{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"W.B. Travis Vanguard & Academy","outOfStateSupporters":7.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10374953,"projectId":9945752,"letterContent":"Our bess beetle tractor activity was a huge success! We could not have done it without the bess beetles. This activity was a great hands-on opportunity for students to synthesize many different concepts we have learned throughout the year.\r\n\r\nStudents measured the mass of the bess beetle and the mass of what the bess beetle was able to pull. This goes back to the physical properties of matter that we learned in the first weeks of school. Students also identified structures of the bess beetle and discussed their function. We observed the legs and saw how they were able to move the bess beetle from one position to another. This goes back to forces and motion. We discussed friction and the forces acting on the beetle. We looked at what kind of surface works best for the beetle to pull the paper clips.\r\n\r\nStudents were excited and engaged throughout the whole activity. It was a great review and allowed them to work together and carefully handle the beetle. I shared photos with families, so they could see what we are doing and continue the conversation at home. Big success! We really appreciate it.","fullyFundedDate":1765205050521,"projectUrl":"project/bess-beetle-tractors-force-motion-st/9945752/","projectTitle":"Bess Beetle Tractors - Force, Motion, Structure, Function","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hambleton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10374953_orig.png?crop=616,616,x0,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764875606994","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hambletonscience"},{"teacherId":10374953,"projectId":9951831,"letterContent":"These digital balances are awesome! Our students appreciate the accuracy and ease of using these digital balances to measure the mass of things we are studying. We began the year without these balances, so when we studied mass and the law of conservation of matter, we relied on pan balances. While useful, our pan balances were not very accurate. They are also somewhat clumsy to use. The new digital balances provide students another, more accurate way to measure mass and get results.\r\n\r\nWe used these digital balances to show the law of conservation of matter with our closed system. Using a small water bottle, balloon, water, and fizzing tables, students were able to see that the reaction did not lead to a change of mass. The bottle sitting on the digital balance the whole time did not measure a different mass. This is important for students to see, and more difficult to show with a pan balance.\r\n\r\nWe look forward to using these digital balances for years to come! We even used them for our bess beetle tractors to measure the mass of all the paper clips our bess beetles dragged. These are great scientific tools that enhance our learning!","fullyFundedDate":1770615008657,"projectUrl":"project/digital-balances-for-science-investigati/9951831/","projectTitle":"Digital Balances for Science Investigations","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hambleton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10374953_orig.png?crop=616,616,x0,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764875606994","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hambletonscience"},{"teacherId":10374953,"projectId":9951902,"letterContent":"These materials for our circuits and electromagnet labs really made a difference. Students were able to explore electrical energy and magnetism firsthand, exploring the connection between the electrical current of a closed circuit and the magnetic force needed to pick up some paper clips. Students created their own electromagnets using these materials.\r\n\r\nLearning by doing creates lasting memorable experiences. My students were thrilled to learn that they were actually going to create and experiment with their own electromagnets. We had read about electricity and magnetism in the textbook and several other resources, but it's a much different and more meaningful experience to actually make an electromagnet and see paper clips dangling from the end of the iron nail.\r\n\r\nWith some of the other circuit materials, we were able to investigate conductors and insulators. Students constructed conductivity testers to see what lit up the LED light bulb. I had seen this activity and was glad my students were finally able to do it using the materials provided in this project. Hands-on learning is the best! We appreciate everyone's generosity in providing our classroom with these materials.","fullyFundedDate":1770574530847,"projectUrl":"project/circuits-and-electromagnets-restock/9951902/","projectTitle":"Circuits and Electromagnets Restock","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hambleton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10374953_orig.png?crop=616,616,x0,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764875606994","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hambletonscience"},{"teacherId":10374953,"projectId":9950551,"letterContent":"Our students really enjoy working with our new stream tables. We have already completed one lab on erosion with water. Students were able to see firsthand how canyons are formed when water carries away sediments. Next we will investigate deposition and witness the formation of deltas. Students really enjoy working with the earth materials in the stream table.\r\n\r\nAll told we will complete four hands-on investigations with the stream tables. Students will have the opportunity to ask their own questions about slow changes to Earth's surface and use our stream table model to answer their questions. Our Stream Table DIY lab is popular with students because it gives them the opportunity to work as real scientists do, using models to ask and answer questions about real-world phenomena.\r\n\r\nWe appreciate your generosity in funding new stream tables for our science classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1770615008671,"projectUrl":"project/stream-tables-for-geology/9950551/","projectTitle":"Stream Tables for Geology","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hambleton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10374953_orig.png?crop=616,616,x0,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764875606994","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hambletonscience"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_10677","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":501,"numTeachers":20,"percentFrplEligible":84,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":50,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":26,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"4 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"25.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":92.9,"schoolId":10677,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about W.B. Travis Vanguard & Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"W.B. Travis Vanguard & Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/dallas-independent-school-district/w-b-travis-vanguard-academy/10677"}
Join the 56 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
W.B. Travis Vanguard & Academy is
an urban public school
in Dallas, Texas that is part of Dallas Independent School District.
It serves 501 students
in grades 4 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 25.0:1.
Its teachers have had 16 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
39%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
W.B. Travis Vanguard & Academy Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Apr 30, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
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W.B. Travis Vanguard & Academy
$7,899
raised using DonorsChoose
16
projects
funded
7
teachers
funded
56
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
4
projects for
technology
2
projects for
books
W.B. Travis Vanguard & Academy has received support from
52 individuals from Texas and
4 individuals out-of-state.
