Sam Brannan Middle School in Sacramento, California on DonorsChoose

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Several students who once struggled to remain in the classroom during moments of heightened anxiety now ask for clay as a coping tool and are able to return to learning more quickly and confidently.\r\nThe clay has also opened unexpected opportunities for self-expression. Students who rarely speak in group settings have found their voices through their hands. They sculpt feelings they cannot yet name. They build objects they are proud to share. We have watched confidence grow in students who often feel misunderstood, simply because the medium allows them to create, explore, and be successful on their own terms.\r\nAcademically, the donations have enriched our curriculum by allowing us to integrate hands-on art experiences into lessons across content areas. Clay projects have strengthened fine-motor development, supported executive-functioning skills, and provided a meaningful way to practice following multi-step directions. Even more importantly, they have created moments of joy—moments our students deserve every single day.\r\nAnd perhaps the most beautiful impact has been on our classroom community. Working with clay has encouraged collaboration, patience, and positive peer interactions. Students help each other roll coils, offer feedback on designs, and celebrate one another's creations. For a group of learners who often find social connections difficult, clay has become a shared language.\r\nYour donation has truly done more than supply a material—it has enriched lives. You have helped create a space where students feel safe, capable, and creative. On behalf of our entire class, thank you for believing in our students and supporting the work we do.","fullyFundedDate":1755719130641,"projectUrl":"project/our-wheels-are-spinning/9538693/","projectTitle":"Our Wheels Are Spinning!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gunning","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2820857_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699068591237","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-younggunning"},{"teacherId":9730932,"projectId":9768109,"letterContent":"In the school library, it is incredibly satisfying to be able to respond to a student's request with \"Yes, we have that book!\" Your donation has made it possible for me to say that much more often lately. Students frequently ask for books that are not a part of our library's collection. The items in my Donors Choose project included some of our most-requested titles. Getting those books out to students has been so much fun!\r\n An additional benefit of your donation is that the books you added to our collection are particularly appealing to emerging and reluctant readers. The texts are engaging and have predictable, repetitive story sequences, which are especially beneficial for students who are building fluency and comprehension skills. \r\n Students were excited to see crisp, colorful, new copies of favorite titles, and they were thrilled to check them out! Helping young readers get the books that they want is one of the best jobs in the world; I'm grateful to you for helping me do this. Thank you so much for your gift to us and to our library!","fullyFundedDate":1760637791903,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-texts-for-emerging-and-reluctan/9768109/","projectTitle":"Engaging Texts for Emerging and Reluctant Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. G","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9730932_orig.jpg?crop=2810,2810,x0,y299&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727304793305","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9730932"},{"teacherId":2820857,"projectId":8918801,"letterContent":"Working with clay is a hands-on, tactile experience that requires focus and calm. The repetitive motions—kneading, shaping, smoothing—can have a meditative effect, helping students unwind and reduce anxiety or stress. It's similar to how adult coloring books work—you're immersed in the process, which quiets racing thoughts. Ceramics forces you to be present. You can't rush clay—it demands patience. That kind of full attention to the task at hand is the core of mindfulness, which has been shown to improve emotional regulation and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. There's something incredibly empowering about creating something with your own hands from a lump of clay. Whether it's a simple bowl or an abstract sculpture, the sense of achievement boosts self-confidence and self-worth, especially for students who may struggle in more academic settings. Art is a safe outlet for emotions that might be hard to express with words. Ceramics, being three-dimensional and sensory-rich, allows students to explore identity, tell stories, and work through feelings in a personal way—without needing to \"explain\" themselves. Clay doesn't always cooperate. Pieces can collapse, crack, or fail in the kiln. 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About this school

Sam Brannan Middle School is an urban public school in Sacramento, California that is part of Sacramento City Unified School District. It serves 377 students in grades 7 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.5:1. Its teachers have had 22 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 7 - 8

377 Students

26 Teachers

5301 Elmer Way

Sacramento, CA 95822 View local requests

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

Sam Brannan Middle School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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Sam Brannan Middle School Demographics

92%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

76%

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.

Sam Brannan Middle 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.