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All the heart-eyes for a color-coordinated, hyper-organized, rainbow classroom! 😍 Go wild with stackable plastic bins; is there such a thing as too many? “A place for everything and everything in its place”, but make it polychromatic!

There’s something very soothing about this classroom — and we’re here for it. A cool, consistent color palette, soft textures, flexible seating, and a Tiki umbrella (!!) makes us more than willing to complete whatever daily tasks await in those perfectly-numbered teal cubbies. 

Everything in this classroom feels warm and purposeful. A reading nook, a Zen Zone, a puzzle table...this is a space designed for mental math AND mental health. With a rug, cushions, poufs, and yoga mats, the floors can add as much value as the bulletin boards on the walls. (See more ideas for creating a calm, focused, and happy classroom here!)

The more you look at this classroom, the better it gets. It’s a student-nerd turned teacher-nerd’s dream: a Rubik’s cube side table, a TARDIS to teach social studies via “time travel”, flexible seating that looks like keyboard caps, and life-size cardboard cutouts of the cast of The Big Bang Theory for character integration in science activities. (Bonus: Those Hokki Stools were a DonorsChoose project!)

This season may not be the full-fledged, pedal-to-the-metal, “usual” back-to-school we all hoped for, but you can make your room exactly what your kids need right now: a welcoming, focused place. This fall, before you tackle the academics, social growth, and creativity that the pandemic has postponed, consider these ways to help your students know that the classroom is their safe haven.

1. Make a game plan.

So much changed last year and some of the systems and processes you put in place during pandemic-learning may still be useful.

Designing a flow for your classroom in advance can make all the difference. Some things to consider: How will your students line up to come in from recess? Borrow books from your classroom library? Enjoy an orderly snack time? Store their projects and materials for future use?

Setting expectations for structure and organization from the first day back can help start the year on the right note.

2. Allow space for brain breaks.

Things we may see this fall: shorter attention spans, social anxiety, and easy over-stimulation. Here’s a tip from DonorsChoose teacher and Kern Avenue Elementary School Counselor Ms. Andrews, via her project Calm-Down Kits:

“Many students coming back to in-person learning are suffering from extreme anxiety. Students of all ages are re-learning classroom protocols and norms. Teachers need to be prepared in a moment’s notice when a student begins to feel big emotions.”
Her project requests a Calm-Down Kit for each classroom in her school. What’s inside? Noise canceling headphones, emotions flash cards, fidget toys, drawing boards, bubbles, kaleidoscopes, puzzle cubes, stress balls, coloring books, Play-Doh, pinwheels, and sand timers. 

Any one or more of these items — and permission to use them as needed — can help your students adjust back to full days of learning.

3. Bring mindfulness into your classroom.

Coming back from summer is always an adjustment. Perhaps more so this fall than ever. Create opportunities for your students to reflect on their experiences, de-stress, and channel any anxious energy into something creative or productive.

A few ideas from fellow teachers:

• Journaling for Health, Mrs. A, High School, Connecticut
  Colorful College Ruled Notebook Journals; Colorful Fine-Tip Ink Pens
  “It is well researched that writing helps to process emotions; the pandemic has caused much stress and anxiety that needs to be resolved and then put away to make room for education.”
  
• Help! De-Stress My Reading, Mrs. Rutledge, Pre-K-2, Texas
  Yoga Mats, Exercise Blocks, 50 Activities for Calm, Focus and Peace Card Deck
  
• “I want to use yoga-themed storytime to get the kids moving, focus on their breathing, and allow time to de-stress. Storytime yoga will provide my students the opportunity to move in many ways, including cross-laterally, as they use their bodies to act out stories, express emotions, and move creatively.”
  
• Yes We Can! So Watch Us Grow!, Teacher Kubo, 9th Grade, Arizona
  Raised Metal Garden Planter Beds, Potting Soil, Self Watering Devices
  “[My students] are stepping out of a pandemic to re-emerge as valuable members of the community and the school atmosphere. We will use different planters to create artistic spaces outside buildings, while planting resources for fresh produce for students to take home. These young men and women deserve an opportunity to begin a project, build within the project both mentally and physically, and then see it come to fruition.”

4. Consider your classroom setup and decor.

We’re seeing teachers across the country spending a bit of their summer redesigning their classrooms. Flexible seating, soft textures, bright colors, and organizational materials are among the most popular upgrades. 

Here’s how some DonorsChoose teachers are rethinking their classroom setup:

”The items I have chosen will make for a warm and inviting place to learn. The community time that we spend together after a post-pandemic year is so important in building relationships and learning social and emotional well-being.” - Mrs. Vaughn, A Rainbow of Possibilities With a Room Full of Sunshine, Kindergarten, Kentucky

“Post pandemic, I think new, flexible, comfortable, matching seating will allow my students to feel like this is their space...created just for them without dealing with the antiquated, wobbling, mismatched tables and chairs pre-pandemic...My students have spent the last 18 months during the global pandemic doing school from home. As we transition back to the classroom, I want to welcome them with an inviting, comfortable environment.” - Ms. Nixon, Cozy Homeplace, Grades 6-8, California

5. Stock up.

Reaching for a pencil, dry erase marker, or notebook and not having one is a stressor no one needs this coming school year. Make a list now of the supplies you’ll want on hand for Day One, including anything that would make your year as smooth as possible. (Here’s one list from Aimee’s Edventures to get you started!) Then make a plan to stock up.

