{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Desert Thunder Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":21.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10107416,"projectId":9528609,"letterContent":"First and foremost, thank you for the resources provided. There are many ways in which students were able to use these in our classroom. Upon learning we'd be using microscopes, students were very excited and eager to get started with class and to learn what we would be looking under the lens. On one occasion, students looked over slides that already came with the packet. These slides included specimens of a Honey bee's mouth, dragonfly's wing, house fly mouth, honey bee's leg on pollen, etc. Students were mesmerized at all the detail they were able to observe under the lens. \r\n\r\nOne of the topics that students enjoyed learning about was matter because it involved many hands on projects. Therefore, once students got the feel of using a microscope, the next lesson involved observing different kinds of specimens that they could grab a hold of when stepping outside the classroom. Students were eager to participate in collecting these samples which involved: soil, different tree leaves, tree bark, grass blades and more. One student even took it upon herself to collect an ant she spotted! (No worries, the ant was later released.) The class was overly excited to say the least and were mesmerized but grossed out all at once at the detail this live specimen showed under the lens. \r\n\r\nAnother student even provided a hair sample to look under the lens and was excited to have his classmates look at the detail on his hair. I can definitely say that these microscopes have increased the curiosity in my students and that they very much enjoyed them. A number of students across the grade even asked where they could purchase one. This experience is one that has opened doors in the Science field for many; future Scientists were left in the making. Hello,\r\nFirst and foremost, thank you for the resources provided. There are many ways in which students were able to use these in our classroom. Upon learning we'd be using microscopes, students were very excited and eager to get started with class and to learn what we would be looking under the lens. On one occasion, students looked over slides that already came with the packet. These slides included specimens of a Honey bee's mouth, dragonfly's wing, house fly mouth, honey bee's leg on pollen, etc. Students were mesmerized at all the detail they were able to observe under the lens. \r\n\r\nOne of the topics that students enjoyed learning about was matter because it involved many hands on projects. Therefore, once students got the feel of using a microscope, the next lesson involved observing different kinds of specimens that they could grab a hold of when stepping outside the classroom. Students were eager to participate in collecting these samples which involved: soil, different tree leaves, tree bark, grass blades and more. One student even took it upon herself to collect an ant she spotted! (No worries, the ant was later released.) The class was overly excited to say the least and were mesmerized but grossed out all at once at the detail this live specimen showed under the lens. \r\n\r\nAnother student even provided a hair sample to look under the lens and was excited to have his classmates look at the detail on his hair. I can definitely say that these microscopes have increased the curiosity in my students and that they very much enjoyed them. A number of students across the grade even asked where they could purchase one. This experience is one that has opened doors in the Science field for many; future Scientists were left in the making. Hello,\r\nFirst and foremost, thank you for the resources provided. There are many ways in which students were able to use these in our classroom. Upon learning we'd be using microscopes, students were very excited and eager to get started with class and to learn what we would be looking under the lens. On one occasion, students looked over slides that already came with the packet. These slides included specimens of a Honey bee's mouth, dragonfly's wing, house fly mouth, honey bee's leg on pollen, etc. Students were mesmerized at all the detail they were able to observe under the lens. \r\n\r\nOne of the topics that students enjoyed learning about was matter because it involved many hands on projects. Therefore, once students got the feel of using a microscope, the next lesson involved observing different kinds of specimens that they could grab a hold of when stepping outside the classroom. Students were eager to participate in collecting these samples which involved: soil, different tree leaves, tree bark, grass blades and more. One student even took it upon herself to collect an ant she spotted! (No worries, the ant was later released.) The class was overly excited to say the least and were mesmerized but grossed out all at once at the detail this live specimen showed under the lens. \r\n\r\nAnother student even provided a hair sample to look under the lens and was excited to have his classmates look at the detail on his hair. I can definitely say that these microscopes have increased the curiosity in my students and that they very much enjoyed them. A number of students across the grade even asked where they could purchase one. This experience is one that has opened doors in the Science field for many; future Scientists were left in the making.","fullyFundedDate":1755553430866,"projectUrl":"project/laboratory-class/9528609/","projectTitle":"Laboratory Class","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Arroyo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10107416_orig.jpg?crop=866,866,x328,y185&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754529469141","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10107416"},{"teacherId":6712382,"projectId":10041478,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom project. The new resources have helped my students stay engaged, focused, and excited about learning. During a recent group reading activity, students used the flexible seating and supplies to create story projects together. They were thrilled when the materials arrived and immediately wanted to explore everything. Their smiles, excitement, and increased confidence have made a lasting impact on our classroom every day. Families, students, and I are all so grateful for the Fiesta Bowl Foundation.","fullyFundedDate":1771610018014,"projectUrl":"project/staying-healthy-in-2026/10041478/","projectTitle":"Staying Healthy in 2026","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Aguirre","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6712382"},{"teacherId":6712382,"projectId":9915123,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to our classroom. Your support truly means the world to us. