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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. James from Charlotte, NC is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. James is requesting

Physical Science: Zoom, Zoom

My students need 6 mechanical dot cars to learn how to illustrate the motion of an object using a graph to show a change in position over a period of time.

  • $483 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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Help Ms. James

My Students

How can I make physical science meaningful and fun for my fifth grade students? I use toys. For this project I want to use a sophisticated toy called a dot car. It Illustrates the motion of an object using a graph to show a change in position over a period of time.

My school, a Pre K - 8th grade school, is one of the highest poverty schools in my school district.

I teach science to fifth and sixth graders. My students participate in a variety of student-centered hands-on activities. Too many of my students are at risk of performing below grade level across subject areas. I am committed to closing the achievement gap for my students. To accomplish this, I offer students an enriched learning environment by integrating science into other subject areas and teaching students to use digital tools to enhance their science learning. My students benefit from using toys to learn science. This project will help me build upon a unit in which students use K'NEX building toys to construct vehicles and then use those vehicles to explore force and motion concepts.

My Project

I am requesting funds to purchase 6 dot cars. These cars record time and distance data as they move. Data is recorded mechanically by making an ink dot on paper at regular intervals. I know if my fifth graders use this "toy" to learn how to measure the motion of an object based on the distance it will travel in a certain amount of time, they will master important state standards related to force and motion. I learned about this teaching tool at a workshop for teachers. Once I used the dot car to deepen my understanding of acceleration, I knew I had to use dot cars with my students. Dot cars are a system that reliably lay down a mark consistent with time intervals. My students will use these dot cars in labs, collect data, and then create lab reports that include data tables and graphs. Now that is STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in action! Imagine fifth graders in a high poverty school participating in that type of learning!

It is not hard for me to imagine because I tell my students frequently that they are worth it.

I just need the resources to continue to make it happen. Yes, I spend a significant amount of my personal funds to make learning come alive for my students, but I also know that I can count on donors like you to help. Zoom, zoom, let's make physical science meaningful for my fifth graders. Like, I always tell my students, they are worth it.

Ms. James Druid Hills Academy Grades 3-5

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

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Ms. James

Charlotte, NC View local requests

More than three‑quarters of 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

60 students impacted 4donors

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
dotcar mechanical • Delta Education $51.50 6 $309.00

Materials cost

$309.00

Vendor shipping charges

$37.08

Sales tax

$24.10

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.64

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$409.82

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$72.32

Total project goal

$482.14

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$482.14

3 Donors

-$221.10

Donations toward project cost

-$204.91

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$16.19

match offer

-$241.07

Match offer toward project cost

-$204.91

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$36.16

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$19.97

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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