Need some inspiration? Check out these 5 eye-candy classrooms!

Written by Briana Maddox-Miller, James Robinson, Yesenny Fernandez, and Ebony Atwell

Every year, DonorsChoose welcomes a group of fellows: high-achieving recent college graduates from untapped backgrounds who spend a year working across the organization to support our national community of educators and donors.

As our Fellow Yesenny can attest, DonorsChoose projects benefit students both in the classroom and beyond. In 2014, Yesenny’s 11th-grade teacher, Ms. Smith, requested copies of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Like Esperanza, the novel’s main character, Yesenny took on the challenge of navigating a new culture and language when she first arrived in the United States. The ability to see herself reflected in this text not only enhanced Yesenny’s mastery of English, but it reinforced her identity in and outside school.

When amazing educators like Ms. Smith request resources for their students using DonorsChoose, they’re bringing more than supplies into the classroom — they’re introducing new learning opportunities. Teachers do this with a unique understanding of their individual students’ needs, which allows them to personalize instruction. Recent studies like “Crowdfunding the Front Lines: An Empirical Study of Teacher-Driven School Improvement'' show that DonorsChoose projects have a positive effect on student learning because they rely on this teacher frontline wisdom.

After a year working at DonorsChoose, learning the professional skills needed after college, and seeing the creativity that teachers across the country bring to projects, Yesenny and the rest of our fellows wanted to share some key skills that can help teachers prepare students for their long-term career journeys.

Want to help your students be career-ready when they graduate? Read on our fellows’ tips.

Encourage student writing beyond essays

When we first entered the DonorsChoose fellowship program, we took our writing to the next level. Instead of working on essays and research papers in a school setting, we developed skills to communicate through professional emails. The power of a well-crafted email can go a long way when making an ask of a colleague or communicating with a customer! Building students’ broader writing and communication skills serves to prepare them for life in the workforce.

Empower student ownership of goals and planning

Essential to any professional role is the ability to think strategically about how to meet goals. In school, rubrics and syllabi are given for classes and assignments which include expected milestones determined by the teacher. When joining a professional team, those assignments and milestones are self-driven, and we each crafted methodical project plans and documents detailing project deliverables through the course of our professional growth. By opening the door for students to play a role in rubric creation, you could give students a vital experience in self-accountability and responsibility that would serve them in their early careers There is a level of accountability that accompanies being the one to decide the process by which you achieve your goal in a professional setting.

Lean on the wisdom of amazing peer educators

Working at DonorsChoose, it’s impossible not to see how many incredible ideas teachers are dreaming up on a daily basis. Browsing projects from fellow teachers can be a great source of inspiration! Here are a few of our career-readiness faves.

Mrs. Chappell had students create and lead a food bank that provided families with food and home supplies during a time of need. Through this experiential learning opportunity, students were able to hone the valuable skills of operational organization, teamwork, and effective communication to achieve a common goal. 

Meanwhile in Minneapolis, Ms. Schmidt-Kost   empowered students to recognize the importance of organization and goal setting through her project “Planning for a Bright Future.” These skills are foundational to good project management at any job.

While these are just two projects of countless others, they represent the possibilities teachers bring to their classrooms through career-focused requests on DonorsChoose. When teachers use what they know about their students to bring new learning experiences and resources, teachers (and the community who bring these projects to life) broaden students' opportunities. One project can give students the tools to imagine futures outside of school and build a better foundation for succeeding in the professional world. 

Thanks to our 2021 fellows, Briana, James, Yesenny and Ebony, for all your amazing work this year. Best wishes for the next step in your journey!

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the moment when emancipation finally reached the most isolated parts of the South, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a celebration of freedom — and a recognition of justice delayed and work yet to be done. 

Juneteenth has been celebrated as a second Independence Day in the Black community for a long time; however, this significant day has not traditionally been a part of the history taught in America’s classrooms. While some teachers have made Juneteenth a part of their classrooms for years, many teachers and students want Juneteenth officially added to the curriculum.

In the Classroom

By making Juneteenth part of their curriculum, teachers are introducing their students to the horrific realities surrounding our country’s history with slavery and how it affects our society today. For example: traditionally, lessons around slavery often highlight how the US Government granted enslaved people their freedom. In doing so, these lessons fail to acknowledge the role that enslaved people played in their own emancipation through everyday acts of resistance. 

Learning for Justice writer Coshandra Dillard points out that, “The overall narrative goes something like this: America overcame slavery, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. helped usher in new civil rights laws, and then we elected the first Black president.” However, this story, simplified down to suggest there was continual progress, removes the critical nuance of the Black experience, and makes it difficult for students to see and understand the effects of racism that still exist in today's society.

