This week, we’re helping an Albuquerque fourth grade that needs some enticing books, and a North Carolina high school chemistry class that hopes to model molecules. 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 two new projects this week!
In Albuquerque, Ms. Smestad wants her fourth grade classroom to have several popular book series, as well as some other supplies her school can’t provide.
PROJECT #1
Resources: Help me give my students a fun functioning classroom with books to read in clean comfy areas.
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Hawthorne Elementary School, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Total: $280.73
Still Needed: $280.73 $216.32
Project description by Ms. Smestad: Our classroom is in need of the Wild Robot book set so that each year that I teach I don't have to keep checking it out from the library. The pillow is a funny addition to the order that plays on the way students talk to each other (and teachers) as well as the importance of showing their work when doing math. This class loves art and our older set of paint markers are drying out. Lastly, our school has run out of disinfecting wipes and so our classroom needs more so that we can remain clean and as germ-free as possible.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
As often happens, the requested Wild Robot book series is so popular that it recently became an animated movie, with a rather distinguished cast of voice actors including Lupita Nyong'o as the robot. This is a bit longer video than I usually post here, in which the actors speak about the movie and their experiences in making it.
Our new project #2 is, as is our custom, quite ambitious, but with ample time to get it finished before its deadline. Mrs. Reel teaches high school in a small North Carolina town, and she needs some kits that will allow her chemistry students to build models of molecules.
PROJECT #2
Resources: Help me give my students the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of chemistry through hands-on learning by enhancing their understanding of atoms and molecules.
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: North Pitt High School, Bethel, North Carolina
Total: $668.36
Still Needed: $561.86 $497.45
Project description by Mrs. Reel: I love how my students come to class with a natural curiosity about the world around them. Their eagerness to ask questions and explore new concepts makes teaching a rewarding experience. Resources like the YOPAY Molecular Model Kit tap into that curiosity by allowing them to physically manipulate and explore the structure of molecules, facilitating a deeper understanding of chemistry concepts. My students have varied learning styles, from visual learners to hands-on learners. The molecular model kit caters to these diverse preferences by providing a tactile, visual tool for understanding complex topics. This resource helps all students engage with the material in a way that resonates with them, making learning more effective.
Many of my students have a genuine passion for science, and I enjoy nurturing that enthusiasm.
Resources like the molecular model kit not only make chemistry fun but also inspire a love for the subject that can lead to future academic and career pursuits in science and technology.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
This TED-Ed lesson discusses how we know how molecules are shaped.
Both our projects from last week were completed: many thanks to our amazing readers! I’m especially pleased that we kept after the large second project for the weeks it needed to be completed.
Project #1, Beautiful Butterfly Observations!: Ms. Sullo teaches third grade in Philadelphia, and we thought this would be a great time of year to give her the butterfly-raising kit she wanted and have her class able to release their butterflies outdoors at the end.
She writes: I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity to our Third Grade students! Thanks to you, three classes (90 students!) will be able to enjoy this amazing learning opportunity. Nothing beats the hands on experience our students are about to engage in! This will be an experience they remember for years to come.
Project #2, Chemical Reactions and Physical Transformations: Hands-On STEM Explorations: Ms. Alexander teaches elementary school in a city in western Georgia, and she had a whole list of cool hands-on science projects she wanted her students to be able to do.
She writes: Thank you for your support. Thank you for helping me give my students hands on learning experiences that will last a lifetime. Because of your compassion and help we will be able to see chemical and physical changes /reactions in action! Thank you all so much for your support! Go Hawks!​ ​ ​
| 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 1164! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.
