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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Mendoza from San Diego, CA is requesting classroom basics through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Mendoza is requesting

Race to the Top! Toothpick Towers

My students need toothpicks, DOTS candy, posters, and a variety of writing tools.

  • $919 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Mendoza for her next project!

Help Mrs. Mendoza

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Mendoza for her next project!

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

Dear Donors, MEET MY STUDENTS! They are the most special young men and women to work with. They have the potential to change the world.

I see and hear about many of the struggles that they deal with at such young ages, and I am inspired by their perseverance to come to school everyday, excel, and put forth a positive, hopeful attitude to better the world and community they live in.

Our neighborhood specifically deals with a large student population who crosses the Mexican border everyday in order to attend school because the cost of living in Tijuana is much cheaper than the U.S. These are United States citizens who cannot afford the cost of living or health care in the United States, so they spend hours commuting every single day. Many of the students at our school from both sides of the border come from large families who struggle to make ends meet. Regardless of these setbacks, my students are bright, motivated, and determined agents of change looking forward to bettering the next generation.

My Project

This project will transform the learning environment into one where every student hand is apart of the learning/building project. This project allows every student a poster to design their plan for building the tallest tower with their team with toothpicks and DOTS candy. The team with the tallest tower after 20 minutes wins! Students brainstorm with their teams what shape will make the strongest foundation for their tower. A circle? A rectangle? A hexagon? Triangle? etc.. They will use pencils, colors, and posters to design/outline their tower before the real building part of the competition starts. After the winning tower is announced, students will each receive a notecard to reflect on what they learned during this activity about team work, architecture, etc. They will also share what they thought went well and did not go well and why. This activity makes such an impact because many at our school share a common dislike for mathematics, especially at the level I teach (Integrated Math II). This activity includes every student no matter how they feel about math. It is something that all students feel they can do, and that is why it is so beautiful to watch one student holding the tower in place while the other three work to reinforce it to keep it standing. This is truly the epitome of team work, character building, and mathematics all in one awesome project!

Mrs. Mendoza Montgomery High School Grades 9-12

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 Mrs. Mendoza

San Diego, CA 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

190 students impacted 1donor

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Dots Assorted Fruit Flavored Gumdrops - 6.5 oz. Theater Box (Pack of 4) • Amazon Business $11.60 20 $232.00
School Smart 1485742 Railroad Board, 6-ply Thickness, 22" x 28", White (Pack of 25) • Amazon Business $24.33 3 $72.99
Best Highlighters (Extra Large 50 Pack) 2 Styles (Large Barrel & Pen Size) in 5 Different Colors in Yellow, Green, Orange, Blue, and Pink - Perfect for Bible Study, Classroom, Students, and Teachers! • Amazon Business $16.99 4 $67.96
AmazonBasics 5 x 8-Inch Ruled White Index Cards, 500-Count • Amazon Business $13.99 4 $55.96
Peacock Premium Coated Poster Board, 22"X28", Light Blue, 25 Sheets • Amazon Business $26.52 2 $53.04
June Gold 72 Mechanical Pencils, 0.9 mm HB #2 Lead, 2 Lead Dispensers /w 160 Refills & 16 Refill Erasers, Break Resistant, Convenient Side Click & Soft Non-Slip Grip • Amazon Business $22.87 2 $45.74
RiteCo 15204 Posterboard/Railroad Board, 4-Ply, 22" x 28", Red (Pack of 25) • Amazon Business $18.73 2 $37.46
Pacon Calendar Weather Pocket Chart (0020800) • Amazon Business $35.94 1 $35.94
Astrobrights Colored Cardstock, 8.5" x 11", 65 lb/176 gsm, "Spectrum" 25-Color Assortment, 75 Sheets (80944-01) • Amazon Business $16.45 1 $16.45
Bic Mechanical Pencils, 40 count, Black barrel with multi color clips • Amazon Business $13.88 1 $13.88
Mr. Sketch Scented Markers, Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, 12-Count • Amazon Business $6.59 2 $13.18
North Star Teacher Resource Multiplication Chart Adhesive Desk Plate • Amazon Business $10.84 1 $10.84
Dixon Ticonderoga Wood-Cased #2 HB Pencils, Box of 96, Yellow (13872) • Amazon Business $10.19 1 $10.19
Elmer's All Purpose School Glue Sticks, Washable, 30 Pack, 0.24-ounce sticks • Amazon Business $7.55 1 $7.55
Royal Plain Round Toothpicks, Pack of 800 • Amazon Business $5.31 1 $5.31

Materials cost

$678.49

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $62.08

3rd party payment processing fee

$10.18

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$780.75

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$137.78

Total project goal

$918.53

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $918.53

1 Donor

-$918.53

Donations toward project cost

-$780.75

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$137.78

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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 Mrs. Mendoza and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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