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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Reeves from Chicago, IL is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Reeves is requesting

Chromatography of Autumn Leaves

My students need mortars and pestles, and chromatography paper, along with posters of plant cells.

  • $211 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Reeves for her next project!

Help Ms. Reeves

My Students

All leaves are green in the summer. So why are they different colors in the fall? My students study photosynthesis and the making of chlorophyll that the book says "hides" the other colors. But as we all know, seeing is believing. And scientific inquiry drives the lessons.

Our math and science school is located in a low income area of a large urban center in Illinois.

Our state is in a budget crisis and there is no money for schools. Our student population is quite transient (a homeless shelter is across the street) so students come to us with varying degrees of scientific knowledge."Scientists seek the truth" is our mantra. We teachers encourage our students to question and explore to find answers that satisfy them, regardless of the boundaries of available equipment and supplies.

My Project

The leaves in this part of the US do turn beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow as the weather turns cooler. This inquiry was suggested by an 8th grade student. He asked if grinding leaves into pulp and adding a little alcohol would create a solution that could then be tested with the capillarity action of chromatography paper. Would doing that with green leaves, he asked, show the separation of the pigments hidden by the chlorophyll?

This question really blew me away, and I am anxious to let the entire 8th grade give the experiment a try.

It is heartening to a teacher to see a student apply the skills and encouragement we have been teaching. By helping us find the answer to this question, you can share in that heartening feeling.

Ms. Reeves Claremont Academy Elementary School Grades 6-8

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

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 Ms. Reeves

Chicago, IL 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

32 students impacted 1donor

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
MORTAR/PESTLE ECONOMY 300ML • Frey Scientific, Inc. $6.80 8 $54.40
PAPER STRIP CHROMATOGRAPHY .75''X6'' PK/50 • Frey Scientific, Inc. $4.10 1 $4.10
Posters: Cells Set/10 • Sargent-Welch $76.28 1 $76.28

Materials cost

$134.78

Vendor shipping charges

$7.02

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.02

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$178.82

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$31.56

Total project goal

$210.38

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$210.38

1 Donor

-$210.38

Donations toward project cost

-$178.82

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$31.56

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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