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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Smith from SHERMAN OAKS, CA is requesting art 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 square dowel rods for framing, Popsicle sticks and plywood strips for planking, hot glue guns and glue and I'll provide the inspiration.

  • $212 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

OneMy students are "at risk kids" attending a Title 1, middle school in California. They are great kids. My students come from a low, socioeconomic background but they have dreams of attending college. Difficult times in life translate to difficult times at school. Middle school isn't anyone's best time of their lives but there is hope.

A skateboard club at lunchtime, 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 and Skateboard Club was born. I build ramps 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 started 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 have created 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, relateable, 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 such as a glue gun, plywood, craft sticks and dowel rods 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 11donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
AdTech Ultra Low-Temp Cool Tool | Mini Hot Glue Gun for Safe Crafting | Children and Kids | Item #05690 • Amazon Business $5.88 5 $29.40
Midwest Products 5240 Birch Plywood, 1/64 x 12 x 24-Inch • Amazon Business $28.42 1 $28.42
5 mm 1/4" X 12" X 12" Premium Baltic Birch Plywood - B/BB Grade - 8 Flat Sheets By Woodpeckers • Amazon Business $24.99 1 $24.99
3 mm 1/8" X 10" X 10" Premium Baltic Birch Plywood – B/BB Grade - 8 Flat Sheets By Woodpeckers • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Popsicle Sticks, 1000 Piece, 4-1/2" Length, FDA Approved Food Grade Wooden Ice Cream Sticks, Great Bulk Sticks for Crafts, By Fedmax. (1000 Piece) • Amazon Business $13.89 1 $13.89
Woodpeckers® Square Dowel Rods 1/4" X 36" (10 Pack) • Amazon Business $12.67 1 $12.67
Surebonder 40 Piece 4" Mini Cool Shot Glue Sticks • Amazon Business $9.15 1 $9.15

Materials cost

$135.51

Vendor shipping charges

FREE

Sales tax

$12.40

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.03

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$179.94

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$31.75

Total project goal

$211.69

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$211.69

1 Donor

-$211.69

Donations toward project cost

-$179.94

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$31.75

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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