Honoring & Celebrating

Throughout the years, despite efforts to stop or disrupt Juneteenth celebrations, Black communities have commemorated the day by honoring the progress they've made and reveling in Black Joy. Former educator and two-time winner of the Diversity Teacher of the Year award, Ann-Katherine Kimble, discusses the importance of celebrating Black Joy, saying:

“...we have a flame that — though it may flicker — never fully extinguishes. That light is our joy. That joy is an act of resistance against systems of oppression. Even on plantations, you could hear us rejoicing. In this original “melting pot” — full of people stolen and transported like goods, coming from African kingdoms, with hundreds of dialects and customs — you could hear rejoicing in the midst of oppression and inequity.”

Celebrating Juneteenth puts Black culture — past, present and future — in the spotlight and gives the Black community and allies a chance to celebrate together.

Classroom Resources

• Teaching Juneteenth: Learning for Justice has put together a framework for teaching Juneteenth that you can add to a learning plan
• This is Why Juneteenth Is Important for America: This short video by The Root gives a quick introduction to how Juneteenth was born and the backlash that followed.
• Celebrate Juneteenth: This classroom activity invites students to compare Juneteenth celebrations to 4th of July celebrations and discuss.
• Get digital and lyrical: DonorsChoose teachers often create projects giving them access to sites like Brain Pop, Newsela and Flocabulary, which have digital and hip hop lessons on the meaning of Juneteenth.
• Books about Black History and Black Culture: For Juneteenth, many teachers create projects that pull together books about black history and about black culture to give their students an opportunity to explore the devastating parts of our history while celebrating the people who left a legacy. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out these projects: Celebrating Juneteenth, by Ms. Davis and Representation Matters by Ms. Scheele.
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Ready to help teachers celebrate Juneteenth with their class? Give to a Juneteenth-related project!

Teachers: Are you ready to bring Juneteenth into your classroom? Right now, you can earn a $100 DonorsChoose gift code by completing Google’s Applied Digital Skills Create a Flyer for a Juneteenth Celebration lesson with at least 15 of your students, while funds last! 

Wherever you are in your school year, it’s a great time to think about your next DonorsChoose projects. Planning your DonorsChoose timeline in advance can help you get the exact materials you need by when you need them, take full advantage of match offers (including surprise funding opportunities!), and know when you may need to break up a large project into smaller requests.

Here are the top five tips from your fellow teachers for how to plan your DonorsChoose projects to minimize the work and maximize the funding.

1. If you can dream it, you can do it.

We’re starting with the #1 most commonly offered advice from teachers about how to plan your projects: Keep a running wish list. From phone notes to Amazon to social media, create a place to save the ideas that inspire you. As you track the items you want most for your classroom, the project requests will (almost!) write themselves.

"I keep a note on my phone for when I think of something small to add to my list of items I want to request. Sometimes it is something silly, like low tack tape even." — Mr. Herskowitz, South CA

"I keep an Amazon wish list called “DonorsChoose”. I revisit it from time to time or add when I see a great idea. When I have a decent amount of items gathered that “go” together I write a project (books, basic supplies, etc). I write a project every year for art journals – I basically copy the text from year to year - why reinvent the wheel? Always keep a live project. You never know when a local business or company or donor is looking to help a classroom just like yours!" — Mrs. Schneider, Wisconsin

"I keep a Google Keep note of ideas for projects. Dream projects, unit specific projects, and just supplies I notice we need that my yearly budget doesn’t cover. By using Google Keep I have the lists synced in my phone, my desktop, and my Chromebook so whenever I have an idea I can write it down so I don’t forget. I often get ideas talking to other teachers about their classrooms and this way I can reflect back to the needs of my current students as I create each project.” — Mrs. Webb, Carterville, IL

"I try to group [similar] items together for projects. I keep a list on Amazon of things I want so I can easily pull from there when making a project. That's especially helpful when a match comes up and I want to get a project out quickly." — Ms. Wartberg, TX

"I keep several Amazon wishlists for various activities. For example, I start to brainstorm things I might need for a spring planting activity in the winter so it’s ready to go in the spring." Mrs. Chappell, Queens, NY

“I also keep a saved list of DonorsChoose ideas in both my Facebook and Instagram posts. When I see something or a thread people are talking about that’s great I add it to my DonorsChoose Tips saved posts!” —  Mrs. Webb, Carterville, IL

2. Make a game plan.

The best gift you can give yourself is time. When you finish an annual project, consider posting a project for replacement items right then, so you won’t have a time crunch next year. Your curriculum calendar can help you plot out which materials you’ll need (and by when!). Don’t forget that lower-cost projects are more likely to be fully funded. Our not-so-secret recipe for project success: Organize your projects in advance, break large projects down into smaller requests, and give yourself plenty of time for funding and delivery.

