This week, we’re helping kindergarten teachers — one in North Carolina who needs science lab kits so her class can see how plants and butterflies grow, and one in Texas who needs books by her class’s favorite author. We hope that readers who support quality public school education will help by sharing or supporting our featured projects.
The Inoculation Project is an ongoing, volunteer effort to crowdfund science and math projects for red-state public schools in low-income neighborhoods. As always, our conduit is DonorsChoose.org, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that facilitates tax-deductible donations to specific, vetted projects in public schools.
This project, in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, east of Asheville, will help both kindergarten and first grade students.
MAIN PROJECT
Resources: Help me give my students a butterfly nursery, weather science kit and a See It Grow plant lab.
Economic need: Nearly all students from low‑income households
Location: Old Fort Elementary School, Old Fort, North Carolina
Total: $215.28
Still Needed: $131.46 Completed - thank you!!!
Teacher’s Comments from Mrs. Trembath:
My Students: This year our school is face to face and doing virtual learning. While some are remote, most of my kids are here and full of energy and many different ideas. We are located in a rural section of the most beautiful place in the world. Parents work hard to try to give their students everything they can. Despite the struggles that my students face daily, they push through to climb the mountain of success.
It is my goal that every child enjoys learning and grows to be a very successful citizen.
The best way for this to be done is by including the family in education. It takes a village to raise a child.
My Project: This project will bring science to life for my kindergarten and first grade students. Children at this age need to be able to visually see what is going on. The see it grow and the butterfly kit allows students to see a plants and butterfly's entire life cycle. Students always ask wonderful scientific questions, as all great scientists should. This project would give them the opportunity to find out the answers to some of these questions.
The scientific process will be much more engaging when our students are able to participate and observe first hand butterflies, weather and plants to aid in their learning.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
We made some good progress on this project last week!
LONG-TERM PROJECT
Resources: Help me give my students new books from their favorite author Mo Willems!
Economic need: Nearly all students from low‑income households
Location: Jewel Askew Elementary School, Houston, Texas
Total: $375.74
Still Needed: $277.21 Completed - thank you!!!
Teacher’s Comments from Ms. Arriaga:
My Students: My class is full of gifted and talented kindergartners that are very eager to learn each morning that they walk into our classroom. They come from all different kinds of backgrounds and countries. A lot of them are new to the United States, and they are always excited to experience new things.
Their excitement and curiosity inspire me to make the best educational experience for them each day.
We've created an encouraging little family in our room and work together to learn, grow, and lead.
My Project: One of my favorite things about teaching Kindergarten is the excitement the kids have for literacy. The look on their faces when we read a new book together is priceless. But nothing is better than finding a book that gives them the biggest belly laughs!
Help us build a classroom collection of books by our new favorite funny author, Mo Willems.
The students absolutely love this author and his hilarious books. His books have encouraged my students to read more of his books! Each funny character has helped me teach many different reading comprehension skills. With enough Mo Willems books, we will also be able to do an author study to learn about the author and the characteristics of his book.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
Mo Willems is currently the Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence. He began his career as an Emmy-winning writer and animator on Sesame Street, and has gone on to win Caldecott and other honors. You can read more about him about midway down this page on the Kennedy Center’s site.
Our main project from last week was completed, with a big assist from our readers!
In Robots for Little People, we helped Mrs. Bryant’s St. Louis preschool class with some simple little robots. She wanted to help her students get started understanding how to program the robots to follow a series of instructions.
She writes: Thank you for helping bring coding and Computer Science to St. Louis' youngest learners. This project will engage children to learn coding concepts such as: sequencing, algorithms, loops and logical thought as they play with friends. Their play will involve creative and critical thinking. It is never too early to teach STEM.
Our Dollars at Work
In December, we helped Ms. Pineda’s high school pharmacy tech students in Houston, Texas. They were about to begin their pharmacy externship programs, and they needed new scrubs to wear to work. The project was Smart Scrubs. (More photos at the link.)
Thank you so much for the contribution to our project. Upon the arrival of the scrubs, the students started their practicum training at the pharmacy. They have learned so much already. The students have expressed that they have received a significant amount of support and guidance from their mentors at each location. This on-hands training will help prepare each student for their certification exam this year.
Your contribution has helped our program continue to provide support for our students. Once again, we want to send you many cyber hugs and let you know that we appreciate you so much!
Founded in 2009, The Inoculation Project combats the anti-science push in conservative America by funding science and math projects in red-state classrooms and libraries. Our conduit is DonorsChoose.org, a crowdfunding charity founded in 2000 and highly rated by both Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.
Every Sunday, we focus on helping to fund science or math projects, preferably in neighborhood public schools where the overwhelming majority of students come from low-income households. We welcome everyone who supports public school education — no money is required!
Finally, here’s our list of successfully funded projects — our series total is 879! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.org.