Granger Junior High School in National City, California on DonorsChoose

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Students who were struggling are now visually and physically manipulating the \"atoms,\" making these fundamental chemistry rules click in a way a textbook never could.\r\n\r\nThese resources along with the others funded are essential to nurturing our students' natural curiosity and helping them see science as a joyful exploration. Your generosity has helped us go beyond memorization and create a classroom where every student is a hands-on innovator. Thank you for giving our students the tangible, foundational experiences necessary for success and inspiration in STEM.","fullyFundedDate":1762924733247,"projectUrl":"project/building-blocks-of-science-stem-kits-e/9872825/","projectTitle":"Building Blocks of Science: STEM Kits, Equations, and Experiments","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Marin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1540915_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y72&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761343139890","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1540915"},{"teacherId":1540915,"projectId":9858365,"letterContent":"The arrival of our DonorsChoose supplies was like Christmas morning for me and my students. The excitement was palpable! As I opened the boxes, the students gathered around like it was a treasure chest, their anticipation building with every layer of packing material. The reaction to the Periodic Table with Real Elements Inside was particularly memorable. There were audible gasps and a collective surge forward as students realized they could see and even lightly touch (through the protective casing) the elements they had only encountered as abstract symbols in a textbook. They were excited to see in real life the tiny, glittering, or dull samples of elements like Carbon, Silicon, and Iron. One student, who usually struggles to stay focused, spent ten straight minutes just pointing out where all the elements were located, meticulously checking off their placement. That immediate, visceral connection to chemistry was absolutely priceless. \r\nThese resources have instantly transformed theoretical concepts into tangible experiences, fostering deeper understanding and engagement. A perfect example is our current unit on Earth Science. We previously relied heavily on static diagrams and animations, but the Globe Season Modeling kit has truly revolutionized this lesson. In one specific classroom moment, a student was struggling immensely to understand why the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience opposite seasons. The tilt of the Earth was an abstract line in their minds. I had her physically position the globe relative to the light source (our classroom lamp acting as the \"sun\") and slowly demonstrate Earth's orbit. As she adjusted the tilt and observed how the direct beam of light shifted, she could physically see the concentration of solar energy change from one hemisphere to the other. That \"Aha!\" moment—when her eyes widened and she exclaimed, \"It's because the sun's rays are spread out in the winter hemisphere!\"—was incredibly rewarding. This physical manipulation provided an intuitive understanding that a two-dimensional drawing simply couldn't convey, solidifying a complex concept in a matter of minutes.\r\nFurthermore, the new Science Posters (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science) have been game-changers for visual learning and reference. We immediately hung them up around the room, creating an immersive, content-rich environment. Now, during discussions, students naturally look up to the Physics Poster when we talk about force diagrams or glance at the Biology Poster for a quick refresher on cell structures. Instead of asking me or flipping through their notebooks, they have instantaneous, high-quality visual reinforcement available at all times. This supports independent learning and helps students make connections across different scientific disciplines. For example, a student referenced the Chemistry Poster's diagram of molecular bonding to understand the stability of the materials they were later using in their engineering project. The posters serve as a silent, ever-present teaching assistant!\r\nThe Electric Scissors are also crucial for their upcoming engineering project in the human impact unit. I know last year they had a massive struggle cutting the thick Corrugated Cardboard and Chipboard Sheets into the precise shapes they wanted, which often led to frustration and rushed, messy final products. This year, the electric scissors will make that process a breeze. Students will be tasked with designing and building sustainable housing models or filtration systems using the donated cardboard and Masking Tape. The precision and ease of use of the new scissors means they can focus their energy on design iteration, structural integrity, and material efficiency rather than fighting with the materials. 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About this school

Granger Junior High School is a suburban public school in National City, California that is part of Sweetwater Union High School District. It serves 743 students in grades 7 - 9 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.6:1. Its teachers have had 15 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 7 - 9

743 Students

40 Teachers

2101 Granger Ave

National City, CA 91950 View local requests

http://www.sweetwaterschools.org/

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Granger Junior High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Granger Junior High School Demographics

82%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

90%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Granger Junior High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.