"Match your year at a glance curriculum maps or theme schedules and plan ahead for what dates projects should be posted." — Mrs. Draper, FL

"As a science teacher, I map out my units and then plan what activities or investigations I’d like to do. I prioritize them from dream projects to down and dirty basics that they need. I also think about what resources would be reusable." — Ms, Flyn, Louisiana

"Plan for next year, this year! I wrote my scholastic news project for the upcoming year in the spring – mine got funded yesterday with the a match" — Mrs. Pack, Tennessee

"Larger items we try to do a year in advance (our 6th graders make fleece tie blankets to donate at Christmas-fleece adds up) when it first got funded we put the next year’s project up so it had plenty of time to fund." — Ms.Knapmiller, Wisconsin

"I'd say...to post it 4 to 6 months in advance in case it doesn't get funded. Always keep a project up and watch for matches!” — Mrs. Goodner, Oklahoma

"Break big projects into smaller ones. It never hurts to dream...you’d be surprised how quickly something can fund! Always have a project posted!" — Mrs. Zeiner, Ohio

3. Restock, reuse, repost.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for each project. Consider recycling a past project to replace high-demand consumables or expand on a successful initial project. (“Part II” projects are always a popular option.)

"Remember and keep track of what you got funded that you'd like to restock for the following year. I did a project for arts and craft materials related to holidays which worked out great and I now have a list of things I want for next year for holiday craft materials." — Mrs. McCauley, NYC

"Note projects that are big hits with students or are student-led. Create a ‘Part 2’ for the project." — Ms. Ovalle, Chicago, IL

"Projects requesting basic supplies or for other items that are consumable are easy to create. A great time to do these for the beginning of a new school year is [summer]. To replenish basic supplies for mid-year--November." — Mrs. McLain, Georgia

"Consider your current class size and always overestimate how much you will need by a few students. You never want to leave possible new admits or transfers out!" — Mrs. Goodman, NYC

"Think about what you spend your own money on – pens, markers, office supplies? That is what to start your first project with. Stay [within] $200-300." — Ms. Yonks, NYC

4. Seek out inspiration.

Great classroom ideas can come from anywhere. With thousands of projects live (and recently funded!) on DonorsChoose, take a look at what’s trending for your grade level, nationwide or near you. Your students can be a great source of inspiration, too! Invite them to be part of your project creation process.

"Use the DonorsChoose project search tool to find projects similar to what you are thinking about. You may find great ideas or items you didn’t even consider." —  Mrs. Goodman, NYC

"I do lots of searches to see what other teachers are doing using a couple of key words that interest me. Then when a match comes along that fits, I write a project." — Ms. Bartolomeo, Indiana

"Refer to the experts – ask the students what they wish they had for a project or unit. They might give excellent insight to spark some fun next year!" — Mrs. Keely

5. Sharing is caring.

With some extra planning and communication, you can create a project that benefits your entire grade level or school. Share your ideas with fellow teachers and see if they’d like to collaborate on a project or if they’d like to reuse the materials you get for your classroom.

"Collaborate with other teachers in your building, with two or more teachers promoting a project it's easier to get funding." — Ms. Steiner, PA

"Try to collaborate to get items that can be reused by grade level partners. Get items that are reusable." — Ms. Penny, TX

BONUS TIP: Always have a live project!

“Remember to always have something posted. You never know when your dreams are going to become a DonorsChoose rocket ship! 🚀" —  Mrs. Webb, Carterville, IL

"Be prepared for special match days you know are coming around. There is usually always something at the beginning of the [school] year and around teacher appreciation week!" — Ms. Alston, VA

The best time to post your next project? Now! Get started today!

A Little Free Library is a public bookcase. Anyone can leave a book and anyone can take a book. It’s a lending program based on the honor system — and it means more books are available to your students any time of day or night.

This is the perfect time of year to build and fill your Library, so students can access new reading material throughout the summer. Here are some Little Free Tips from fellow teachers about starting a Little Free Library in your community.

Why should I start a Little Free Library?

You’ve probably seen a Little Free Library on a walk through your neighborhood, on your local news, or on another school campus. For many schools, this is a sustainable, renewable option for getting high-quality books directly to students. Here’s why teachers love them:

“It's become difficult to get physical copies of books into students' hands. In the community in which I teach, the nearest bookstore is 20 miles away. In order to supply students within our district with quality, diverse books, we (local teachers) built a Little Free Library and did our best to keep it stocked with relevant, engaging books for kids of all ages. For most students, this Little Free Library is their only source of obtaining books. As the summer has progressed, we've witnessed students of all ages grabbing books and have received numerous letters from parents thanking us for keeping their children supplied with reading material.” —Ms. Harris, Grades 3-5, Connecticut

“We have students that speak two or more languages, special education students, preschool students, and many different cultures. Our students and their families love using the Free Little Library! The Free Little Library is a wonderful way to encourage reading, sharing books, passing books onto a friend, and most importantly a school-wide love of literacy.” —Mrs. Johns, Grades PreK-2, Colorado

What should I know before I start building?

Building and maintaining a Little Free Library is an incredible service to your students and your community. With these Libraries popping up all over the country, teachers have learned a few tricks to make them as useful as possible:

“Some suggestions: put it in a place where it is visible and easily accessible (near the main entrance or even better, the playground). Also we have found that most people “trade up” for harder books. So we tend to get lots of picture books and have to keep replenishing with chapter books. I’d recommend having a stash of new chapter books so you can weed out old or bad condition picture books frequently and have a consistent supply of harder books.”

