{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Gowan Science Academy","outOfStateSupporters":20.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1744246,"projectId":9445354,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom project. Because of you, science has truly come to life for my students in ways that textbooks alone could never achieve.\r\n\r\nHow we are using the new resources:\r\nMy students and I are actively using the new kits and materials across Earth & Space, Life, and Physical Science units. The Mineral Identification Kit, along with fossil and arthropod specimens, allows students to investigate Earth's history firsthand as they classify minerals, observe fossils, and analyze physical properties. The prepared microscope slides and the molecular model kit will help my students visualize microscopic life processes and chemical structures that are otherwise invisible. In physical science, tools like the wave machine, catapult, and torque feeler enable students to observe forces, motion, and energy in action. The genetics kits have brought heredity to life as students analyze real corn traits and apply Mendelian genetics concepts.\r\n\r\nHow did my student react? \r\nWhen the materials first arrived, the excitement was immediate. Students were eager to open the kits, ask questions, and begin exploring. Many expressed amazement at being able to handle real scientific tools—examining specimens under microscopes, building molecular models, and experimenting with physics equipment. I heard comments like, \"This feels like a real science lab!\" Their enthusiasm and engagement have been noticeable during every hands-on investigation.\r\n\r\nWhat's next for our students?\r\nThanks to your support, students are now moving into deeper inquiry-based lessons. In our current units, they are designing mini-investigations using the physics kits to test variables such as force and motion, while others are applying their mineral identification skills to real-world problem-solving scenarios. In life science, students used the genetics kits to analyze data, make predictions, and explain inheritance patterns using evidence. These next steps emphasize critical thinking, collaboration, and scientific reasoning—skills that will serve them well far beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has transformed our classroom into a space of discovery and wonder. By putting authentic science tools directly into students' hands, you have helped foster curiosity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of complex scientific concepts. Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to experience science as scientists do.","fullyFundedDate":1759611718822,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-science-engineering-experienc/9445354/","projectTitle":"Hands-on Science & Engineering Experiences for Middle School Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Van Sickle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1744246_orig.jpg?crop=662,662,x96,y147&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625861671953","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-vansickle"},{"teacherId":1744246,"projectId":9445307,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my classroom. Because of you, my students now have access to real scientific tools that are transforming how they learn and experience science every day.\r\n\r\nWe are actively using the new resources during hands-on investigations across our science units. The collision track and inertial balance have allowed students to explore Newton's Laws through direct observation rather than just reading about them. Spring scales, thermometers, and triple-beam balances are being used regularly to collect accurate data, helping students practice measurement, comparison, and analysis. Tools like the ping pong launcher and litmus paper have made abstract concepts such as projectile motion and chemical reactions exciting and tangible. From testing boiling points to measuring force and mass, each piece of equipment empowers students to investigate core science principles through experimentation.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate and genuine. Many had never used \"real\" lab equipment before, and they were eager to ask questions, make predictions, and begin testing their ideas. Several students commented that they felt like \"real scientists,\" which has boosted both their confidence and curiosity. Engagement during science lessons has increased noticeably, with students more willing to collaborate, problem-solve, and explain their thinking using evidence.\r\n\r\nNext, students will continue applying these tools as we move deeper into lessons in Earth & Space, Life, and Physical Sciences. They will design and conduct investigations focused on forces and motion, properties of matter, energy transfer, and the scientific method. Students will analyze data, refine experiments, and connect their findings to real-world applications. These resources will also support long-term projects where students practice forming hypotheses, recording observations, and drawing conclusions based on evidence.\r\n\r\nOur goal is to build strong, hands-on understanding across all science disciplines, and your generosity has made that possible. By using authentic lab equipment, students are gaining confidence in STEM, strengthening their analytical thinking skills, and discovering that science is something they can actively do, not just learn about.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students this opportunity. Your support has made a lasting impact on our classroom and on the future scientists growing within it.","fullyFundedDate":1759611719898,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-scientific-learning/9445307/","projectTitle":"Tools for Scientific Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Van Sickle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1744246_orig.jpg?crop=662,662,x96,y147&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625861671953","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-vansickle"},{"teacherId":2329443,"projectId":9427066,"letterContent":"Thanks to this project, my 8th grade civics students are learning how to connect the past to the present in meaningful, concrete ways. The Scholastic News magazines allow students to dig deeper into current events than our daily news show alone can provide. Through close reading of these articles, students practice essential literacy skills like identifying claims, analyzing evidence, and understanding perspective—skills that are critical in civics but also transfer across all subjects. Many of the articles also include maps, charts, and graphs, giving students valuable practice with geographic and data interpretation skills that are often overlooked in a civics classroom.