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to purchase flexible seating, sensory tools, markers, and a camera. The items are already making a positive difference in our daily learning environment. These resources help create a space where students feel comfortable, supported, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nFlexible seating allows students to choose options that help them focus and feel successful, while sensory tools support self-regulation and engagement throughout the day. The markers encourage creativity, expression, and hands-on learning across all subjects. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and belief in our students. Your donations are helping build a classroom where every child can thrive. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1765480904984,"projectUrl":"project/staying-organized-for-a-successful-year/9915123/","projectTitle":"Staying Organized for a Successful Year.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Aguirre","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6712382"},{"teacherId":8650261,"projectId":9420274,"letterContent":"Our class has been using the new resources every day to support hands-on learning and small-group instruction. One specific moment that stood out was when students rotated through stations and were able to use the materials to practice real-world math problems. Their engagement and confidence noticeably increased because they finally had the tools to make abstract concepts feel concrete.They were so excited! Many students immediately began exploring the items and asking questions about how they would use them in upcoming lessons. Their energy and curiosity created an enthusiastic start to learning with the new supplies. Our next steps include continuing to use the materials during small-group instruction to strengthen their problem-solving and reasoning skills. We are also planning a class activity where students will apply what they've learned to a collaborative project, giving them a chance to showcase their growth. The new resources will continue to play a big role in helping them build independence and confidence.","fullyFundedDate":1755521862758,"projectUrl":"project/math-matters-supply-drive/9420274/","projectTitle":"Math Matters Supply Drive","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gallegos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8650261_orig.jpg?crop=716,716,x0,y2&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727198188316","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8650261"},{"teacherId":9549981,"projectId":9326586,"letterContent":"My students didn't see the materials arrive, but once I showed them what we received, they were so excited! Their eyes lit up when they saw the real rocks, fossils, and volcano kits. Right away, they started asking questions like, \"Are we going to make a volcano erupt?\" and \"Can we touch the fossils?\" Just seeing the materials sparked their curiosity and got them eager to learn more about how Earth changes.\r\nWe haven't used everything yet, but these resources are ready for our upcoming Earth Science unit. I know they'll make a huge difference once we start exploring rock layers, fossils, and volcanoes. Instead of just reading or watching videos, my students will actually get to touch, observe, and experiment — which helps them understand so much better.\r\nI'm so thankful for these materials and for everyone who helped make this project possible. Having them in my classroom means my students will get those real, hands-on science experiences that make learning exciting and memorable. Your support truly helps bring science to life for my students!","fullyFundedDate":1746785662782,"projectUrl":"project/earth-science-fossils/9326586/","projectTitle":"Earth Science Fossils","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Acuna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9549981"},{"teacherId":9549981,"projectId":9326657,"letterContent":"My fourth graders have been so excited to explore science with our new Carolina Introduction to Waves Kit and Model Seismograph! We've been learning about how energy moves through the Earth and how scientists study earthquakes. These materials have helped my students really see what seismic waves look like and understand how they cause changes on Earth's surface. Instead of just reading from a book, they get to experiment, build, and record their own \"mini earthquakes.\" It's been such a fun and meaningful way to learn!\r\nHow did your students react when they first saw the materials?\r\nThe moment I opened the boxes, my students started cheering! They could not wait to touch everything and start experimenting. One student said, \"We're real scientists now!\" Their faces were full of curiosity and joy. For many of my bilingual learners, being able to see and feel how waves move made all the difference — it made learning come alive.\r\nWhat are the next steps for your students?\r\nNext, we'll use the seismograph to test how different surfaces affect wave movement and compare our results to real earthquake data. Students will use their models to explain how Earth changes over time. These lessons are helping them think critically, work together, and build confidence in their ideas. I'm so thankful for these materials and for everyone who helped make this project possible. You truly made science exciting for my kids — thank you for believing in us! 💛","fullyFundedDate":1746785514724,"projectUrl":"project/types-of-waves/9326657/","projectTitle":"Types of Waves","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Acuna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9549981"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_75763","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":961,"numTeachers":34,"percentFrplEligible":34,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":14,"percentWhite":18,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":61,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"28.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":78.1,"schoolId":75763,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Desert Thunder Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Desert Thunder Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/arizona/avondale-elementary-school-district/desert-thunder-elementary-school/75763"}