{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Grayling Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":19.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10459967,"projectId":10137581,"letterContent":"My students have been able to use these resources for hands-on learning that makes science feel exciting and real. My fourth graders especially enjoyed learning about electrical circuits by building and testing circuits themselves. They were able to experiment, troubleshoot, and see firsthand how circuits work instead of only learning about them from a textbook.\r\n\r\nWe also incorporated the materials into our STEM forensic science activities. Students learned about fingerprints and even used the button maker to create their own fingerprint buttons. They were so excited to turn something they learned in class into something they could take home!\r\n\r\nThe students were immediately excited to use the new materials. They loved being able to actually build, test, and create things. The button maker was especially exciting because they could see their work turn into something tangible that they could keep. It made the learning feel more like a real STEM experience. \r\n\r\nWe will continue using these resources for hands-on STEM investigations and forensic science activities. My students will have opportunities to explore how science is used to solve problems, investigate evidence, and understand the world around them. I am excited to continue giving students experiences where they can learn by doing!","fullyFundedDate":1778513325967,"projectUrl":"project/sparking-bright-minds-with-snap-circuits/10137581/","projectTitle":"Sparking Bright Minds with Snap Circuits!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Heavner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10459967_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x322,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1773941543309","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10459967"},{"teacherId":10334679,"projectId":9863327,"letterContent":"I wanted to share the incredible impact your gift had on our classroom this past December. We used \"The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree\" as the foundation for a rigorous, five-day literary unit. Because of your generosity, I was able to keep my students deeply engaged in high-level work during that infamously difficult week before winter break, when holiday excitement usually makes focusing a challenge.\r\n\r\nThis wasn't just \"storytime.\" We treated this book like a masterclass in literature. Our daily routine was intense but rewarding: we studied complex vocabulary, performed choral readings of the text, worked through partner rereads, and held whole-class discussions. Every day ended with an individual written response where students had to defend their ideas with specific text evidence and practice our grade-level writing standards.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the week, the students hadn't just read the story—they had truly dissected it. Here are a few things they mastered:\r\n\r\nAuthor's Craft: Students identified how Gloria Houston used Appalachian dialect and vivid imagery to establish the setting and mood. \r\n\r\nCharacter Motivation: We used the text to track how Ruthie and her mother demonstrated resilience while waiting for Papa's return from the Great War.\r\n\r\nThematic Connections: The class engaged in deep debates to identify core themes like the strength of family and the power of community. I was so proud to see them connecting these themes to other books we've read this year, showing a real ability to think across different pieces of literature.\r\n\r\nThe classroom transformed into a collaborative think-tank. Having enough copies for every student meant they could lean over their desks and excitedly point out details in the illustrations or specific lines of dialogue to support their theories. It was that perfect, rare balance of academic focus and genuine joy.\r\n\r\nBeyond the academics, this project grew our classroom community. Many students shared their own family traditions, making connections between their lives and the story. You helped us prove that we don't have to compromise on rigor to have a meaningful, engaging experience. Thank you for making this possible for my students this year and for many years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1763667619458,"projectUrl":"project/a-perfect-christmas-story-for-every-stud/9863327/","projectTitle":"A Perfect Christmas Story for Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Allen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10334679"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_67495","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":488,"numTeachers":23,"percentFrplEligible":88,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":91,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"5 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"21.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":80.3,"schoolId":67495,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Grayling Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Grayling Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/crawford-ausable-school-district/grayling-middle-school/67495"}