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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Martinez-Cantu from Laredo, TX is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Mrs. Martinez-Cantu's classroom raised $360

The Library Lab: Making STEM Fun and Accessible

Help me give my students a fun learning experience in the library through STEM!

This project expired on March 18, 2026.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Martinez-Cantu profile photo
Mrs. Martinez-Cantu Finley Elementary School
Laredo, TX Grades 3-5

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 Project

This project requests funding to transform our library into an engaging hub for literacy and hands-on STEM exploration. We aim to boost student engagement, foster a love for reading, and cultivate essential 21st-century skills.

As a Title I school in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area, our students are incredibly resourceful, imaginative, and innovative, but often lack access to enriching resources outside of school.

This project closes that gap by merging imagination with problem-solving.

1. Fostering STEM Skills ⚙️

We plan to acquire Lakeshore STEM kits focused on building cars, boats, and planes. These reusable kits will allow students to:

Apply physics and engineering principles through hands-on design and testing.

Develop critical thinking and collaboration skills.

See the real-world application of concepts they read about, making STEM accessible to all students in the library.

2. Boosting Literacy

To make reading highly rewarding, we will implement a positive reinforcement system using desirable incentives. The requested rewards for reaching reading milestones include:

Pencils

Pencil Charms

Bookmarks

These tangible items provide immediate motivation, encouraging students to frequently check out books and value reading—especially meaningful in a community with limited personal resources.

3. The Impact

Your support gives our already resourceful, imaginative, and innovative students the resources they need to thrive. You will fuel their desire to read, learn, and create, turning our library into a dynamic learning lab where every student has the tools to build their future.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

470 students impacted 7 donors
Mrs. Martinez-Cantu Finley Elementary School Grades 3-5

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Laredo, TX 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

470 students impacted 7donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Design & Play STEAM Cars Kit • Lakeshore Learning Materials $29.99 3 $89.97
Design & Play STEAM Boats Kit • Lakeshore Learning Materials $21.99 3 $65.97
Design & Play STEAM Planes Kit • Lakeshore Learning Materials $19.99 3 $59.97
Outus 120 Pcs Scented Pencils Graphite HB Pencils with Erasers Colorful Fruity Wood Fun Pen for Kids Students Teachers Office Classroom Reward Supplies Party Favors Christmas Stocking Fillers • Amazon Business $21.99 1 $21.99
Ella & Emma 100PCS Mixed Pencil Toppers - Kawaii Pen Charms for Boys and Girls, Cute Classroom Rewards and Prizes for Students, Pencil Decorations for School Supplies, Kids Incentives (100pcs Mixed) • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99
Bright Creations 120-Pack Bulk Ice Cream Bookmarks for Classroom Supplies, Student Appreciation - Popsicle, Cone, and Fruit-Filled Bar Designs 6 in - Book Marks for Kids • Amazon Business $11.23 1 $11.23
SWATOM 201 PCS Paper Blank Bookmarks to Decorate 100 Sets Cardstock DIY Bookmarks Bulk for Kids with Bookmark Making Kit, 5 Color Tassels & Twine String for Classroom Craft Projects  • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99

Materials cost

$271.11

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.07

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$305.18

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$53.86

Total project goal

$359.04

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $359.04

2 Donors

-$346.54

Donations toward project cost

-$294.56

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$51.98

match offer

-$12.50

Match offer toward project cost

-$10.62

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$1.88

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

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 Mrs. Martinez-Cantu and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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