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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Darling from Beach Park, IL is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Darling is requesting

Tinkering with STEM

Help me give my students tinkering toys to explore through movement, touch, and exploration, and learn skills that will help them succeed in all grades.

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Darling's classroom raised $398

This project is fully funded

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

For many of my students, Pre-K is their very first educational experience. Because they attend a Title 1 school and receive special education services, it is important to provide rich, engaging, and developmentally appropriate opportunities that help build the foundational skills they need for future learning. Hands-on STEM activities, such as using Tinker Toys, real tools, magnets, Lincoln Logs, and sensory bins, offer meaningful ways to keep young children actively engaged while promoting curiosity and problem-solving.

These materials support STEM learning in the following ways.

Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs encourage engineering, spatial awareness, and math concepts like counting, sorting, and comparing. Students learn persistence as they build and test structures.

Real Tools (safe, child-appropriate) allow students to experience how tools work, strengthening fine motor skills and teaching cause-and-effect problem solving.

Magnets spark curiosity about science, introducing invisible forces and properties of materials while encouraging sorting and classification. Sensory bins provide hands-on exploration of science and math concepts such as measurement, capacity, and sinking/floating. They also give students calming, sensory input that supports self-regulation.

Hands-on activities are especially powerful for young learners with special needs because they provide concrete, multi-sensory experiences rather than abstract instruction. By manipulating objects, experimenting, and collaborating with peers, students practice critical thinking, communication, and teamwork; essential STEM skills that will continue to grow throughout their education.

In this way, play-based STEM exploration not only builds early academic knowledge, but also nurtures confidence, engagement, and a love for learning.

Mrs. Darling Oak Crest Elementary School Grades PreK-2

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.

Beach Park, 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

20 students impacted 4donors

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

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
TINKERTOY - Retro Building Tin - 100 Parts - Collectible, Nostalgic Construction Toy, Great for Kids, Toddlers, Boys, Girls, Ages 3+ • Amazon Business $39.99 2 $79.98
Coogam Preschool Magnetic Busy Book, 9 Themed Stickers Toys Fine Motor Skills Learning Binder Quiet Book Montessori Toys for Kids Toddlers Home Kindergarten • Amazon Business $24.36 3 $73.08
SainSmart Jr. 300 PCS Wooden Log Cabin Set Building House Toy for Toddlers, Classical STEM Construction Kit Compatible with Lincoln Logs for 3+ Kids • Amazon Business $47.99 1 $47.99
14 Pcs Kids Montessori Screwdriver Board Set, Wooden Screw Driver Activities Tools Montessori Toys for 3 4 5 Year Old, Basic Skills Educational Sensory Learning Toy for Kids Toddlers Preschool • Amazon Business $14.99 3 $44.97
JOYIN 26Pcs Kid Tool Set, Pretend Play Toddler Tool Toy with Construction Worker Costume & Electronic Toy Drill in Storage Box for Boy Girl Halloween Present Birthday Dress Up Party • Amazon Business $29.98 1 $29.98
10 Pcs Wooden Sensory Bin Tools for Toddlers & Preschool Children, Montessori Sensory Wooden Toys Fine Motor Learning Pretend Play Sensory Tools for Kids • Amazon Business $13.59 2 $27.18

Materials cost

$303.18

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.55

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$337.73

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$59.60

Total project goal

$397.33

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $397.33

2 Donors

-$195.14

Donations toward project cost

-$171.87

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$23.27

Matching donations from our partners

-$195.13

Match offers toward project cost

-$165.86

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$29.27

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$7.06

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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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. Darling and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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