{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Alex Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":18.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":6983876,"letterContent":"\"Making Our Journey Through VR\" gives my students opportunities to explore places and concepts beyond our classroom. Virtual reality can take them inside a simulated environment, where they can examine structures, observe details, and connect what they see to our STEM lessons. Guided questions and follow-up discussions help students turn those experiences into meaningful learning.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part is the feeling of being inside the experience instead of simply viewing a picture or video. Exploring a virtual location makes room for curiosity, questions, and discoveries that students can share with their classmates.\r\n\r\nVR also offers another way for students to connect with classroom content, especially those who enjoy visual and interactive learning. Students can contribute by describing their observations, asking questions, and connecting the experience to a design challenge. Thank you for helping us bring new opportunities for exploration into our STEM classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1667673635140,"projectUrl":"project/making-our-journey-through-vr/6983876/","projectTitle":"Making Our Journey Through VR","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"},{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":10501099,"letterContent":"\"Print, Cut, Create: Building Our STEM Design Studio\" helps students connect digital design with hands-on creation. Students practice creating graphics, choosing dimensions, and preparing their designs for printing and cutting. This process builds measurement, problem-solving, and technology skills while showing them how an idea becomes a finished product.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting opportunities is seeing a design move from the computer screen into something students can hold and share. Creating items such as stickers, signs, and project displays gives their learning a purpose and encourages them to pay attention to details, test their work, and make improvements.\r\n\r\nThe design studio offers ways for students with different interests to contribute. Students who enjoy art can explore graphic design, while those who like working with technology can help prepare files and operate equipment with guidance. Thank you for helping our students explore their creativity and develop skills connected to design, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship!","fullyFundedDate":1787318841437,"projectUrl":"project/print-cut-create-building-our-stem-de/10501099/","projectTitle":"Print, Cut, Create: Building Our STEM Design Studio","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"},{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":9979073,"letterContent":"\"STEM in Action: Sewing, Flying and Engineering Catapults!\" connects classroom concepts with hands-on experiences. Sewing equipment helps students practice measurement, design, and construction, while drones provide opportunities to explore flight, controls, and responsible technology use. Building catapults allows students to investigate force and motion as they test how design changes affect launch distance and accuracy.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part is seeing their ideas in action—turning a design into a sewn item, controlling a drone, or launching a catapult they built themselves. These activities give students a reason to measure carefully, solve problems, and keep improving their work.\r\n\r\nThe variety of resources gives students with different interests opportunities to participate. Students drawn to fashion and design can explore sewing, those interested in technology can develop drone skills, and students who enjoy building can tackle catapult engineering. Thank you for helping students discover their strengths and connect learning with future possibilities!","fullyFundedDate":1772218261682,"projectUrl":"project/stem-in-action-sewing-flying-and-engin/9979073/","projectTitle":"STEM in Action: Sewing, Flying and Engineering Catapults!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"},{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":9800673,"letterContent":"\"Steady Shots, Creative Minds: Filmmaking in Motion\" is helping my students explore how camera movement and steady footage improve visual storytelling. As they create classroom videos and TSA projects, students practice planning shots, coordinating movement, and evaluating their recordings. These experiences connect technology with creativity while building teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting possibilities is filming smooth, moving shots that bring students' stories to life. Students can experiment with following a subject or moving through a scene, then compare the footage to see how their choices affect the viewer's experience.\r\n\r\nThis technology offers a valuable role for students who enjoy working behind the scenes. Those interested in filming can contribute through camera operation and shot planning, while other students develop their strengths as writers, directors, and presenters. Thank you for helping our students explore their interests and build skills through filmmaking!","fullyFundedDate":1764881517926,"projectUrl":"project/steady-shots-creative-minds-filmmaking/9800673/","projectTitle":"Steady Shots, Creative Minds: Filmmaking in Motion","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"},{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":8565424,"letterContent":"The supplies provided through \"Create and Make with Makerspace\" are giving my students more ways to turn their ideas into hands-on creations. Using pipe cleaners, craft materials, and glue guns with proper safety instruction, students can build models and prototypes while practicing the engineering design process. One project these materials support is a model playground, where students can create structures and explore how to make them stable and functional.\r\n\r\nThe variety of materials invites curiosity and gives students choices in how they approach a challenge. Our makerspace encourages them to experiment, work together, and find creative solutions using everyday supplies.