\r\n\r\nReading in my classroom now looks active and purposeful. Students annotate articles, discuss how modern issues connect to historical events or constitutional principles, and use evidence from the text to support their thinking during class discussions and writing tasks. These resources have helped students move beyond surface-level opinions and into more informed, thoughtful conversations about what's happening in the world and why it matters.\r\n\r\nOne of the most meaningful outcomes of this project is that its impact extended beyond my own classroom. Because the magazines are reusable, I was able to share them with another teacher on campus, more than doubling the number of students who benefited from this resource. My students feel empowered engaging with \"real\" news written at their level, and your generosity helped make civic learning relevant, accessible, and engaging for all of them. Thank you for supporting their growth as readers, thinkers, and informed citizens.","fullyFundedDate":1759611719419,"projectUrl":"project/from-history-to-headlines-connecting-th/9427066/","projectTitle":"From History to Headlines: Connecting the Past to Today","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kaste","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2329443_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1498706285596","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kaste"},{"teacherId":8528303,"projectId":9835034,"letterContent":"When the materials first arrived, my students were beyond excited. Their immediate reactions were wide eyes, big smiles, and a flood of questions like, \"When do we get to use this?\" and \"Can we start today?\" They felt proud knowing that people outside our classroom believed in them and cared about their learning. That sense of support made them even more motivated to do their best work.\r\nCreativity students have been able to bring their imaginations to life through hands-on sculpture projects, including creating their own alebrijes and working with clay. Students designed original mythical creatures by combining animal traits, planning patterns, and thinking carefully about balance, texture, and symbolism. One powerful moment was watching students revise their clay work after it dried—learning that creativity often involves patience, problem-solving, and trying again.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your constant dedication in helping Gowan students be successful!","fullyFundedDate":1761404151246,"projectUrl":"project/sculpt-print-create-bringing-hands-on/9835034/","projectTitle":"Sculpt, Print, Create! Bringing Hands-On Art to Life","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Popovic","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8528303_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1751186584606","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8528303"},{"teacherId":8528303,"projectId":9740820,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, my Creativity students explored watercolor and oil pastel techniques through hands-on art projects. Students experimented with color mixing, blending, layering, and texture while learning how different materials create unique effects.\r\n\r\nStudents were thrilled when the supplies arrived and eager to try new techniques. The classroom quickly filled with color and creativity as students gained confidence in their artistic choices.\r\n\r\nYour donation has allowed students to continue developing their skills through expressive art projects focused on composition and personal expression. Thank you for making creativity engaging, meaningful, and accessible for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1760838373255,"projectUrl":"project/a-world-of-color/9740820/","projectTitle":"A World of Color","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Popovic","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8528303_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1751186584606","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8528303"},{"teacherId":2347892,"projectId":9810523,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"Stretch and Support\" project. Your generosity has helped us create a learning environment where every student feels both challenged and supported. This model gives students the chance to understand their own strengths and areas for growth, which is an important skill for lifelong learning.\r\n\r\nWith Stretch Groups, students can build on what they already do well and push their thinking even further. Support Groups give students a safe place to work through challenges, ask questions, and practice skills at their own pace. Both groups help students feel confident, capable, and proud of the progress they make each day.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, students are now engaging in meaningful, hands-on games that make learning fun and purposeful. After meeting with me one-on-one, they take ownership of their goals and understand exactly what they're working toward. You have made a real difference in helping my students learn, grow, and believe in themselves.","fullyFundedDate":1761404151228,"projectUrl":"project/stretch-and-support-growing-through-gam/9810523/","projectTitle":"Stretch and Support: Growing Through Games!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cabanillas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2347892_orig.png?crop=337,337,x0,y33&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1552260270565","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cabanillas"},{"teacherId":2347892,"projectId":9762107,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping bring personal books to my third graders. Your generosity means each student will receive a special book as a holiday gift, and they are already so excited. My students love to read, and having a book that belongs to them makes them feel proud and motivated.\r\n\r\nThese books will help my students grow as readers by giving them more chances to practice skills like fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The variety of stories—featuring different genres, cultures, and characters—helps students see themselves in what they read while also learning about others. This support makes a real difference in their confidence and their eagerness to pick up a book.\r\n\r\nWhat makes my class so special is their curiosity and determination. They come from many different backgrounds, and each child brings something unique to our classroom. Your donation gives them the tools to keep learning, dreaming big, and seeing themselves as successful readers. Thank you for making this holiday season brighter for all of us.","fullyFundedDate":1759611718806,"projectUrl":"project/pages-with-purpose/9762107/","projectTitle":"Pages With Purpose","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cabanillas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2347892_orig.png?crop=337,337,x0,y33&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1552260270565","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cabanillas"},{"teacherId":3701182,"projectId":9554353,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of the iPad document camera for our classroom. Your support has already made a meaningful difference. This tool allows me to model strategies, share student work instantly, and make lessons more interactive and accessible for all learners.