This week, we're helping to provide hands-on materials for lessons that focus on environmental science in rural schools: vermicomposting in a Michigan high school and establishing a recycling program at a high school in Alabama’s black belt.
We hope that readers who support quality public school education will help these teachers and students 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.
We’re beginning new projects this week, and I’ve chosen to focus on a couple of projects that are eligible for a Rural Environmental match: Donations to this project are now being matched, thanks to support from UPS Foundation. Since 2008, the UPS Foundation has provided more than $1.7 million in grants to support a variety of environmental programs and organizations worldwide. These grants supported tree planting, conservation efforts, youth education, and volunteerism. The Foundation is excited to help fund projects in rural communities.
I’m not sure why this teacher didn’t use any exclamation points, but it’s still a great, well-rounded project! According to Wikipedia, “Oscoda is notable for being featured in the 2002 documentary film Bowling for Columbine, in a scene where Michael Moore interviews two young residents in a local pool and billiard parlor.”
MAIN PROJECT
Resources: Help me give my students all of the necessary materials for vermicomposting including the enclosure and worms to get us started. This kit also contains all the media the worms need and a guide for students.
Economic need: More than three-quarters of students from low‑income households
Location: Oscoda Area High School, Oscoda, Michigan
Total: $186.99 (half with matching offer)
Still Needed: $186.99 Completed, thank you!
Teacher’s Comments from Mr. McDougall:
My Students: We live in a small school district in Northeastern Michigan. My students come from an impoverished, rural area where the unemployment rate is one of the highest in the state. While we live in a beautiful area with many resources, few students have an opportunity to appreciate or learn how to best utilize these resources. It is my hope that my students (in grades 7-12) will come to gain that understanding through this project. I believe that my students can have a positive impact on our community and it's future.
My Project: This composting kit will allow my students to learn about growing food in a sustainable way while reducing their impact on the environment.
First, students will see how we can reduce our waste through composting.
We will combine our composting with an inventory of our food usage at lunch as a building.
Second, we will use the compost to grow vegetables in our garden so that we can learn about healthy food options. Area producers can help us learn more about locally sourced foods.
Finally, we can use the worms we raise to see the economic benefits of green technology.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
This never-before-funded teacher also seems to think there’s a shortage of exclamation points!!
Fun fact: This school is located in Perry County, which voted to establish Barack Obama Day as a legal holiday. Barack Obama Day is celebrated on the 2nd Monday of November every year.
According to the 2010 Census, “The median income for a household in the county was $20,200, and the median income for a family was $26,150. Males had a median income of $26,272 versus $16,839 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,948. About 31.20% of families and 35.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.90% of those under age 18 and 25.80% of those age 65 or over.”
LONG-TERM PROJECT
Resources: Help me give my students recycling containers so that they will have the opportunity to be one of the first black belt schools to implement a recycling a program.
Economic need: Nearly all students from low‑income households
Location: Francis Marion School, Marion, Alabama
Total: $858.96 (half with matching offer)
Still Needed: $858.96 Completed, thank you!
Teacher’s Comments from Mr. James:
My Students: My high school math students are from one of the poorest counties in Alabama, but that does not stop them from dreaming big. They are passionate, energetic, and hilarious, keeping me on my toes with their thoughts and questions.
To make their dreams a reality, we have a long way to go.
The list of opportunities we have to assist them on this journey is long, and many of their needs other schools may take for granted. Thankfully, this allows us to do a lot with a little.
Each day, my students are striving to adopt a growth mindset allowing them to stand up to the task of getting college and career ready in a few short years. With your help, these students with great opportunity can reach their potential.
My Project: My students knew very little about recycling at the beginning of the school year. What's the difference between trash and a recyclable? Why can't this go in that container? Why should we care? These questions came as no surprise as very few counties in Alabama have recycling programs, ours included.
Having created "recycling" corners in multiple classrooms around campus, we want to take the next step in creating a more sophisticated recycling program.
With this project, we will be able to place recycling containers in high traffic areas such as the cafeteria, basketball gym, and walkways as well as in classrooms that already recycle. In addition, we will support these containers with signs with information about recycling as well as a school-wide and in-classroom review of why this program matters.
We have a huge opportunity to be one of the only schools in the black belt to actually recycle and develop a group of environmental stewards in our students. This is just the first step on a long road of creating a sustainable recycling program here, and we hope you will help us in getting off the ground.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
Thanks to a huge assist from our generous donors, both of last week’s projects were completed! Here’s the thank you note from the North Carolina middle school teacher:
Thank you all for your donations! My students will greatly appreciate your generosity and will make great use of the robotic set. As a computer/technology teacher in a rural school district, new technology is hard to come by. With your help and generosity, my students will now have access to the technology they need to learn the 21st century skills needed to be successful in today's job market.
With gratitude,
Mr. Byers
And the thank you note from the South Carolina high school teacher:
Thank you! This is an awesome present for the holidays. As soon as we get the tool chest, we will fill it with our bits and bolts and send you all a photo. I am glad there are many generous and enthusiastic people to support our team. Often teachers feel isolated in our passion for our students and this really cheered me up after a hard day. Thank you for believing in us.
With gratitude,
Ms. Butler
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 705! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.org.