Marshall Elementary School in San Francisco, California on DonorsChoose

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The robots were so entertaining that students stayed engaged even when facing frustrations, such as when I challenged them to write a program that would send the robot back to its starting point after traveling a short distance forward. Initially, they didn't know how many degrees to make the robots turn, but they stuck with the task until they mastered it.\r\n\r\n3. The robots provided many opportunities for language practice. Working together in English, my Bot Squad members managed to write simple directions for barcode programing. Later, another group of students successfully used those written directions to try out the robots.\r\n\r\n4. The Edisons foster self-directed learning. My students LOVED that they could \"customize\" their robots (as they called it), adding Lego bricks. As they've grown familiar with the EdBlocks programming language, they've begun requesting more freedom to explore writing their own sequences without my guidance.\r\n\r\nThis project was a huge success. Next year I hope to acquire a few more Edisons, and try out a similar learning sequence with a full class. I like these robots so much that I've begun recommending them to other librarians!\r\n\r\nThank you so much,","fullyFundedDate":1760667505840,"projectUrl":"project/creative-coding-edison-robot-fun-in-the/9763707/","projectTitle":"Creative Coding: Edison Robot Fun in the Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. V.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp113262_orig.jpg?crop=1800,1800,x443,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758916013386","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/113262"},{"teacherId":113262,"projectId":9826954,"letterContent":"Addressing the disappointment some students feel when the book they want isn't available has been one of my greatest challenges as a school librarian. \"But I know we have it,\" they tell me. \"Why isn't it here?\" \r\n\r\nI tell them that someone else already has it checked out, and that I'll put it on hold. Often, though, it takes a long time for the popular books to come back. And sometimes more than one child has placed a hold. That's why your donation makes such a difference. My students were so excited when they saw the stacks of Dog Man, Katie the Catsitter, I Survived, and other beloved titles waiting for them. \r\n\r\nSome library days, only a few students check out books. On the day I made these ones available, EVERY STUDENT grabbed at least one book! There were enough new books for all of my 4th and 5th graders, and some for the 3rd graders, too. Plus I still have a few left for our next sessions: even if students keep their books an extra week, there will be some ready to check out. Thank you SO MUCH!","fullyFundedDate":1761669344656,"projectUrl":"project/the-books-they-want/9826954/","projectTitle":"The Books They Want","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. V.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp113262_orig.jpg?crop=1800,1800,x443,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758916013386","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/113262"},{"teacherId":550822,"projectId":8845922,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom is buzzing with creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning! The Lego STEM kit has completely transformed how my students approach science, technology, engineering, and math.\r\n\r\nThe moment the students saw the kits, their eyes lit up with excitement. There were gasps, cheers, and even a few \"Is this really for us?\" comments. For many of them, it was the first time they had access to such high-quality materials that allow for open-ended exploration and engineering challenges.\r\n\r\nWe kicked things off with a team-building challenge: students had to design and build a bridge that could support the weight of a book using only Lego pieces from the kit. The room was filled with collaboration, critical thinking, and a whole lot of trial and error. Watching them test, fail, and improve their designs with enthusiasm was one of the most rewarding moments I've had as a teacher.\r\n\r\nCurrently, we're diving into a unit on simple machines. The Lego STEM kit is helping students build and explore gears, pulleys, and levers in a way that textbooks simply can't match. Next, they'll be working in small groups to engineer a working model of a moving vehicle—incorporating the concepts we've learned and presenting their projects to the class.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, my students are not just learning STEM—they're experiencing it. Thank you for opening up a world of opportunity and curiosity for them!","fullyFundedDate":1728346941208,"projectUrl":"project/stem-set-for-creative-minds/8845922/","projectTitle":"STEM Set for Creative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Casallas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp550822_orig.jpg?crop=583,583,x331,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630098589210","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/550822"},{"teacherId":550822,"projectId":9781288,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been buzzing with excitement and meaningful learning through the use of our new giant board games! These oversized games have added a whole new dimension to our learning environment—bringing students together, building critical thinking skills, and creating an atmosphere of collaboration and joy.\r\n\r\nWe've been incorporating the giant board games into both academic lessons and social-emotional learning. During math and reading stations, students work in small groups to play strategy-based games that require problem-solving, pattern recognition, and logical thinking. \r\n\r\nWhen we first unwrapped the games, the room erupted with cheers! Eyes lit up, hands shot into the air, and students couldn't wait to dive in. For many of them, it felt like learning had just turned into a game—and that's exactly the magic we were hoping for. It was heartwarming to see students who are usually shy or hesitant jump in with confidence, laughing and learning alongside their peers.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us create a classroom that's vibrant, inclusive, and full of opportunities to grow. 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About this school

Marshall Elementary School is an urban public school in San Francisco, California that is part of San Francisco Unified School District. It serves 247 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 22.5:1. Its teachers have had 93 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

247 Students

11 Teachers

1575 15th St

San Francisco, CA 94103 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Marshall Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Marshall Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Marshall Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

87%

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.

Marshall Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Apr 8, 2026

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.