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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Vander Wal from Hazelton, ND is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Vander Wal is requesting

Unplug & Play: Building Brains, Friendships, and Fun

Help me give my students The opportunity to bring back play, creativity, and real connection!

  • $1,193 goal

This project expired on October 11, 2025.

This project expired on October 11, 2025.

My Project

Our PK-12th-grade school is on a mission to bring back play, creativity, and real connection! We are a small rural school in North Dakota.

We're raising funds to provide a wide selection of board games, puzzles, and hands-on STEAM activities for our students.

In a world dominated by screens and smartphones, it's easy for kids to lose out on face-to-face social skills and the kind of brain development that only happens when they're building, problem-solving, and collaborating in real life.

With your support, we’ll give students the chance to work together, think outside the box, and rediscover the fun of learning through play. These games and activities will help our students develop critical thinking, communication, and teamwork — all without the distraction of technology. Help us create a space where curiosity, laughter, and imagination can thrive!

Mrs. Vander Wal Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock Elementary School Grades 3-5

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.

Hazelton, ND View local requests

More than a third of 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

Never Before Funded 150 students impacted

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

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Fat Brain Toys Air Toobz Classroom Set • Kaplan Early Learning Company $257.36 1 $257.36
Wooden Marble Run for Kids Ages 4-8, 80 Pieces Wood Building Blocks Toys and Construction Play Set, Marble Track Maze Game STEM Learning Toys Gifts for Boys Girls (80pc Set) • Amazon Business $54.99 1 $54.99
Snap Circuits Classic SC-300 Electronics Exploration Kit | Over 300 Projects | Full Color Manual Parts | STEM Educational Toy for Kids 8+ 2.3 x 13.6 x 19.3 inches • Amazon Business $48.99 1 $48.99
Snap Circuits “Arcade”, Electronics Exploration Kit, Stem Activities for Ages 8+, Full Color Project Manual (SCA-200) • Amazon Business $45.46 1 $45.46
The Uzzle 3.0 Board Game, Family Board Games for Children & Adults, Block Puzzle Games for Ages 4+ • Amazon Business $44.00 1 $44.00
Huaker 88 Piece Magnetic Balls and Rods Set,Magnetic Building Toys Colorful DIY STEM Building Blocks Sticks for Ages 3+ Year Old Children Boy Girl Educational Construction Toy • Amazon Business $27.99 1 $27.99
Educational Insights BrainBolt Genius, Handheld Electronic Memory Game, Ages 7+ (8436) • Quill.com $26.72 1 $26.72
Kids Toys STEM Board Games - Logic Road Builder Brain Teasers Puzzles for 4 5 6 7 Year Old Boys Girls, Educational Montessori Birthday Gifts for Ages 4-8 Preschool Classroom Learning (41 PCS) • Amazon Business $26.38 1 $26.38
Vamslove Shut The Box Game for 6 Player with 12+4 Dice - Colorful 6 Sided Wooden Board Math Number Games for Kids Adults Families Party Club (Instructions Included) • Amazon Business $25.97 1 $25.97
ThinkFun Gravity Maze • Amazon Business $22.23 1 $22.23
AMEROUS 12 Inches Shut The Box Family Game (1-4 Players), 4 Sided Large Wooden Number Dice Board Game with 12 Dices and Shut The Box Rules for Kids, Adults • Amazon Business $21.99 1 $21.99
Learning Resources Mental Blox Jr. Early Logic Game - 8 Pieces, Ages 4+ Educational Games for Kids, Brain Teaser Games and Puzzles, STEM Games, 3-D Puzzles, Critical Thinking for Kids • Amazon Business $20.99 1 $20.99
AugToy Montessori Color Matching Learning Toys Sliding Puzzle for Kids 3 4 5 6 7 Years Old Preschool Logic Game Brain Teasers Boys Girls 2 Players Educational Wooden Toddler Travel Toys Gifts • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
Creative Straw STEM Building Toys 450Pcs Aged for 3-5 5-7 Preschool Kids Constructor Toy Thin Tube Toy DIY Educational Interlocking Plastic Engineering Toys Kit for Boys and Girls • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