“Kids books of all levels go very fast. Kid magazines are also a big hit. Word of advice, books rarely come back, especially the kid's books. Never put anything in there that you aren't okay with never seeing again. I love the fact that the books find a new home to be loved in. Or get shared in another library around town. The best is watching families pick new books and the kids walking away with their new treasures."

“Students are most often grabbing graphic novels and fantasy like Harry Potter. The kids love it and it made it to the directory for our city so the neighborhood kids come and grab books after school too!"

"We built 2 in our special areas classes a few years ago. We then put them by the transitional housing and homeless shelter we have in our area; we have several students who reside there. We filled them with books donated by a book charity. The kids books go quick, then get exchanged."

"Thanks to Donors Choose, we have been able to fund 10 Little Free Libraries at students' bus stops. I usually filled the Little Free Library with books about black characters and minorities because 98% of our students were Black. Our students loved grabbing/swapping a book before getting on their buses.”

I’m in. Where do I start?

Building the Little Free Library will be your first step. This is a great opportunity to involve your community, neighborhood organizations, or other students. Here’s how some of your fellow teachers got their libraries up and running:

"Our high school woodshop students and teacher designed and made a few for our little town."

"We put them around our entire district. A high school class built them and a few of the HS clubs maintain them for volunteer service hours. We do periodic book drives if the bins are running low."

"My daughter’s Girl Scout troop created a library for the school that I teach at. They repurposed something from Facebook Marketplace and then gathered donated books to keep it stocked. We opted to store it inside so we wouldn’t have to worry about the weather or it being vandalized."

"Our local bookstore gets advanced copies and gives them to us. People like new releases so I try to buy them off my scholastic classroom order every once and a while if there’s a deal. It’s nice because the library is somewhere where I go often."

"Go to the local newspaper office and see if they have any old newspaper vending boxes. They are perfect and fairly easy to repaint and decorate.”

But what about the books?

Here’s where DonorsChoose comes in. Post a request for an initial set of books to fill your Little Free Library. Your library patrons will then borrow, exchange, and replace. Check out these projects for filling Little Free Libraries with sets of books that may inspire your shopping list:

Diverse Books for Diverse Readers, Mrs. Nix, Grades 9-12, New York

• Toni Morrison Box Set: The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, Beloved
• Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World
• Brown Boy Brown Boy What Can You Be?
• Diversity Ninja: An Anti-racist, Diverse Children’s Book About Racism and Prejudice, and Practicing Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality (Ninja Life Hacks)
• Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

“Our community does not always have access to books because our library is a long walk from where we live. Many of our neighbors do not have cars. This will be an opportunity for them to read books with characters who look like them.”

STEM Books 4 Little Free Library Part II, Mrs. Tracy, Grades 9-12, Delaware

•  The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps
• The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin
• For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story
• Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist
• Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain

“As part of a service-learning project on campus, our students will assemble our newly acquired Little Free Library. Next, students will add picture books featuring notable female STEM scientists. This project will… help us build community, inspire readers, and expand book access.”

Little Free Diverse Library in Need of More Books, Ms. Harris, Grades 3-5, Connecticut

• All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything
• We're Different, We're the Same (Sesame Street)
• Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
• Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome Scientists
• The Hate U Give

“Our Little Free Library not only provides books for our students...but it also contains purposefully selected diverse books featuring characters with different cultural experiences.”

Take a Book, Share a Book, Mrs. Martinez, Grades PreK-2, California

• The Jelly Donut Difference: Sharing Kindness with the World
• The Best Part of Me: Children Talk About their Bodies in Pictures and Words
• Magic Tree House Boxed Set
• Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story
• Stephen Curry: The Children's Book: The Boy Who Never Gave Up

“I have selected a few book titles that my students have enjoyed reading to put in the Little Free Library as a start. Then, every student will be able to use the free library to take a free book, and it will also give them the opportunity to recycle their old books by leaving them for others to read.”

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DonorsChoose Pro-Tip: Exclusively through DonorsChoose, Scholastic Classroom Magazines & Book Clubs offers “Classroom Library Must-Have” packs of grade-level appropriate books, including themed sets such as STEAM learning and Newbery Award Winners. (This project is a great example.) You can also check out our other book vendors, including AKJ Education and MahoganyBooks!

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Whenever you’re ready to fill your Little Free Library, post a project for a colorful, captivating, diverse set of books for your readers.

The DonorsChoose Project Fulfillment team thought they’d seen it all. But out of the 255,472 projects funded this school year, a few caught our eye as extra out-of-the-box. With the unprecedented challenges of this school year came unprecedented creativity from teachers on DonorsChoose. Here are five of the most unusual items we ordered for projects this year:

1. An adult size inflatable rainbow unicorn costume

To make it even weirder, this project request also included an adult snowman costume, inflatable alien suit, chimpanzee mask, and a variety of party hats (including a turkey!). And if you’re thinking, “Makes sense for Halloween!”, this project was funded in March. Here’s what a costume wardrobe meant for some very entertained students in Oklahoma:

“Returning to school may have been scary for many of our students. At our school, we are required to wear masks for the safety of students, teachers, and staff. As we take temperatures and well-check tickets from the students, why not do it in style, and by style I mean dress up in goofy costumes for the emotional benefit of our students.

