This week, we’re helping a Philadelphia third grade raise butterflies, and a Georgia elementary classroom do some cool hands-on experiments. 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.
We have a new project today! Ms. Sullo teaches third grade in Philadelphia, and this is a great time of year to give her the butterfly-raising kit she wants and have her class able to release their butterflies outdoors at the end.
PROJECT #1
Resources: Help me give my students a hands on opportunity to observe caterpillars transform into butterflies!
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Robert B Pollock Elementary School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Total: $167.11
Still Needed: $167.11 Completed, thank you! Please consider project #2 below!
Project description by Ms. Sullo: I want to give my third graders the same core memory I have from third grade! I remember being so excited when we grew our very own butterflies, now I want my students to be able to experience that excitement!
My class loves science and is just starting to learn about life cycles and I just know my students would love this hands on experience in learning about the butterfly life cycle.
I want to use the butterfly figures to introduce them to the cycle of life for a butterfly, then I want them to experience it through the butterfly kits. I want each student to have their own butterfly and be able to experience the magic of its life cycle.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
Ever wonder what was going on inside a chrysalis? Here’s the answer!
Last week, we made some progress on this project! Ms. Alexander teaches elementary school in a city in western Georgia, and she has a whole list of cool hands-on science projects she wants her students to be able to do.
PROJECT #2
Resources: Help me give my students a hands-on experience that allows students to directly observe physical and chemical changes in the classroom!
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Hannan Elementary Magnet Academy, Columbus, Georgia
Total: $325.39
Still Needed: $223.48 $53.48
Project description by Ms. Alexander: The primary goal of this project is to help students develop a deeper understanding of chemical and physical changes by actively participating in experiments. We need glue, dish soap, yeast, and more! These activities will showcase how substances react when mixed, the energy released or absorbed, and the new properties they exhibit. Through this, students will grasp key scientific concepts.
Engaging activities like elephant toothpaste and slime-making are fantastic hands-on experiences because they allow students to directly observe both chemical and physical changes in real time.
In both activities, students can see cause and effect—how manipulating substances at the molecular level results in observable changes—and better grasp the difference between chemical and physical changes. These experiences help make abstract scientific principles more concrete and relatable!
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
If you are not familiar with “slime”, then a) you have not been in grade school recently, and b) unlike Ms. Alexander, you must not have a good recipe for it. Well then, you’re in luck!
Our project #1 from last week was completed, after a month of effort on the part of our fabulous readers — thank you!
Project #1, English Language Made Fun With Beautiful Pictures and Books!: Mrs. Mikovich teaches elementary school in Erie, in the far northwest corner of Pennsylvania. She needed materials to help her many English language learners.
She writes: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know my students will enjoy, and benefit from, this project. I can’t wait to share all of the materials with them and to watch them learn and grow. Your donation will be put to use with hundreds of children who are learning English. Your generosity is much appreciated.
We also have a note to share from a project completed a couple of weeks ago, where the timing was wrong for us to catch it last week.
Stocking Our Classroom for Success!: Mrs. Ables teaches 5th-grade special education in a mid-Mississippi town. She needed an extensive list of supplies to support her efforts to help her students with reading.
She writes: Thank you so much for bringing our project to life! Your support means the world to me and to the amazing 5th-grade readers in my resource classroom. Because of your generosity, we now have the essential school supplies that will help my students stay organized, focused, and excited about learning every day.
These materials will directly impact how my students engage with reading—giving them the tools and confidence they need to grow as independent learners. Your kindness is helping to create a supportive, enriching environment where every child can thrive. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
| 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 1162! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.
