This week, we’re helping two Chicago-area classrooms — a first grade that needs a number of supplies, and a middle-school class that wants to build robots. 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, math, and literacy projects for public schools in low-income neighborhoods. As always, our conduit is DonorsChoose, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that facilitates tax-deductible donations to specific, vetted projects in public schools.
About this ongoing effort at DonorsChoose that may interest you:
DonorsChoose wanted to take steps to help schools in Los Angeles impacted by the fires. So, to help area teachers quickly get disaster-recovery supplies they need, they have set up a special fund that they will use to fund such projects, rather than put them out individually to compete for funding. If you would like to donate to this fund, visit its page here.
I’m happy to say we have two new projects this week! Both are in the Chicago area. We once had the comparative luxury of focusing on “red” areas, but at this point, public education is under the gun everywhere and maybe even more so in “blue” places like Chicago, which are being threatened in so many words.
Ms. Clark teaches first grade. She has need of many classroom supplies, including some to help students with both reading and STEM.
PROJECT #1
Resources: Help me give my students materials that are needed to continue learning in the classroom.
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Jefferson Elementary School, Chicago Heights, Illinois
Total: $185.29
Still Needed: $185.29 $120.88
Project description by Ms. Clark: We are looking for some items in our classroom. We are looking for flashlights for our science unit, magnets, alphabet letters for our struggling learners, kinetic sand for students with sensory issues, fillable ornaments that we can use for Christmas presents, ink for our ink pads and stickers for our treasure chest.
Flashlights, magnets, alphabet letters, kinetic sand, fillable ornaments, ink and stickers are some of the supplies that we need in our 1st grade classroom.
Thank you for stopping by and checking out our project. These are some of the needs that we currently need in our classroom. These materials are the things that we run out of the fastest. Thank you for considering our project. We are so blessed to have donors like you.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
Of all the items on the list, I most wanted to show kinetic sand. That stuff is really fun! It’s regular sand with some added dimethicone, a silicone compound that also makes Silly Putty so silly (it’s silly-cone, get it?) YouTube has a seemingly endless supply of ASMR videos of people slicing and smushing shapes made of this stuff. It’s fun to watch even if you don’t get the tingles, if only because the sand comes in so many vivid colors that it’s also a visual treat. At a minimum, this will give you an idea of how the sand behaves and why kids love it.
There's plenty of time to complete this ambitious project. Ms. Abuhabsah-Ghusein teaches middle-school grades in Chicago, and she is determined to give them plenty of background in STEM. Some robot kits will help!
PROJECT #2
Resources: Help me give my students 8 Robot Building Toys to enhance our STEM lessons and make science come alive.
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Dawes Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois
Total: $398.21
Still Needed: $397.04 $332.62
Project description by Ms. Abuhabsah-Ghusein: In today’s world, where information and technology are always changing, it’s very important for students to have a strong understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The National Science Foundation says that improving students' skills in these subjects is essential for future success.
As a teacher, I get to work with a fantastic group of students who are excited about learning.
They make every day enjoyable as we explore new topics together. Even though they come from different backgrounds, and some face financial challenges, they are among the most dedicated and impressive learners I have ever taught.
I am determined to give all my students, no matter their financial situation, the chance to explore the exciting world of STEM. Getting involved with STEM early can open many doors for their future.
The kits we will use are great tools for students to check their progress, see where they can improve, and make their learning experience even better. They will work together to make a robot move. This hands-on activity not only makes learning engaging but also helps students grasp foundational aviation concepts in a tangible way. This will be a great way to learn about STEM.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
I couldn’t find video of the exact kit being requested; this is one by the same manufacturer. “Our” kit can be used to make any of three different robots with light-up eyes, including a scorpion!
Both our projects from last week were completed. Many thanks to our readers for continuing to support public education!
Project #1, Booked for Success: Filling Our Shelves With Stories!: Ms. Gunnoe teaches first grade at a Dallas school, and was hoping to give her students some exciting books to read!
She writes: Dear wonderful donors, A huge thank you for your generous donation of new books for our 1st grade classroom library! Your contribution has filled our shelves with exciting new stories that will spark my students' imaginations and encourage a love of reading. From colorful picture books to engaging tales, each new book is already a hit in the classroom! Because of your support, my students now have more adventures to dive into and more characters to meet. Thank you for helping create a library that will inspire them to read, learn, and dream big!
Project #2, Let's Make Science a Thrilling Ride!: Ms. Iwanonkiw teaches a middle-school grade in Pittsburgh, and hoped to get roller coaster kits, and some related games, to help her class understand force and motion in a way they’ll remember.
She writes: Thank you all so much for your donations! My students are going to be so excited, they keep asking me " when are we gonna build roller coasters"?. I would not have been able to provide my students with this fun learning opportunity, if it wasn't for your generosity and kindness. 💕​ ​ ​ ​ ​
| DonorsChoose has developed the designation Equity Focus Schools to describe some schools that submit projects. They meet two criteria: at least 50% of students are Black, Latinx, Native American, Pacific Islander, or multiracial, and at least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, the standard measure for school economic need. You can read more at the link about their efforts to address the longstanding inequity in education. |
Founded in 2009, The Inoculation Project seeks to fund science, math, and literacy projects in public school classrooms and libraries. Our conduit is DonorsChoose, 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 projects 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 1151! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.