During our distance learning, a unicorn delivered lunches to cars filled with Falcon students and parents picking up lunches.

After an extended Christmas break, students were greeted by a snowman when arriving back to school.

The smiles were visible even though they were wearing masks. Their eyes showed excitement and hope.

Thank you for giving our students the incredible gift of smiling again!”

2. Puppet-fied versions of teachers

One Pre-K teacher was looking for a way to create magic and develop rapport with students and families, even while teaching with masks on and through a screen. How do you help the youngest learners get to know their remote teachers when you can’t share a smile? Mr. Andy’s answer: custom puppets of himself and his paraprofessional. (Bonus: he puppet-fied himself into a Jedi!)

“From moving to teaching from home to getting new students this late in the school year, it has been very stressful for adults and children involved. However, thanks to our personalized puppets, Ms. Chin will still be with us in puppet form and Professor Andy is helping our students get adjusted to the new changes. Puppets are amazing in how they can bring out smiles and laughter in children even in uncertain times. Thank you so much for supporting our kids with their social emotional development.”

3. Life-size cardboard cutout of Goofy

Sometimes an otherwise standard project request takes a sharp left turn. Like this project that asked for birthday stickers, highlighters, stamped envelopes, headphones, a social studies workbook… and a life-size cardboard Disney friend.

“Before donating to my project, you might have noticed something peculiar about my item list. I asked for a $40 life-sized cardboard cutout of Goofy. My fear was that some potential donors would see that item and think, "Oh, what a waste of money; I'm not donating to this project!" However, what I want you to know about my classroom is how significantly special Goofy is to me and my 65 students. Before being a teacher, I worked at Disney World where I was really good "friends" with Goofy, and so Goofy became a staple in many of my lessons.
Because of you and your generous donation, Goofy will now be able to join us in our classroom to help us learn through imagination and play, which research proves to be the most effective way to learn. So to you, the donor that didn't let Goofy deter you from donating, I graciously thank you and promise that these items you've provided me will be used for good and to provide the best education I can for my students.”

4. Everything but the kitchen sink

And other times, the list of requested items is so random that we’re extra grateful for a project essay that explains the idea. Before we spoil it, for what kind of project would you guess this teacher needed hot pink tablecloths, pink metallic tinsel, pink construction paper, marble tracks, tooth brushes, latex gloves, Ziploc bags, vinegar, Play-Doh, mailing tubes, and packing tape? If you said, “transforming a classroom into a digestive system big enough to play in!”, you’re right! 

For students returning to the classroom after nearly a full year of virtual learning, this teacher wanted to bring in-person learning to life in a very memorable way:

“There will be four stations in the room, each representing a different part of the digestive system: Teeth/Mouth (Chomping food game and playdoh food creation), Esophagus (creating a bolus from playdoh food and fitting it down the cardboard tubes), stomach (vinegar and water in bag students will break down the bread with "stomach acid"), and finally the intestines (marble track to showcase the 7-meter tubes windy journey. The pink tablecloths, paper, tape, and decor are to create the inside of the body - inside our classhome!

Despite obstacles that would be too much for many adults, [my students] remain bright, funny, and fun-loving, and they really enjoy the safety and security that school brings. Our school not only keeps the kids safe, but it's a place where learning comes alive. It's a building steeped in passion and excitement, and it is my hope to continue to create a space that is safe, exciting, and educational!”

5. Monthly global snack subscription

Field trip projects are often extra special, but in a year where traveling wasn't possible, this teacher found a way to bring a worldwide experience right to her students’ desks (and mouths!): a Universal Yums subscription.

“This [monthly] snack subscription encourages my students to try new things and create shared experiences we would not otherwise be able to have amid the pandemic. Building community and looking after their mental health is challenging; this is an incredible way to "travel" while building our community together.

I also think it is incredible my students are learning more about the world around them through food and trivia which teaches them fun facts and customs and prompts discussions about the world around them. Thank you for helping make this possible and providing my students a unique opportunity they can look forward to amid a pandemic!”

Anything you dream up for your classroom can be yours through DonorsChoose. Have a wild idea? Start your project now!

Every year, Engage for Good Halo Awards puts out a call for companies and nonprofits to submit their best-in-class cause marketing campaigns, and awards “initiatives in which brand purpose and social impact intersect to help build a better world and the bottom line.” We’re thrilled to share that, for the fifth year in a row, DonorsChoose partners have been honored by Engage for Good.

Our partnership with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow received the Silver Halo Award in Education!

Aligned with Samsung’s guiding vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People’, Solve for Tomorrow encourages innovative thinking, creative problem-solving, and teamwork. Through the competition, teachers and students across the country are invited to pitch their ideas for improving their community through STEM innovation. Because of COVID-19, both the DonorsChoose and Samsung teams worked together to pivot the program, allowing for digital participation and accommodating the shifting needs of schools responding to the pandemic.

