint, Rosemary and More • Amazon Business $17.89 2 $35.78
EZ-GRO Liquid Plant Food for AeroGarden, IDOO, and Hydroponic Growing System - 1 QT | All-in-One Nutrient Solution for Seed Starting, Vegetative Growth, Flowering, and Fruiting • Amazon Business $24.95 1 $24.95
El delito de la limonada: The Lemonade Crime (Spanish Edition) (The Lemonade War Series, 2) • Amazon Business $6.39 3 $19.17
Ambgrow 100pcs Grow Sponges Seed Starter Pods, Indoor Plants Hydroponics Supplies Compatible with QYO, LYKO,Idoo Hydroponics Growing System(Square) • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99
Rooted Acre 15 Variety Lettuce & Salad Greens Seeds Pack – 3,000 Heirloom 𝗡𝗢𝗡-𝗚𝗠𝗢 𝗨𝗦𝗔 Seeds for Hydroponic, Indoor & Outdoor Planting – Romaine, Arugula, Spinach, Kale & Butter Lettuce • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99

Materials cost

$1,130.82

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $88.20

3rd party payment processing fee

$16.96

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,265.98

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$223.41

Total project goal

$1,489.39

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

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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 Mrs. Noack and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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