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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Thomas from Richmond, VA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Thomas is requesting

Think Outside the Box

Help me give my students hands on exploration to enhance their understanding of science topics! STEM materials such as coding robots and circuit building kits will bring to life these concepts for my students.

  • $364 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Ms. Thomas

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

My Students

My students live and attend school in an urban neighborhood. Our school is Title One and does not have extras such as building and construction kits, much less STEAM teachers for an added resource each week. My son attends school in a county where he enjoys that privilege. At my school, I am the STEAM teacher along with teaching every other subject. It is hard to fit it into the existing curriculum but funding it is the more pressing issue. The vast difference in how the surrounding counties can provide for their students versus the way the urban schools are funded is an injustice to these children.

My students have limited opportunities for hands on activities and exploration for science topics.

This saddens me because my students deserve these experiences! They are curious, bright, and hard working. WIth extra resources my students will expand their knowledge and thrive in the area of science. Their self esteem will be boosted and they will be ready to enter middle school on a more even playing field.

My Project

Real life experience and exposure gives students an enhanced understanding of the concepts they are learning. My students do not have the same opportunities as many others.

I teach a population of students that are grossly underfunded and underserved.

They have less access to experiences and resources than many of their peers. I am saddened that their natural abilities and potential cannot always be fully tapped into because they are not given the same privileges as students in wealthier counties.

Funding this STEM project will be a game changer for many students! I will be teaching three fifth grade science classes next year so it's essentially reaching three classrooms full of kids! They will enjoy and reap immense benefits from hands on activities. Being allowed to create and build circuit boards or code with a BOTLEY robot will intensify their understanding and also help to close the gap.

THANK YOU for your time and for believing in my students!

Ms. Thomas Barack Obama Elementary School 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

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 Ms. Thomas

Richmond, VA View local requests

Nearly all 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

55 students impacted 10donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Botley the Coding Robot • AKJ Education $59.85 1 $59.85
E-Blox Circuit Builder 395 Project Building Set - 66 Pieces • Kaplan Early Learning Company $46.79 1 $46.79
See-Through Composter • Kaplan Early Learning Company $35.96 1 $35.96
Snap Circuits(r) Jr. Select • Kaplan Early Learning Company $33.26 1 $33.26
Simple Machines STEM Experiment and Model Building Kit • Kaplan Early Learning Company $26.96 1 $26.96
SET ELEMENTS MIXTURES AND COMPOUNDS BULLETIN BOARD CHART SET OF 4 GRADES 5 - 8 • Frey Scientific $13.27 1 $13.27
SET DYNAMIC EARTH BULLETIN BOARD CHART SET OF 3 GRADES 5 - 8 • Frey Scientific $10.43 1 $10.43
SET OUR SOLAR SYSTEM BULLETIN BOARD CHART SET OF 3 GRADES 5-8 • Frey Scientific $10.43 1 $10.43
SET EARTHS SURFACE BULLETIN BOARD CHART SET OF 3 GRADES 5 - 8 • Frey Scientific $10.43 1 $10.43
SET MATTER AND INTERACTIONS BULLETIN BOARD CHART SET OF 3 GRADES 5-8 • Frey Scientific $10.43 1 $10.43
PUTTY MAGNETIC • Frey Scientific $9.29 1 $9.29

Materials cost

$267.10

Vendor shipping charges

 $7.71

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.01

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$308.82

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$54.50

Total project goal

$363.32

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $363.32

7 Donors

-$238.32

Donations toward project cost

-$202.57

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$35.75

Matching donations from our partners

-$125.00

Match offers toward project cost

-$106.25

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$18.75

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. Thomas and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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