“The DonorsChoose and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow campaign stood out to us this year because of the true sense of partnership and collaboration between the two organizations. We see this as an excellent example of how companies and nonprofits can work together to accomplish a shared goal by leaning into their individual strengths and areas of expertise. We also love what Samsung Solve for Tomorrow stands for. It is an excellent way to encourage and empower teachers and students to solve real-life problems in their communities while engaging in active STEM learning." - David Hessekiel, President Engage for Good. 

In addition to engaging 2,000 teachers and nearly 40,000 students in this one-of-a-kind project-based learning competition, Solve for Tomorrow was able to serve as a bastion for normalcy and joyful engagement for students and teachers alike.

Thanks to Samsung, during the 2019-2020 school year, 250 teachers received a combined $2.5 million in Samsung and other classroom resources, which proved especially vital during COVID. As one teacher shared, “We have about 50% of our students who do not have a computer at home even though we have close to 95% with internet access.  We are able to check out Chromebooks to use at home because of the number of Chromebooks we’ve received from Samsung in the 3 previous times we were state winners.”

Read the full write up on Engage for Good.

Every student wins when they’re learning in an inclusive classroom that helps them feel safe and supported. That’s especially true for LGBTQIA+ students: Research shows “that LGBTQ students who attend schools with curriculum that is inclusive of LGBTQ people, history, and events experience a better school climate and improved academic outcomes”. 

This Pride Month, we’re showcasing some of the amazing projects and strategies that DonorsChoose teachers are using to ensure their classrooms are safe and inclusive.

Visibility matters

Thanks to Mr. Sorak and the donors who funded his project, students in his Connecticut classroom can proudly show off their identity at graduation with rainbow and purple graduation cords and stoles.

Students will be excited to have the opportunity to wear these in graduation pictures and at graduation. Representation is incredibly important for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans students and this will help them know that they are seen and accepted. —Mr. Sorak, "GSA Graduation Representation"

The Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at Ms. Sullivan’s Massachusetts middle school is growing, but many LGBTQIA+ students aren’t ready to share their identity outside of the safety of the GSA. During remote learning, she encouraged her students to create their own hoodie design as a subtle way to share their identity.

[The hoodies] are a great way that kids are able to express themselves and show their LBGTQ+ pride and identity without having to explicitly share it with their families if they are not ready to do so. —Ms. Sullivan, "Help me give my students LGBTQ+ students and allies hoodies that they designed!"

Creativity and community go hand in hand

When you're a student, school feels like your entire world. By bringing in guest speakers from the LGBTQIA+ community, DonorsChoose teachers are showing their students that school is just one part of life’s journey.
Ms. Hinds’ NYC library welcomes queer activists and authors like Adam Eli and comic book artists like Sophie LaBelle, author of the Serious Trans Vibes/Assigned Male Series. In bringing these guests into her classroom, she isn’t just supporting the LGBTQIA+ youth in her school, she’s building an environment of empathy.

At the Sassafras Lowrey [author] event yesterday, I learned that I should be open-minded and understanding of situations that I could not imagine myself going through. I can comprehend that running away from home at such a young age can be difficult, but doing so while figuring out your identity is even harder. —Ms. Jess Hinds, "Guest Speaker on Homeless LGBTQ Youth and Social Justice Books!"

Students in Ms. Money’s Florida GSA got to commission and work alongside a professional artist group to create a pop-up mural experience that represented them. Once the mural was complete, they invited important members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Miami and organizations who have supported their club to an unveiling.

It's a great way to have fun but also allow the GSA to participate and share with their school and local arts and LGBTQ+ community. —Ms. Money, "Help My GSA Engage the Community With This Interactive Mural"

Learning from history, not simply repeating it

The history of the LGBTQIA+ community has a lot to teach us. From representation in the media to the struggle for civil rights, studying pioneers who have changed the course of history can be empowering.

Mr. Fox created a professional development project, ordering copies of “Safe is Not Enough: Better Schools for LGBTQ Students” by Michael Sadowski to challenge his teacher colleagues to take action.

The intent and focus of this book is to push schools to go beyond simply creating "safe spaces" for LGBT students and to work on creating schools that inform all students of the valuable roles and experiences of Queer individuals throughout history. —Mr. Fox, "Better Schools for LGBTQ Students"

Students come to Ms. A’s gender studies class to learn more about identities that have been erased from the curriculum and in doing so, change the climate of the school. In her project for books exploring gender and LGBTQIA+ identity, history, and issues, she was particularly excited about history books.

I am asking for more books that explore LGBTQA history like 'A Queer History of the United States' to challenge the invisibility of these his/her/they-stories in mainstream Social Studies rooms. —Ms. A, "Gender Studies saved me..."

Celebrating multifaceted identities

When DonorsChoose teachers talk about their students, they talk about the whole person. Sexual orientation and gender identity don’t exist in a vacuum and students can tell when aspects of their identity aren’t being celebrated.

Ms. Jones from New York listens to her students’ ideas and book recommendations to make sure the joy they experience and their cultural backgrounds are also reflected in the stories they encounter in the classroom.