\r\n\r\nMy students are excited and engaged, and I'm grateful to have technology that helps me teach more effectively. Your kindness directly impacts our daily learning environment, and we appreciate it more than you know.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our classroom and investing in our success!","fullyFundedDate":1757008729265,"projectUrl":"project/zoom-into-learning/9554353/","projectTitle":"Zoom into Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sanchez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3701182_orig.jpg?crop=2575,2575,x0,y360&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1682967597831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3701182"},{"teacherId":3701182,"projectId":9462880,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of the iPad document camera for our classroom. Your support has already made a meaningful difference. This tool allows me to model strategies, share student work instantly, and make lessons more interactive and accessible for all learners.\r\n\r\nMy students are excited and engaged, and I'm grateful to have technology that helps me teach more effectively. Your kindness directly impacts our daily learning environment, and we appreciate it more than you know.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our classroom and investing in our success!","fullyFundedDate":1757543786394,"projectUrl":"project/we-love-scholastic-magazines-in-our-kind/9462880/","projectTitle":"We Love Scholastic Magazines in Our Kindergarten Classes!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sanchez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3701182_orig.jpg?crop=2575,2575,x0,y360&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1682967597831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3701182"},{"teacherId":3740716,"projectId":8483724,"letterContent":"Providing my students with sensory materials to use within our classroom has allowed students to self-regulate and meet their own sensory needs. This has been done by students identifying their own specific calming material such as the calming stickers or fidget toys to help them refocus in the classroom.\r\n\r\nStudents enjoy using the wobble cushions either while sitting at their classroom chair or on the floor to give them some wiggle room to meet their sensory need. Emotion cushions allow students to feel the texture of sequence on the cushions, changing the face simply by swiping their hand up or down on the cushion. The checkers game gave students the ability to have interactions with their peers in the classroom while building their communication and socialization skills.\r\n\r\nIt was with these material that allowed my students to be themselves while meeting their sensory needs. Donors like you make a difference in every child's life. Donor's like you made a difference in my classroom for each and every student.","fullyFundedDate":1721181847889,"projectUrl":"project/meeting-my-sensory-needs/8483724/","projectTitle":"Meeting My Sensory Needs!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3740716_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1473096718630","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3740716"},{"teacherId":3262233,"projectId":9423876,"letterContent":"My class is excited to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donations of chess boards and timers! Your support has brought tremendous excitement and opportunity to my students, who now eagerly gather to play, learn, and grow through the time-tested game of chess. What was once a simple idea and interest has turned into a thriving activity that challenges their minds and strengthens their ability to think critically and strategically.\r\n\r\nThe addition of timers has elevated their experience even further, encouraging students to think on their feet, plan ahead, and make thoughtful decisions under pressure. Through regular play, they are learning how to think objectively, evaluate multiple outcomes, and approach challenges with patience and focus—skills that go far beyond the chessboard. The room is often filled with silence, until someone wins or loses, and then it is followed by laughter and celebration.\r\n\r\nMy students' remain enthusiastic to play and ask frequently for challenges. They are motivated not only to play but to study strategies, analyze past games, and improve their skills with each match. It's inspiring to see their confidence and sportsmanship develop through this shared experience. Your contributions have made a lasting impact, fostering a community of learners who are discovering the joy of strategic thinking and the rewards of perseverance. Thank you for investing in their growth and for making this program possible.","fullyFundedDate":1755757220370,"projectUrl":"project/chess-champions-building-discipline-ch/9423876/","projectTitle":"Chess Champions: Building Discipline, Character, and Strategic Thinking","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Kondracki","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3262233_orig.jpg?crop=2218,2218,x0,y273&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1622575832915","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3262233"},{"teacherId":3701182,"projectId":9122822,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for your generous support! Your contribution has made a real and immediate impact in our classroom. We've already started putting the materials to great use. These resources are helping my students develop confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills every single day. These materials are a part of our daily learning tools especially during Math.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, learning in our classroom is more dynamic and empowering than ever before. Your support has truly made a difference.","fullyFundedDate":1740829911213,"projectUrl":"project/a-variety-of-learning-supplies-for-learn/9122822/","projectTitle":"A Variety of Learning Supplies for Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sanchez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3701182_orig.jpg?crop=2575,2575,x0,y360&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1682967597831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3701182"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_106733","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":771,"numTeachers":15,"percentFrplEligible":21,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":28,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":65,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"51.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":79.7,"schoolId":106733,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Gowan Science Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Gowan Science Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/arizona/crane-elementary-school-district/gowan-science-academy/106733"}