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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!

Help me give my students building tools needed to compete against one another and construct the tallest tower!

  • $997 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 memorable activity is only made possible when I am funded through DonorsChoose.org because I have so many students as a high school teacher that I cannot afford to purchase the quantity of materials necessary to allow their engineering ingenuity to shine. This activity allows students to work in their groups of four to construct the tallest toothpick tower possible with the given materials of gummies and toothpicks. They brainstorm best strategies in creating the base of the tower, and how to build with stability on top of the base.

I love this project so much because I get to see each hand physically involved in the mathematical task - the essence of teamwork.

Students who have failing grades and/or deflated attitudes towards math feel this activity is fun and accessible, so there is optimal engagement from every student. Everyone wants to get their hands dirty. One student helps stabilize the tower by holding a section up, while another reinforces it underneath, while another works on another side of the tower. It is a beautiful example of teamwork, communication, architectural creativity, and execution. The supplies on my wish list like tissues and pencils are supplementary items needed for basic student needs, while the raffle tickets and balloons are for activities we use involving strategy games, probability, and statistics.

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

185 students impacted 3donors

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Snack Jar Fruit Slices Chewy & Gummy Candy, Assorted, 54 Oz. (MYS23911) • Staples Advantage $11.49 25 $287.25
Hygloss 9" Round Balloons, 144 Round, Durable, 9" H, Assorted, 144/Pack • Staples Advantage $22.99 5 $114.95
Staples Double Ticket Roll, 2000/Roll, 2 Rolls/Pack (19164) • Staples Advantage $24.39 4 $97.56
Ticonderoga Wooden Pencils, No. 2 Medium Lead, 72/Pack (13972) • Staples Advantage $16.09 6 $96.54
Ashley Motivation Phrase Mini Whiteboard Erasers, Lightweight, Comfortable Grip, Multicolor, 10/Pack • Staples Advantage $9.89 8 $79.12
Puffs Plus Lotion Facial Tissue, 2-Ply, 124 Sheets/Box, 6 Boxes/Pack (39383) • Staples Advantage $15.69 3 $47.07
Chenille Kraft Company Flat Wood Toothpicks, Natural, 2,500/Pk (3690-01) • Staples Advantage $3.19 5 $15.95

Materials cost

$738.44

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $67.57

3rd party payment processing fee

$11.08

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$847.09

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$149.49

Total project goal

$996.58

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $996.58

2 Donors

-$331.79

Donations toward project cost

-$283.04

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$48.75

match offer

-$663.59

Match offer toward project cost

-$564.05

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$99.54

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$1.20

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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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 Mrs. Mendoza and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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