\r\n\r\nOur next step is for students to test their designs, identify areas for improvement, and revise their prototypes. They will share their creations and explain how their material choices helped solve the challenge. Thank you for helping make our makerspace a place where students can imagine, build, and learn!","fullyFundedDate":1723468021163,"projectUrl":"project/create-and-make-with-makerspace/8565424/","projectTitle":"Create and Make with Makerspace","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"},{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":9269031,"letterContent":"The equipment provided through \"Launching Voices: Podcast Equipment for Student Creators\" is helping students build communication and technology skills through school podcasts and the TSA Podcast event. Students research topics, write scripts, practice speaking clearly, record audio, and edit their episodes. They learn how to work as a team and turn their ideas into stories that inform and engage an audience.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part is hearing their voices come together in a finished podcast and sharing their work with others. Our middle school podcasts earned 1st and 2nd in the nation, and our high school podcast earned 5th in the nation! These accomplishments show students what they can achieve through creativity, preparation, and persistence.\r\n\r\nPodcasting offers opportunities for students with different strengths to contribute. Students who enjoy speaking can develop as hosts, while those who prefer working behind the scenes can explore recording and editing. Thank you for providing equipment that helps our students find their voices, build valuable skills, and share their talents on a national stage!","fullyFundedDate":1752586514778,"projectUrl":"project/launching-voices-podcast-equipment-for/9269031/","projectTitle":"Launching Voices: Podcast Equipment for Student Creators","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"},{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":7711129,"letterContent":"The resources provided through \"Hands on Learning in the STEM Lab\" are helping my students turn their ideas into projects they can build, test, and improve. For example, students can use the materials to design and build catapults, exploring how changes to their designs affect launch distance and accuracy. These hands-on challenges connect science and math with creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.\r\n\r\nThe new materials have brought excitement and curiosity into our classroom, giving students more opportunities to explore what they can create. Having supplies available allows them to try different approaches and learn from designs that need improvement.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to test our prototypes, record results, and use that information to make thoughtful changes. Students will share their finished projects and explain what worked, what they changed, and what they learned. Thank you for helping make our STEM lab a place where students can explore, create, and grow!","fullyFundedDate":1693249196350,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning-in-the-stem-lab/7711129/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Learning in the STEM Lab","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"},{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":4935608,"letterContent":"Attending the Paper Mechanics workshop through the Pathfinders Institute gave me new ideas for bringing hands-on engineering into my STEM classroom. I explored how folding, cutting, and connecting paper can create movement and turn simple materials into interactive designs. This experience reinforced how accessible materials can help students practice creativity, problem-solving, and the engineering design process.\r\n\r\nThe highlight for me was seeing the possibilities that a simple sheet of paper can offer. One example I can bring into my classroom is using folded paper mechanisms to create pop-up features in student-designed books. Students can experiment with how the placement and angle of a fold affect movement, then test and revise their designs. This would be a wonderful way to connect engineering with storytelling, especially for students creating children's books.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting this learning opportunity! Your generosity helps me bring fresh ideas and meaningful projects to my students. I am excited to use paper mechanics to encourage them to ask questions, try new approaches, and discover how their ideas can come to life.","fullyFundedDate":1592334480272,"projectUrl":"project/paper-mechanics/4935608/","projectTitle":"Paper Mechanics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"},{"teacherId":5029537,"projectId":8338270,"letterContent":"Through our \"Lights, Camera, Action\" project, the new Canon camera is helping students become creators as they produce vlogs and film TSA projects. Students practice planning scripts, choosing camera angles, recording footage, and editing their work into a clear story. These experiences build communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while introducing them to careers in digital media.\r\nOne of the most exciting opportunities is turning their own ideas into videos they can share with others. The camera gives students a chance to explore different roles, from presenting on screen to directing and filming behind the scenes. Students who are more comfortable behind the camera can contribute through creative shots and careful attention to detail, while those who enjoy speaking can develop their presentation skills.\r\nThank you for giving my students a new way to express themselves and document their accomplishments. Your support helps them build confidence, take ownership of their projects, and learn how to use technology with purpose!","fullyFundedDate":1718042597208,"projectUrl":"project/lights-camera-action/8338270/","projectTitle":"Lights, Camera, Action!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mccauley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5029537_orig.jpg?crop=546,546,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1557330958941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5029537"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_86606","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":200,"numTeachers":15,"percentFrplEligible":88,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":68,"percentIndigenous":5,"percentLatinx":7,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":17,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"13.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":81.1,"schoolId":86606,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Alex Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Alex Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oklahoma/alex-school-district-56/alex-elementary-school/86606"}