Our goal this year is to stock up on as many books as possible that reflect our beloved community of LGBTQ students of color... [And] after reading so many stories and seeing so many films about tragic LGBTQ characters, students realized that there is not enough recognition out there of the joy they experience in their day to day lives. —Ms. Jones, "Reading, Writing, and Rainbow Flags"

Mr Macintosh’s classroom is a place where they can celebrate their LGBTQIA+ identities as well as the talents, passions and teamwork that makes them so special as individuals.

"She Kills Monsters" is a celebration of strong young women and hilarious young men, of sisterhood, geek culture, LGBTQ identity, the power of the imagination, and the way outsiders can come together to create a community that celebrates their unique identities and gifts. I can't imagine a more perfect production to represent the community here at Repertory. —Mr. Macintosh, "She Kills Monsters - Sisterhood in Dungeons & Dragons"

How are you building inclusive spaces for your students to learn? For more great ideas or to support a teacher, here are some inspiring classroom projects curated by our LGBTQIA+ staff and allies.

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 ¹Advocate for Inclusive & Affirming Curriculum (Glsen.org/inclusive-curriculum)

For the past decade, Chevron has supported thousands of teachers through Fuel Your School. This year, they did something a little different: instead of encouraging folks to fill up their tanks to unlock Chevron’s donation to public schools, Chevron directly matched donations to projects driving racial equity in education. 

With a donation of nearly $2M, Chevron doubled and tripled donations to racial equity projects from schools in their priority regions. Funded projects included those requesting anti-racist and inclusive resources, STEM projects from schools serving a majority Black, Latino/a, and Indigenous students, and STEM projects from Black, Latino/a, and Indigenous teachers.

The results? Learning magic, of course! Take a look at 5 of our favorite moments from the past year with Chevron.

Students used art to express identity and explore culture.

Self-expression and exploration are at the core of art. In her project, "Mexican Sun and Moon Folk Art," Utah teacher Ms. Coyle requested art supplies so that her students could create masterpieces inspired by traditional Mexican folk art.

 In California, Mrs. Aviña noticed a hole in her art supply closet — resources that would let her students represent a diversity of skin tones! Her project “Promoting Diversity and Inclusion through Art” funded paint, clay, pencils, and more that would allow her students to create self portraits.

“Art celebrates different perspectives and celebrates the uniqueness of artists and their subjects; having supplies that honor and celebrate the many diverse cultures of my students will enhance our art lessons.” —Mrs. Aviña

Chevron leaders shared why they’re supporting racial equity in education

“Chevron’s contribution builds upon a long-term commitment to supporting education in the communities where we operate,” said Chevron Social Investment Manager, Melissa Rosenblatt. “Chevron’s long term partnership with leading education organizations like DonorsChoose provides funding to support educational resources for students and teachers throughout school year during these unprecedented times. We have long-made support for K-12 education one of our top priorities because we know that it is the key to powering the workforce of the future.”

Students connected with nature through STEM investigation

The classroom — and the laboratory — are wherever learning and experimentation is happening!

Mr. Byrns requested materials to help his California students surround their school with plants native their area, restoring biodiversity and giving students the chance to document ecological observations. Coach Sims, on the other hand, wanted to bring nature inside with his project Nature in the Classroom: Building a Hydroponics System. His request for a hydroponics system gives his students hands-on experience managing an ecosystem.

“Planting native plants helps bring back pollinators and other beneficial insects. After all the plants are in the ground, we will begin to take biodiversity surveys around campus and count all animals that we see.” —Mr. Byrns

Teachers celebrated their funding on social media

6,621 projects were brought to life!

We’re still floored by this incredible support from Chevron and from our community. Check out even more great projects supported by this campaign!

From May 3rd–May 7th, the DonorsChoose community celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week with help and funding from a number of partners and over 39,000 citizen donors all over the country — raising $7M for teachers and students in the process! These posts from the DonorsChoose Teacher Facebook Community are just a few reactions that give a hint of what it meant to be a DonorsChoose teacher this May.

1. Does a better reaction to Craig Newmark’s amazing contribution actually exist?

2. This teacher who hit an amazing milestone

3. Check out these future scientists in the making!

4. This teacher had the sweetest week.

5. It doesn’t take a microscope to see that this teacher knows how to spread the love!

6. Heartwarming moments were abundant ❤️

7. We indeed felt like Napoleon Dynamite all week thanks to the teacher who shared this.

8. Teacher Appreciation Week saw a ton of swift deliveries, and uber excited teachers!

9. This teacher shouted out the power in random acts of kindness.

10. Let's just say, it was a week of in-tents reactions!

These teacher reactions were just the tip of the iceberg. To see what inspired all the love, check out the full recap of the week here! 

Founded in 2000 by a high school teacher in the Bronx, DonorsChoose is a nonprofit website that empowers public school teachers from across the country to request materials for their students. Supporters from all over the country contribute gifts to public school classrooms of their choosing — helping teachers get the exact things they need for their students no matter where they’re learning.

"Charles Best and W.Kamau Bell on supporting students. Interviewed by Raisa Bruner"

Watch the full interview at time.com.