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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Means from La Mesa, CA is requesting lab equipment through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Means is requesting

The Best Classroom Is Roofed by the Sky Pt. 2

My students need tools and materials such as planter boxes, gardening tools, and seating to enhance our outdoor learning environment.

  • $970 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Mrs. Means

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

My Students

My sweet students come from diverse backgrounds and bring a large array of experiences to our room. One thing they all have in common is using their imaginations and creating a happy world within our walls.

Daily, my students overcome a variety of basic challenges - getting breakfast, making it to school, having homework completed.

Our school is a Title I urban school with the most diverse population in our district, serving free or reduced-price lunch to over 80% of our students. School becomes a safe haven for these scholars where expectations are the same every day, and their basic needs are met. While they come to school to learn, they thrive when they are given the opportunity to utilize a variety of resources to make learning real and fun. This is what keeps them coming back and keeps them hooked into learning the rigorous academic standards.

My Project

There are many benefits to children being outside and we live in "Sunny San Diego," so why not take advantage of the beautiful weather we have year round. The quality outdoor learning environment can spark creativity and curiosity through play. Outdoor play also promotes social skills, problem-solving skills, and aides in overall health. I want to provide my students with as many outdoor and natural learning opportunities as possible.

The portable lap desks, kneeling pads, beach chairs, umbrella, balance steps, picnic table, playdoh, and watercolor paper will create learning spaces that enhance cognitive, social, emotional and physical development in the outdoor environment.

Children who are interested in the natural world will have the opportunity to explore as desired through the use of planter boxes with soil, seeds, gardening tools, a bug kit, binoculars, a bird feeder with birdseed, a waterfall discovery wall, as well as extra sand and toy trucks for our sandbox. Students will be able to take a closer look at the environment by using these tools in the garden, at the playground or on our back patio. The storage boxes will help us transport and store all of these amazing outdoor learning centers!

My Kindergarten students gave me their thoughts about what an ideal outdoor learning environment should look like as well as the materials they would like to see in those spaces, and here I am on donorschoose.org! They are very excited to explore and learn while being outdoors!

Mrs. Means La Mesa Dale Elementary School Grades PreK-2

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 Mrs. Means

La Mesa, CA View local requests

More than half 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

27 students impacted 5donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
JumpOff Jo - RockSteady Balance Stepping Stones for Kids - Set of 6 Balance Blocks (3 Sizes Included, 2 Small, 2 Large, 2 Extra Large) - Promotes Balance & Coordination • Amazon Business $69.99 1 $69.99
Motion Sand Play Sand for Kids by Toydaloo, 11 pound 5KG (Naturel) • Amazon Business $29.95 2 $59.90
ECR4Kids The Surf Portable Lap Desk/Laptop Stand/Writing Table, Green • Amazon Business $25.00 2 $50.00
ECR4Kids The Surf Portable Lap Desk/Laptop Stand/Writing Table, Blue • Amazon Business $25.00 2 $50.00
Innocheer Kids Gardening Tools, 7 Piece Garden tool set for Kids with Watering Can, Gardening Gloves, Shovel, Rake, Trowel and Kids Smock, All in One Gardening Tote • Amazon Business $25.00 2 $50.00
Lifetime 280094 Kid's Picnic Table • Amazon Business $48.23 1 $48.23
Step2 Waterfall Discovery Wall Playset • Amazon Business $47.14 1 $47.14
KingCamp Low Sling Beach Camping Folding Chair with Mesh Back (Blue) • Amazon Business $39.99 1 $39.99
KingCamp Low Sling Beach Camping Folding Chair with Mesh Back (Red) • Amazon Business $39.99 1 $39.99
Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix • Amazon Business $12.50 3 $37.50
CYS EXCEL Planter Box, Wood Planter, Wood Rectangle Window Box Wood Planters with Removable Zinc Liner, 8 Sizes Available (1, H:5" Open:10x4") • Amazon Business $12.00 3 $36.00
Cherry Valley Coach Lamp Bird Feeder Model 6200 • Amazon Business $28.00 1 $28.00
Play-Doh Modeling Compound 36-Pack Case of Colors (Amazon Exclusive), Non-Toxic, Assorted Colors, 3-Ounce Cans • Amazon Business $24.99 1 $24.99
Nature Bound Bug Catcher with Habitat Bucket and 7 Piece Nature Exploration Set • Amazon Business $19.20 1 $19.20
Set of 22 Valley Green Black Duck Brand Heirloom Flower Seeds 22 Different Varieties Non-GMO (Variety Deluxe Flower Garden) • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Step2 42 Inch Seaside Umbrella for Sand and Water Table - Kids Durable Beach Camping Garden Outdoor Play Shade • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
Pekky 8 Quart/7.5 Liter Storage Box, Set of 2 (Blue)F • Amazon Business $13.55 1 $13.55
Pekky Plastic Storage Containers with Lid, for Toys and Office Supplies, Set of 2 (pink)F • Amazon Business $13.55 1 $13.55
John Deere Sandbox Vehicle (2 Pack) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Kaytee Birders' Blend, 8-Pound Bag • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Set of 4 - Foam Kneeling Pads Garden Knee Mat / Gardening Seat Cushion • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Canson XL Series Watercolor Textured Paper Pad for Paint, Pencil, Ink, Charcoal, Pastel, and Acrylic, Fold Over, 140 Pound, 9 x 12 Inch, 30 Sheets • Amazon Business $9.94 1 $9.94

Materials cost

$717.91

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $65.69

3rd party payment processing fee

$10.77

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$824.37

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$145.48

Total project goal

$969.85

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $969.85

2 Donors

-$323.28

Donations toward project cost

-$274.79

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$48.49

match offer

-$646.56

Match offer toward project cost

-$549.58

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$96.98

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. Means and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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