This week, we're helping to provide hands-on materials for 6th-8th-grade science lessons in Oglala, South Dakota and inspiring chapter books for a 3rd-grade classroom in Cleveland, Ohio. We hope that readers who support quality public school education will help by sharing or supporting our featured projects.
The Inoculation Project is an ongoing, volunteer effort to crowdfund science and math projects for red-state public schools in low-income neighborhoods. As always, our conduit is DonorsChoose, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that facilitates tax-deductible donations to specific, vetted projects in public schools.
Let’s help this never-before-funded teacher provide earth science materials for 6th-graders, life-science materials for 7th-graders, and physical science materials for 8th-graders at this K-8 school, which is the only school in Oglala and serves the Pine Ridge Reservation.
MAIN PROJECT
Resources: Help me give my students materials they could use to my Science experiments.
Economic need: Nearly all students from low‑income households
Location: Isna Wica Owayawa Loneman Day School, Oglala, South Dakota
Total: $562.68 (donations are currently doubled)
Still Needed: $399.45 Completed, thank you! Please consider long-term project below.
Teacher’s Comments from Ms. Nora:
My Students: Greetings to our generous donors.
I am Teacher Nora, a Science Middle School teacher teaching the 6th-8th Grades here in the reservation.
My students enjoy doing hands on activities. They love exploring something new. This project will help them widen their knowledge about the things around them.
My Project: We are doing in person in the school. These materials are really helpful when we do hands on activities.
I ordered materials for the 6th grades students who are now learning the Earth Science.
Another set of materials for the 7th Grade which focus on Life Science. The Butterfly -Metamorphosis Kit is a very exciting activity for them to observe & do their experiment. There are materials suited for the 8th Grade students too which focus now on Physical Science, like the activity for Chemical Changes. Hands on activities are very helpful for them to explore more about Science.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
We made lots of progress on our long-term project last week! Third-graders in a Cleveland public school will read two novels — Code 7: Cracking the Code for an Epic Life and Crenshaw — that may help them to better deal with the pandemic and other stressful situations.
LONG-TERM PROJECT
Resources: Help me give my students chapter books that will entertain and inspire as they learn.
Economic need: Nearly all students from low‑income households
Location: Campus International School K-8, Cleveland, Ohio
Total: $359.38
Still Needed: $219.38 $103.49
Teacher’s Comments from Ms. Kaminski:
My Students: I love working at our school because the student population is diverse. We educate students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, belief systems, and skill levels. We are an International Baccalaureate School. Our goal is to prepare our students to become global citizens through inquiry and exploring global perspectives. The majority of our learning is through cooperative experiences that are inclusive. All students have gifts to offer as we grow and learn together.
The best part of teaching at my school is that all students feel welcome, are valued, and are encouraged to reach their true potential.
In order to do this, students are engaged in experiences that promote cooperative exploration and concept development.
My Project: The current pandemic has changed the lives of many students. Families have experienced many adjustments in employment, income stability, and family structure. Although families do their best to shield their children from stresses related to the pandemic, children still sense when the family is experiencing stressful situations.
Using novels is a healthy way to help students working through stressful situations as they are entertained and inspired to hang in there.
The books I selected will help students build integrity, increase awareness of social responsibility, and expand empathy for one another. Just knowing that they are not alone as they struggle through tough times is a stress reliever.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
One of the books requested is Crenshaw, a story about a boy whose family is facing hard times, and his imaginary friend, a giant cat. Author Katherine Applegate discusses the book:
With lots of assistance from our generous readers, last week’s main project — Face Shield Design — has already been completed! Students at a Jackson, Mississippi school will be able to research, design, and fabricate face shields. Here’s the teacher’s thank you note:
Thank you everyone for your donation!! Your contribution will not only assist and reduce the spread of Covid-19 virus in our school, but also empower the students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers!! Your gift will enhance learning in STEM. On behalf of the teachers and students of the Jackson Public School District we sincerely express our appreciation!
With gratitude,
Ms. Wallace
Founded in 2009, The Inoculation Project combats the anti-science push in conservative America by funding science and math projects in traditionally red-state classrooms and libraries. Our conduit is DonorsChoose, a crowdfunding charity founded in 2000 and highly rated by both Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau, among others.
Every Sunday, we focus on helping to fund science or math projects, preferably in neighborhood public schools where the overwhelming majority of students come from low-income households. We welcome everyone who supports public school education — no money is required!
Finally, here’s our list of successfully funded projects — our series total is 921! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.