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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Dexter from Oakland, CA is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Dexter is requesting

Wake Up and Smell the STEM!

Help me give my students Brain Flakes, magnetic letters, building blocks, and other materials to start each morning with an interactive, hands-on, STEM-based activity!

  • $427 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Ms. Dexter

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

My Students

My classroom is full of curious readers, authors, scientists, and mathematicians. My students attend a Title I school in Oakland, California with a school-wide free breakfast and lunch program. Many of my students come from families and communities that have experienced some form of trauma and often have difficulty coming to school. Our school has an increasing amount of newcomer families, which continue to make our school an amazing and diverse community where all are welcome.

My students are survivors and thinkers, who push through these tribulations to question, dream, and inspire.

Together, we show up and work hard each and every day to grow as life-long learners and critical thinkers.

My Project

As a teacher, I believe that how you start your day, is how you end your day. And if you are starting your morning without joy, then that means you're ending your day the same way. It is my goal to implement a more meaningful morning routine with STEM morning tubs. This will allow students the opportunity to choose a bin to work with at their table, and collaboratively engage in it together. They can choose from things like building blocks, magnetic tiles or letters, stacking cups and popsicle sticks. This element of student choice is key to their engagement with each activity.

Establishing engaging morning tubs will allow a space for collaboration, social interactions, team building experiences, and STEM based learning.

I want to encourage their learning through play, and also the development of their critical thinking and problem solving skills. These tubs will set the stage for groups to take responsibility for the materials, share with one another, and also build and support each other as the play and creation process continues. It is my hope that these morning tubs spark joy in the morning, and encourage students to be on time and ready to go each day!

Ms. Dexter Emerson 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 Ms. Dexter

Oakland, 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

26 students impacted 4donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Goobi 110 Piece Construction Set Building Toy Active Play Sticks STEM Learning Creativity Imagination Children’s 3D Puzzle Educational Brain Toys for Kids Boys and Girls with Instruction Booklet • Amazon Business $39.95 1 $39.95
Strictly Briks Classic Baseplates 10" x 10" Building Brick Baseplates 100% Compatible with All Major Brands | Building Bricks for Towers Shelve| 12 Stackable Bases in Rainbow Colors • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
VIAHART Brain Flakes 500 Piece Interlocking Plastic Disc Set | A Creative and Educational Alternative to Building Blocks | Tested for Children's Safety | A Great STEM Toy for Both Boys and Girls! • Amazon Business $14.99 2 $29.98
EMIDO Building Blocks Kids Educational Toys STEM Toys Building Discs Sets Interlocking Solid Plastic for Preschool Kids Boys and Girls, Safe Material for Kids - 120 pieces with Storage Bag • Amazon Business $14.98 2 $29.96
192 Pcs Magnetic Letters Numbers 9 Color(With Pattern Blocks,Symbols) Foam Set, Alphabet Magnets Gift for Preschool Kids Children Toddler Educational Fridge Refrigerator Toy, Classroom School Learning • Amazon Business $14.98 2 $29.96
Strictly Briks 672 Piece Classic Bricks Building Brick Set | 100% Compatible with All Major Brick Brands | Premium Tight Fit Building Bricks in 12 Vibrant Colors | 9 Different Shapes and Sizes • Amazon Business $26.99 1 $26.99
Guidecraft Interlox Squares - 96 Piece Set Interlocking Construction Toy • Amazon Business $19.95 1 $19.95
Chenille Kraft WonderFoam Dominoes 168 Pieces (AC4468) • Amazon Business $19.54 1 $19.54
Party Essentials Hard Plastic 9-Ounce Party Cups/Old Fashioned Tumblers, 100-Count, Assorted Neon • Amazon Business $18.04 1 $18.04
SKKSTATIONERY 36-Pcs Mini Highlighters, Highlighter Markers, Highlighter Pens 3.5'' • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
Learning Advantage Double-Sided Geoboard Set - 5 x 5 Grid/12 Pin Circular Array - Pack Of 6 • Amazon Business $13.80 1 $13.80
Perfect Stix Jumbo Craft Sticks ( Pack of 500ct) • Amazon Business $12.85 1 $12.85
PAXCOO 100 Pcs 6” Colored Jumbo Wood Craft Sticks • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99
AmazonBasics Assorted Size and Color Rubber Bands, 0.5 lb. • Amazon Business $5.49 1 $5.49

Materials cost

$300.48

Vendor shipping charges

FREE

Sales tax

$27.49

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.51

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$362.48

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$63.97

Total project goal

$426.45

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$426.45

4 Donors

-$407.21

Donations toward project cost

-$362.48

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$44.73

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$19.24

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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