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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Hawker from New York, NY is requesting flexible seating through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Hawker is requesting

Therapeutic Gardens: Nature in Schools for Better Student Performance

Help me give my students raised garden beds, more perennial plants, a large garden tool box, and a hammock to enhance our calming, healing, relaxing, and therapeutic garden that supports their classroom learning and health and wellbeing.

  • $685 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Ms. Hawker

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Hawker 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 Project

I teach a gardening class at a Title I school. What I admire about my students that makes them unique is their desire and openness to exploring new ways of learning and improving.

Inner-city students have discovered the benefits of gardens on the success of their classroom work and mental well-being.

Some of the work in our project requires the students to plant seeds according to the planting calendar, cultivate the soil, and add more therapeutic features to the garden for maximum health and classroom benefits.

Gardeners will plant the perennial seeds, prepare the raised beds and set up the hammock. The sway of the hammock supports mental health and helps reduce stress. Garden tools that accumulated over time need a protective winter toolbox. Our students have improved their self-esteem and confidence through experiencing the growth of plants they helped to plant. Some students have never watered grass or raked leaves, and the mere experience brings joy and happiness to their souls.

By exploring nature, students have discovered previously hidden abilities and strengths. The sometimes dirty work they put into their task in the gardens allows them to realize they can work better on tasks such as academics and their passions. An introverted student came out of his shell one day after just sitting in the garden during class for months.

Gardening teaches many lifelong lessons and skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, collaboration, and communication skills, to name a few of these easily transferable entrepreneurship skills. Science supports the mental, physical and psychological benefits of gardens.

My students learn to appreciate and benefit from the growth, beauty, and peace derived from nature; and the values of academic work, cooperation, and collaboration.

Ms. Hawker Hamilton Grange Middle 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

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. Hawker

New York, NY 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

360 students impacted 16donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Keter Kentwood 90 Gallon Resin Deck Box-Organization and Storage for Patio Furniture Outdoor Cushions, Throw Pillows, Garden Tools and Pool Toys, Brown • Amazon Business $129.99 1 $129.99
Vivere Double Cotton Hammock with Space (450 lb Capacity-Premium Carry Bag Included) Serenity • Amazon Business $115.52 1 $115.52
PNAEUT Double Hammock with Space Saving Steel Stand Included 2 Person Heavy Duty Outside Garden Yard Outdoor 450lb Capacity 2 People Standing Hammocks and Portable Carrying Bag (Coffee) • Amazon Business $84.88 1 $84.88
SUNYPLAY Patio Side Table Outdoor, Small Round Metal Side Table, Weatherproof, Portable, Outdoor End Table for Garden, Porch, Balcony, Yard… • Amazon Business $29.23 2 $58.46
Alpine Corporation 35" Tall Outdoor 3-Tiered Pedestal Water Fountain and Birdbath, Green • Amazon Business $36.46 1 $36.46
UpBlend Outdoors Wind Chimes for Outside for People Who Like Their Neighbors – a Great Addition to a Patio, Porch, Garden, or Backyard (Silver Coated Aluminum, 29") • Amazon Business $31.94 1 $31.94
AISITIN 3.5W 2 PCS Solar Fountain Pump, Solar Water Pump Floating Fountain Built-in 1500mAh Battery, with 6 Nozzles, for Bird Bath, Fish Tank, Pond or Garden Decoration Solar Pump • Amazon Business $27.99 1 $27.99
Blue Morning Glory Climbing Vine | 100 Seeds to Plant | Beautiful Flowering Vine • Amazon Business $9.96 2 $19.92
50 Yellow Lilac Seeds Bloom Perennial Flowers Fragrant Seed Flower Shrub Bush • Amazon Business $9.69 2 $19.38
50 Yellow Lilac Seeds Bloom Perennial Flowers Fragrant Seed Flower Shrub Bush • Amazon Business $9.69 2 $19.38

Materials cost

$543.92

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.16

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$582.08

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$102.72

Total project goal

$684.80

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $684.80

13 Donors

-$468.72

Donations toward project cost

-$407.67

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$61.05

Matching donations from our partners

-$205.19

Match offers toward project cost

-$174.41

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$30.78

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$10.89

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 Ms. Hawker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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