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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Kalachek from Saint Louis, MO is requesting other through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Kalachek is requesting

Games for Our Brains: Creative Genius at Play

My students need games that build strategic thinking and cooperative teamwork. Multiple copies of chess, Mancala, Connect Four, Banagrams are needed in every room.

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Kalachek's classroom raised $2,452

This project is fully funded

My Students

We need board games donated to our arts school for our Learning Lab time. Games? Yes, games can help foster socialization, build community, and provide “unofficial” learning. In a school where "Creative Genius" is the motto, games are how we roll.

According to the numbers, the students at my school are 64.5% African American, 27.5 % white and 8% "other".

What the numbers don't tell you is that we are 100% artists. We value creativity and expression and are non-traditional thinkers. Our school is a newer charter arts school in the city of Saint Louis, MO. While we are in a city that has recently been through tough times, our school is a place that has a positive spirit due to its diversity and community of artists. Learning lab is a designated time in every student’s day for catching up on work, but many students have free time on their hands. Offering higher-level thinking games during these times because we would be able to do something fun, have a chance to relieve stress from our school day, and interact with other students we may not know very well.

My Project

Have you ever seen a high school students in their free moments, a cell phone will most likely be involved. We would like to offer an alternative to these moments and offer students the opportunity to play games that build strategic thinking and encourage socialization. By having games accessible during students' Learning Lab time, students will be able to practice and learn the games of Chess, Mancala, Banagrams, and Taboo. These games are actually "learning in disguise" as they encourage literacy, critical thinking skills, and good sportsmanship.

Students who are engaged in games are focused, thinking, having fun and engaging with each other.

The donation of games will enhance our school community profoundly because they offer students something to do in this short span of time of Learning Lab and other than escaping to one's cell phone. Donations will also reinforce the message of stepping up to fix our problem. Procuring board games was originally a student's idea.

Mrs. Kalachek Grand Center Arts Academy Grades 9-12

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Saint Louis, MO View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

750 students impacted 2donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Bananagrams • Amazon Business $14.95 20 $299.00
Funnybone Toys / Disruptus - An Award Winning Game Designed to Open Every Mind • Amazon Business $26.50 10 $265.00
Qwirkle Board Game • Amazon Business $22.95 10 $229.50
Circa Shut the Box • Amazon Business $18.73 10 $187.30
Guesstures Game • Amazon Business $16.99 8 $135.92
Clue The Classic Edition • Amazon Business $16.41 8 $131.28
5 Second Rule - Just Spit it Out! • Amazon Business $15.27 10 $152.70
Connect 4 Twist and Turn Action Game • Amazon Business $13.99 10 $139.90
Family Classic Chess • Amazon Business $12.99 10 $129.90
Curses • Amazon Business $21.00 5 $105.00
Mancala - Real Wood Folding Set • Amazon Business $9.67 10 $96.70
Anarchy in the Monarchy Card Game • Amazon Business $11.95 5 $59.75
Set: The Family Game of Visual Perception (Cover art may vary) • Amazon Business $10.14 5 $50.70
Jenga Classic Game • Amazon Business $8.68 3 $26.04
Scattergories: The Card Game • Amazon Business $14.88 1 $14.88

Materials cost

$2,023.57

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$30.35

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$2,083.92

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$367.75

Total project goal

$2,451.67

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $2,451.67

2 Donors

-$2,451.67

Donations toward project cost

-$2,083.92

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$367.75

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Kalachek and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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