You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Smith from SHERMAN OAKS, CA is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Smith is requesting

Attention All Skateboarders: Skateboard Club Needs Help!

My students need balsa wood square strips for framing, balsa wood strips for planking, wood glue, clamping tools, sandpaper and I'll provide the inspiration.

  • $228 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Smith for his next project!

Help Mr. Smith

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Smith for his next project!

My Students

My students are "at risk kids" attending a Title 1 middle school in California. They are great kids. Many of them are English language learners and are several grade levels behind in reading and writing. My students come from a lower socioeconomic background but they have dreams of attending college. Difficult times in life translate to difficult times at school. Middle school isn't anyone best time of their lives. But there is hope.

A skateboard club at lunch where students can feel included might be the only reason these kids come to school.

I noticed these kids always playing with little skateboards with their fingers. I had an idea. Build a ramp with them and teach them engineering skills. Skateboards are filled with physical science concepts. When they're at skateboard club I can talk to them about life choices that might keep these kids out of trouble.

My Project

I'm trying to start a skateboard club at my middle school. I remember being a skater when I was in middle school. I loved it with all the passion of a kid discovering something for the first time. Now I have the opportunity as a science teacher to reach out the skateboarding students at my school. I want to create a club to embrace their culture while teaching Next Generation Science Standards in physical science, engineering and design.

Skateboarding is not a crime.

Often, students will ask their teacher, "What is the point of this?" or "Why are we doing this anyway?" They want to know exactly how the material they're learning in class will apply to their everyday lives because, at times, it seems disconnected from what they do. Physical science concepts are often taught quite traditionally in school, isolated from the real world. This is what disconnects the tools and the content from the students' experiences. There is a real need for educators to explore and connect content in an authentic and relatable context for students.

So how can this be of practical use for the educator? Inherently, the teacher has to know the students and recognize their interests. That is the purpose of action science -- to put concepts in physical science into the realm of youth culture, and in effect, to make science approachable, relatable, and (possibly) even cool to learn. I want to teach my students how to make a ramp that they can then use during skateboard club and the materials requested will help me do this.

Mr. Smith Van Nuys Middle School Grades 6-8

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Mr. Smith

SHERMAN OAKS, CA 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

55 students impacted 2donors

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. Smith is requesting.

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Balsa Wood Sheet 36"-1/32"X3" 20 per pack • Amazon Business $33.99 1 $33.99
Midwest Products Hobby & Craft Easy Cutter Ultimate • Amazon Business $23.02 1 $23.02
Thrasher • Amazon Business $18.00 1 $18.00
Midwest Products 6069 Micro-Cut Quality Balsa 36 Inch Strip Bundle, 0.25 x 0.5 Inches • Amazon Business $16.68 1 $16.68
Square Dowel Rods 1/2" x 36" - Bag of 10 • Amazon Business $16.25 1 $16.25
Midwest Products 6066 Micro Cut Quality Balsa Strip Bundle, 0.25 by 0.25-Inch • Amazon Business $15.24 1 $15.24
18 Pieces 400 to 3000 Grit Sandpaper Assortment, Dry/ Wet, 9 x 3.6 Inch, for Automotive Sanding, Wood Furniture Finishing, Wood Turning Finishing • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
Skateboarding: How It Works (The Science of Sports (Sports Illustrated for Kids)) • Amazon Business $7.95 1 $7.95
TEKTON 39180 Mini 6-Inch by 1.5-Inch Ratchet Bar Clamp and 9-Inch Spreader • Amazon Business $4.99 1 $4.99
Gorilla Wood Glue, 8 oz. • Amazon Business $3.44 1 $3.44

Materials cost

$147.55

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $13.50

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.21

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$193.26

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$34.10

Total project goal

$227.36

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $227.36

2 Donors

-$227.36

Donations toward project cost

-$193.26

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$34.10

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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 Mr. Smith and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"CA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"his","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":3,"name":"Middle School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/attention-all-skateboarders-skateboard/2241235/","mayHaveReplacements":true,"numStudents":55,"teacherScreenName":"Mr. Smith","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"990916545","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"schoolCity":"SHERMAN OAKS","teachersOnPage":[1786701],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":2241235,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"authorIds":{"1786701":{"owner":"Mr. Smith","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[2241235],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1786701_272x272.jpg?width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1474596679494","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":344783,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["NDUzNjgx","Mzc3MTk4Mw=="],"teacherId":1786701,"schoolCounty":"Los Angeles","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"CA","name":"California"}}