Coogam Wooden Geoboard Mathematical Manipulative Material Array Block Geo Board – Graphical Educational Toys with 30Pcs Pattern Cards and Latex Bands Shape STEM Puzzle Matrix 8x8 Brain Teaser for Kid • Amazon Business $18.99 1 $18.99
Brain Flakes 500 Piece Set, Ages 3+, Interlocking Plastic Disc Toy for Creative Building, Educational STEM Learning, Construction Block Play for Kids, Teens, Adults, Boys, and Girls • Amazon Business $18.99 1 $18.99
Pressman Toys - Mastermind For Kids • Teachers' School Supply $18.29 1 $18.29
Learning Resources Mental Blox Go! 30 Games and Puzzles, Ages 5+ Educational Travel Games for Kids, Brain Teaser Games and Puzzles, STEM Games, 3-D Puzzles, Critical Thinking for Kids • Amazon Business $16.59 1 $16.59
ArtCreativity Mushroom Peg Puzzle for Kids with 10-Challenges - Fun Brain Teaser for Children - Arts and Crafts Creative Educational Learning Toy - Gift Idea for Boys and Girls • Amazon Business $15.67 1 $15.67
Scramble Squares- Sharks- 9 Piece Challenging Puzzle- Ultimate Brain Teaser and Mind Game for Children & Adults- Boosts Cognition and Problem Solving Skills • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
THE TWIDDLERS 36 Metal Brain Teaser Puzzles for Kids & Adults (4 Levels) - Disentanglement Mind Teaser Puzzles with Pouch - Party Favor, Educational Gift • Amazon Business $14.84 1 $14.84
ALKISTA 48 Pcs Tetra Tower Balance Stacking Blocks Game, Board Games for 2 Players+ Family Games, Parties, Travel, Kids & Adults Team Building Blocks Toy • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
FOLDOLOGY - The Origami Puzzle Game! Brain Teasers for Tweens, Teens & Adults | Travel Game, Hands-On STEM Toy, Gift for Ages 10+ | Fold the Paper to Complete the Picture | 100 Challenges • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
100 PICS Brain Teasers Travel Game - Solve 100 Puzzles | Flash Cards with Slide Reveal Case | Card Game, Gift, Stocking Stuffer | Hours of Fun for Kids and Adults | Age 6+ • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Learning Resources SlideMinder Brain Teaser Puzzle Game (LER5901) • Quill.com $11.69 1 $11.69
Coogam Wooden Puzzle Pattern Blocks Brain Teasers Game with 60 Challenges, 3D Russian Building Toy Wood Tangram Shape Jigsaw Puzzles Montessori STEM Educational Toys Gift for Kids Adults • Amazon Business $11.39 1 $11.39
Learning Resources STEM Explorers Marble Runners - 18 Pieces, Ages 5+ STEM Toys and Activities for Kids, Brain Teaser Toys and Games, Kindergarten Games • Amazon Business $10.89 1 $10.89
V-Opitos Color Matching Puzzle Toys, Montessori Brain Teasers Game for Kids Age 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Years Old, Road Trip Toys for Boys & Girls, Handheld Games for Travel, Ideal Christmas, Birthday Gifts • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
KINGOU Wooden Logic Puzzle Brain Teasers Intellectual Toy Number Puzzle • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Point Games Memory Run - Electronic Memory Handheld Game with Lights - Competitive Maze Challenge Gameplay -Cognitive Developmental Brain Teaser Puzzle Toy - Kids Ages 6+ • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Mind Puzzles for Kids 3-8, 3D Maze Puzzle for Kids, Brain Teasers Gravity Ball Game Maze Ball Puzzle Toy Gifts for Kids Teens Adults, Hard Challenge. Labyrinth Game Marble Maze with One Steel Marbles • Amazon Business $9.69 1 $9.69
Coogam Wooden Hexagon Puzzle for Kid Adults - Shape Pattern Block Tangram Brain Teaser Toy Geometry Logic IQ Game STEM Montessori Educational Gift for All Ages Challenge • Amazon Business $9.49 1 $9.49
Coogam Rainbow Puzzle Ball with Pouch Color-Matching Puzzle Game Toy Stress Reliever Magic Ball Brain Teaser for Kids and Adults, Children, Boy, Girl Holiday • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99

Materials cost

$914.49

Vendor shipping charges

$2.01

Sales tax

$53.04

3rd party payment processing fee

$13.72

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,013.26

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$178.81

Total project goal

$1,192.07

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

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Project Activity

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