Mrs. Tolley's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 40

• I Can See Clearly Now!

  Funded Nov 9, 2023

  My students were thrilled to receive new safety glasses AND a cleaning station. Sharing glasses can be a bit "yucky" so the ability to clean and disinfect is huge, especially now when the flu is so prevalent.

  The laboratory kits are just a huge boost to my curriculum. I have a paper activity that is very engaging and I even bring in some pain killers for the students to mass and view. That all pales by comparision to actually preparing "fresh" aspirin. Even better, this kids allows my students to make the correlation between willow bark and the Native American tribes that lived in our area and pain relief. It's exciting to verify that this product is indeed aspirin and compare it to expired aspirin chemically.

  As a teacher, the most profound impact is that my students become aware of the support they receive from people they don't know. In an area where funding is minimal this support is so very appreciated. My students need to know that society is waiting for them to leave their mark and willing to help them do so.

  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

  This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors & Young Sheldon on CBS and 8 other donors.

• Appalachian Food Chemistry

  Funded Apr 28, 2021

  Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn more about food chemistry and it's application to the food we eat!

  We read the book with the idea of making projects involving food. Unfortunately, COVID-19 made us wait until next year to actually cook. I cannot wait to implement the full project this year. My students have read and created projects. They actually made their projects at home but couldn't share. The lab reports are minimal and fun!

  Thank you for letting us create this project and relate it to our own heritage!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 7 other donors.

• Virus Free Calculations!

  Funded Apr 28, 2021

  Thank you. I am uncertain of words to convey the impact this project had on me and more importantly my students.

  We are weary this year. It's been hard on me and very, very hard on the children that I teach. We clean everything all the time. I don't recognize them if I see their whole face. We cannot do normal things.

  Then in comes an amazing lamp. It was the first thing we "got going." It may seem small (it is) but it allows us to darken our room and see beautiful colors in our flames. It brightens with a simple touch so we can safely maneuver. It is also quite beautiful ina modern, techy way.

  A student from last year hooked up the DVD player after delivering it to my room. He was excited for this year's group to watch the Haber movie. I'm not a huge player of videos so the ones I show are memorable. I've already used the DVD player. You could've heard a pin drop as we watched Fritz Haber move from celebrations for life saving processes into the world of chemical weaponry that killed so many Jewish people. It is powerful...you gave that to "my kids."

  Lastly, the calculators...the tools of our trade. My students are often poor and to have access to the "fancy" calculators brought smiles and a renewed determination.

  Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

  This classroom project was brought to life by Suddenlink and one other donor.

• A Safe Chemistry Classroom

  Funded Feb 13, 2021

  Thank you so much! My students were thrilled to receive the materials,,,we set up cleaning stations and paper supplies. We've been avoiding touching EVERYTHING got a year. These supplies help me teach scientific principles to all levels of students.

  We are using the resources wisely! Intensely aware of our purpose, we used the cleaning supplies for many labs since we are now able to complete laboratory experiments rather than diy enforcement duty?

  My students also work together to help complete chemistry!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Board in honor of Jonathan Alter and 3 other donors.

• Appalachian Food Chemistry

  Funded Sep 17, 2020

  I'm not sure what reading in a chemistry class should look like! What I know is this book will enhance our unit on chemical reactions and heats of reactions.

  This book also allows us to embrace the culture of food where we live. Expounding upon a commonality and explaining chemistry through that norm makes the "lesson" more personal. More personal is more attainable.

  It also allows me to reach out to many students who are stuck at home in this COVID crisis! Thank you for helping me!

  My students are so supported by your generosity and by your support of their educational experiences.

  Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 8 other donors.

• Basics and Beyond

  Funded Apr 17, 2020

  COVID-19 has turned our classrooms inside out. My students were scheduled to be in my classroom today but alas we are remote due to an uptick in cases.

  I will be sending out many of the items from this project for my students to do as we come together online. I know that the projects are fun ways to jump start their brains for critical thinking.

  Thank you so much for believing in hands on instruction and for having faith in my students. Your donations have increased the productivity of my students and their sense of place in our world.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

• Putting a Sparkle on Chemical Reactions!

  Funded Dec 31, 2019

  For high school chemistry students laboratory based assignments often ease the stress of intense calculations. These labs will allow my students to create truly beautiful crystals. Although the will see an immediate reaction, the crystals actually grow over time and add interest to our classroom. My students often bring in underclassman to see their crystals and explain how to make them.

  I so appreciate the care and interest you've shown for my students. Often the feel isolated and by demonstrating your understanding of the possibilities that lie in Room 211 you have bolstered their self-esteem and punctuated the importance of science in today's world!

  I thank you very sincerely!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

  This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 2 other donors.

• Thinking Critically Outside the Bauxite

  Funded Dec 3, 2019

  Thank you!

  I'm not sure you can tell from the pictures because my students really "got into" this lab. Every single item that was purchased was used repeatedly. This lab will reach hundreds of students.

  Normally I write impact letters about your kindness because we all appreciate your generosity. This time is like to tell you about the lesson. This was published on the ACS site and I tweaked it just a little to fit our area...we live in a huge coal state and so rocks and minerals quickly grab our kids attention. I'm not sure I've done a lesson that promoted such great questioning from my students. They did independent research because they wanted to!!! They are already referring back to where we get copper, aluminum and other minerals.

  Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 3 other donors.

• Tools for Hard Work

  Funded Jul 20, 2019

  Thank you for sponsoring the MOST practical, useful project that I've posted for my class.

  Not only were my students thrilled to see (and HEAR) the towels and speakers my colleagues were so excited that they started writing projects too! The speakers are amazing. Even in the back corner of my room the sound is clear and crisp.

  This week we will start using our paper towels and ink for laboratory reports and lab cleanup.. Even though the lab is a basic "getting started" lab my students are excited to get into the laboratory portion of this chemistry class!

  Thank you for your donation but also for supporting my students and letting them know that there are adults who care!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley

  This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 3 other donors.

• OK! What Does That Really Mean?

  Funded Jun 3, 2019

  We are just returning to school and my students are so enthusiastic about being able to work cooperatively, in stations on extremely difficult concepts.

  Thank you for letting us start our year off with a bang! Building enthusiasm and engagement is much easier with projects designed to make students think!

  Further, hands on activities help students remember what they're learning! They have a basis to establish new knowledge to the laboratory investigations! Categorizing helps memory. I'm all about memory because that's how I get 5s from my students on. The AP Environmental Science exam!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Tolley