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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. C. from NY is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. C. is requesting

What Is A Scientist? Can I Be One?

My project needs two or three copies of 14 different biographies on influential scientists from all walks of life.

  • $510 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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Help Ms. C.

What does a scientist look like? Generally, my 22 third-graders give the same answer: scientists wear white lab coats, work in laboratories and do experiments with test tubes and chemicals. Scientists are famous men in history, like Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein. My students are curious and highly motivated. Eighty-four percent receive free or reduced lunch, and many are English Language Learners who eagerly devour books. They all deserve to learn more about who scientists really are and to discover that they, too, could one day become a real scientist.

Getting ready for our first scientific experiment, I asked my students to describe a scientist. I was surprised to read so many descriptions that were stereotypes. My students didn’t understand that science could be real and relevant. They saw scientists as an elite group that they couldn’t imagine belonging to. They were making limited connections between our work in classroom and the work scientists do everyday. They didn't realize they were doing work like scientists.

I am requesting two or three copies each of 13 different picture-book biographies about scientists from all walks of life. The books are more than just good stories. They show men and women of different races and ages involved in all types of scientific work. The books cover different fields of science, from paleontology to astronomy to physics. Students will choose books to investigate based on their interests. They’ll read their books with peers and discuss their readings in-depth. The students will immediately begin bursting with excitement, eager to share their new findings with their peers. This will help launch the students into responses to their readings, differentiated based on their personal preferences. Through this project, students will understand that scientists often begin their explorations young, may face challenges and are a very diverse group. Their schema will be radically changed.

Your help will ensure my students realize scientists are real people, like them. No longer will they only think like scientists. They'll become scientists. Thank you.

Ms. C. PS 139 Alexine A Fenty Grades 3-5

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. C.

Brooklyn, NY 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

25 students impacted 5donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Starry Messenger • Recorded Books, LLC $10.75 1 $10.75
Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman Nikki Grimes, E. B. Lewis (Illustrator), B. Moser (Illustrator), Earl B Lewis (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $15.25 2 $30.50
Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson Amy Ehrlich, Wendell Minor (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $14.40 2 $28.80
Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon Jacqueline Davies, Melissa Sweet (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $14.40 2 $28.80
Odd Boy out: Young Albert Einstein Don Brown • Barnes and Noble $14.40 3 $43.20
My Brothers' Flying Machine: Wilbur, Orville and Me Jane Yolen, Jim Burke (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $16.19 2 $32.38
She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head! Kathryn Lasky, David Catrow (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $6.29 3 $18.87
Jane Goodall: Animal Scientist Katherine E. Krohn, Cynthia Martin (Illustrator), Anne Timmons (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $22.73 2 $45.46
The Man Who Named the Clouds Julie Hannah, Joan Holub, Paige Billin-Frye (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $14.35 2 $28.70
The Flower Hunter: William Bartram, America's First Naturalist Deborah Kogan Ray, Deborah Kogan Ray (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $15.30 2 $30.60
Weed Is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver Aliki, Aliki (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $5.35 2 $10.70
Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei Peter Sis, Peter Sis (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $6.25 3 $18.75
Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries Don Brown • Barnes and Noble $5.35 3 $16.05
Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison David A. Adler, John Wallner (Illustrator), Alexandra Wallner (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $6.25 2 $12.50

Materials cost

$356.06

Vendor shipping charges

 $35.61

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.90

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$418.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$91.76

Total project goal

$509.76

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $509.76

5 Donors

-$469.71

Donations toward project cost

-$418.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$51.71

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$40.05

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. C. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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