Ms. Martinez's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 78

• Refrigerator For Science Lab Experiments

  Funded Oct 1, 2024

  I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous contribution to our 3rd-5th grade science lab. Thanks to your support, we were able to acquire a refrigerator, which has quickly become an invaluable tool for our students' hands-on learning experiences.

  One of our most exciting lessons so far was making butter from heavy cream. This activity allowed students to dive into the science of matter and molecular composition. We explored how vigorous shaking of the cream separated its components—fats, proteins, and water—to create butter. The lesson also introduced students to emulsifiers and how they stabilize mixtures like cream.

  We discussed how milk is not just made up of fats and proteins but also sugar molecules, specifically lactose. This sparked a fascinating conversation about lactose intolerance and how some people's bodies cannot fully process lactose. Students made real-world connections, sharing their knowledge of family members or friends who are lactose intolerant. These connections made the science personal and engaging.

  When the refrigerator first arrived, the students were ecstatic. "This feels like a real science lab now!" they exclaimed. It has already played a critical role in keeping materials fresh and enabling experiments like this one to succeed. It was an unforgettable moment to watch their faces light up with excitement as they shook their jars and saw the butter form.

  Looking ahead, we plan to continue exploring food science and the molecular properties of everyday materials. Next, we'll study how temperature affects the states of matter, conducting experiments with freezing, melting, and other transformations using the refrigerator.

  Your generosity has done more than provide equipment; it has inspired a new level of curiosity and enthusiasm in our students. Thank you for helping us create a space where they can learn, explore, and connect science to their daily lives.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• Hygiene Products Needed: S.O.S

  Funded Oct 25, 2024

  Thank you so much for your generosity in funding this project. I teach Science to all 3rd through 5th-grade classes, and many of my students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds. As they undergo hormonal changes, they often lack essential hygiene and personal care products. I've seen students with chapped, bleeding lips, dry, cracking hands, and strong body odor.

  In the past, I would take students aside for private conversations, encouraging them to ask their parents to buy items like lip balm, hand lotion, or deodorant. Unfortunately, many students' parents were unable to provide these products, so I often purchased them myself from the dollar store.

  Thanks to your support, my students can now request what they need, write their names on a sign-out sheet, and check out products from a designated area in the back of the room called the Body Shop, with no questions asked. This allows my students to know that my classroom is a safe space where they can address their hygiene needs without fear, in addition to participating in class during Science instruction.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

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

• Incubation Supplies Needed: Life Cycle of a Chicken

  Funded May 7, 2024

  Thank you so much for generously funding this project. Your support has provided both students and adults with a unique learning experience. I initially created this project for my 3rd-grade students. One of the Amplify units for this grade level requires students to learn about the life cycle of organisms. I purchased mealworms to demonstrate their transformation into darkling beetles. However, nothing compares to the experience my students have had watching the eggs go through their 21-day gestation period and hatch into baby chicks.

  Although the incubator and brooder were intended to teach my third graders about the life cycle of chickens, all my students have been mesmerized by the baby chicks. So far, my students have witnessed two of the six eggs hatching. They have learned that not all eggs survive the incubation process and have also practiced candling to check for signs of life inside the eggs. Your funding has allowed my students to experience something they would never have had the opportunity to do otherwise. We hope that one more egg will hatch soon. Thank you again for your support!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

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

• STEAM Ahead With Keva Planks, Plus Plus, and LEGO.

  Funded Aug 14, 2024

  Thank you very much for funding this project for my students. In today's world of technology, many of my students spend countless hours engaged with technology and playing online games. As a science teacher, I create opportunities for my students to collaborate in planning, designing, and building objects using Keva planks, Plus Plus, and Legos. They become very excited when I allow them to use these materials. Notably, students who are usually easily distracted become focused and engaged in their building tasks.

  A couple of days ago, one of my recently immigrated students was thrilled to have the opportunity to build with Legos. He carefully examined the instruction manual while working to create a small truck. He was fully engaged, and it was evident that he felt competent in this task.

  Having students work with these materials aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for engineering.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.

• Gloves, Gloves, Gloves for Science Lab

  Funded May 24, 2024

  Thank you so much for the gloves. They were so needed. Often when doing hands-on experiments with several classes, a box of gloves can be used completely in one day. We also use gloves daily to wipe down all 32 desks every morning. Students must learn through exploration, but it is also important that they stay clean and safe. Thank you again for supporting this project and allowing students to continue to learn authentically and more naturally, while simultaneously keeping to our Science lab safety guidelines.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• Presentation Boards: Science Fair Projects

  Funded Jan 13, 2024

  I acknowledge the following text:

  Thank you for your generous donation of presentation boards. With your help, I was able to provide 50 presentation boards to students and parents who were facing financial difficulties. The recipients were very grateful for your support and contribution.

  Despite the Science Fair Projects being held a month earlier than last year, the event was still a great success. Additionally, this year, all projects had to relate to the earth and environmental issues, as part of a District thematic challenge.

  I am grateful for your kindness and generosity, which played a vital role in making this year's Science fair a success.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

  This classroom project was brought to life by Someone who cares about New York City and one other donor.

• Hooray for Smelly Smencils!

  Funded Feb 23, 2024

  Thank you very much for your ongoing generosity and for supporting my Smencils project. The students were thrilled when the Smencils arrived, and they have already gone through our second Smencil bin. Smencils are in high demand and were especially popular with the 3rd graders who had never seen them before. As I usually teach 4th and 5th grades, this year I had to step in as the 3rd grade Science teacher due to budget cuts. The students were unfamiliar with Smencils at first, but now they understand how to earn them and are eager to do so.

  I deeply appreciate your support for my students. They inspire me every day, and I will always strive to meet their needs.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• A Lamination Machine needed ASAP

  Funded Jan 24, 2024

  Thank you for sending the lamination machine. It was delivered on February 9, 2024, in the afternoon. The custodian informed me that he received it and will set it up next week.

  This machine will be a great asset to our school community. Teachers will now be able to laminate their charts, which will be particularly helpful for visual learners. Laminated anchor charts are a valuable resource for student learning, allowing them to refer back to content and/or concepts from previously taught lessons.

  Also, by laminating charts and student work, they can be preserved for several years. This saves valuable time for teachers who would otherwise have to redo charts multiple times. Moreover, by laminating student work, teachers can preserve student work samples. Teachers often use student work samples as a way of modeling assignment expectations for students.

  Overall, the lamination machine will have a positive impact on our school community.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• Young Food Scientists in the Making

  Funded Oct 11, 2023

  Thank you so much for supporting this project. At our school, we use the Amplify Curriculum. It is a great program. One of the Units for my 5th-grade students is that they act as Food Scientists. I want to make this unit engaging and a memorable experience for my students. This year I asked for materials that would allow my students to mix ingredients together so that they could see what types of food matter blend together and what ingredients do not mix. Hopefully, I will be able to engage my students in this unit by making different recipes whether they require baking or not.

  My ideas for different activities for my students would not be possible if it were not for your generous donation to my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

  This classroom project was brought to life by Young Sheldon on CBS and one other donor.