Zuska's Kick-Ass Donor's Choose Challenge

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Over one hundred eighth grade students in my science classes have been able to engage in hands-on science learning thanks to you and your contribution. Because of your help, we received a box after box of science supplies that will serve us throughout the year. The learning that we have been able to engage in with your gift has greatly benefited both my students and me. I am writing to tell you a little more about what we have been able to do with your generous donation. I hope you will accept our deepest thanks.

With the Slinky, my students were able to explore the properties and types of mechanical waves. Seeing a large wave in motion made this branch of physical science come alive. With the plasma globe, students were able to observe the fourth (and often unmentioned) state of matter. Students continue to ask to experience the plasma globe. With the vinegar, food coloring, cornstarch, yeast, and hydrogen peroxide, students were able to experience chemical changes. In basic chemistry, it is very important for students to understand examples of and differences between physical and chemical changes. We were able to perform multiple labs with the supplies that you provided to explore chemistry. And this is only the beginning.

In short, there are a number of connections to content that we will be able to make using the materials purchased with your help. Your donation has made possible many things that before were not possible for our students. Thank you. ”

With gratitude,

Mr. S.

Thank you so much for your support of my project to provide TI-83 calculators to my 7th graders. My students and I are very excited that they have the opportunity to use such high quality resources during my class. Believe me - telling a 7th grader that he or she is using high school level materials makes them feel so empowered! It is wonderful to see them do a math problem and dive for the calculator, which they share with their table, to check their answer!

The calculators that you helped provide not only increase my students engagement in math (what teenager isn't enthralled by technology?), but they are also an incredible tool in calculation and analysis. Because TI-83s display a student's entry on the screen throughout the duration of the problem, my students' calculations are more accurate. Simply put, you are helping my students come up with more correct answers!

Aside from leading to more accurate calculations, the calculators have been most useful during our Algebra and Proportions Units, and they will again be invaluable when we start our Graphing Unit in just a few weeks. For my students, this will be of especial impact. Giving the numbers on the page a visual context through graphing will be incredibly meaningful. I would not be able to provide my students as rich of an exposure without your help and support.

Thank you again for your generosity. My students and I very much appreciate your supporting their learning!”

With gratitude,

Ms. D.

Thank you once again for your invaluable contribution to my classroom. These calculators are and will continue to help my students with their understanding of mathematics. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for your generous donation.

Upon arrival of these calculators, my students were at once excited to see and use them while completing their assignments. In addition, the calculators could not have come at a better time during the school year. My students were able to concentrate on taking a mandated benchmark exam without having to worry about low batteries, malfunctioning calculators or a shortage of calculators.

Most importantly, I know that these calculators will further help them as the curriculum becomes progressively harder. Soon, the school-issued calculators will be taken way before the school year is out (March), leaving many of my students without access to a calculator. However, because of your generous donation, my classroom will not go without. For me, that means my students will continue to have access to resources and materials that they deserve as high school students in a standard math classroom. For my students, that means access to resources that will aide them in battling a chronic battle with test anxiety that discourages them on a daily basis to perform well on standardized exams.

Without donors like you, I have absolutely no idea how teachers would survive in an education system that makes it difficult for teachers to do their job. I am forever indebted to you for your help.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Saint-Preux

Thank you again for your generous donations. My students have been using your supplies almost every day. We have been using large post-it notes to display student work around the room and to share our problem-solving methods. The markers and colored pencils have come in handy with our logic puzzle unit as students can color-code answers and highlight important information. The measuring tools will be put to use in our next unit when we compare measuring with solving for angles and lengths algebraically. These materials have all enriched the learning going on in my classroom.

Please continue to support classrooms across the nation. Every student deserves the materials to learn.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Thompson

Thank you so much for your generosity. I felt like a child when all of these goodies arrived. All of the math teachers and I were giddy over the cool toys we will get to use this year in Geometry. The 3-dimensional solids will help our students feel Geometry through their fingertips. Being able to pull out the nets for each shape from within the the solid will be even more neat.

My students will also enjoy using the straws, toothpicks, and twine in our polyhedron unit to build the shapes. This will help them master Euler's rule that counts edges, vertices, and faces. Now they will be able to handle, turn, and manipulate the solids as they try to describe and illustrate the shapes in 2-dimensions. Students for years to come will enjoy the tools that you have provided us with.

Please continue to support this cause.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Thompson

until I became a teacher, I never thought much about paper. Now, whether it is figuring out how I'm going to get enough of it or how I'm going to dodge the ball of it flying at my head, paper is always on my mind. And now, because of your generosity, I am able to take some of the time and energy I would have spent figuring out how to find this resource and devote it back to my kids' education. I am so thrilled that you were able to recognize the power of this very un-exciting proposal and know that this will make a huge impact on me and my kids. ”

With gratitude,

Ms. S.