Solid science education is the best inoculation against ignorance.

The objective of this project is to combat the anti-science push in conservative America by providing direct funding each week to math and science projects in red state classrooms.

Fortunately, a conduit organization for achieving this direct funding already exists: DonorsChoose.org. If the name sounds familiar to you, it's probably because Stephen Colbert has partnered with them in the past to fund schools with high percentages of military kids. DonorsChoose.org allows you to make direct contributions to specific classroom projects (all vetted), resulting in tremendous and immediate impacts from small dollar donations.

Each week, I will compile a list of the most urgent DonorsChoose.org math and science projects from red state (as defined here) classrooms. These will be projects whose funding requests are expiring within the next 7 days. If the projects are not funded by their expiration date, they die.

We're not going to be able to rescue all these projects, but we can make a dent. You give, you save the projects, and you help protect our future.

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How It Works

From the DonorsChoose.org "How It Works" page:

Here's how it works: public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class. Then, you can browse project requests and give any amount to the one that makes your eye twinkle. Once a project reaches its funding goal, we deliver the materials to the school. You'll get photos of your project taking place, a thank-you letter from the teacher, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent. If you give over $100, you'll also receive hand-written thank-you letters from the students. At DonorsChoose.org, you can give as little as $1 and get the same level of choice, transparency, and feedback that is traditionally reserved for someone who gives millions. We call it citizen philanthropy. .... How we ensure integrity

Our team is vigilant about providing end-to-end integrity for each classroom project funded through our site. To that end, we: Vet every classroom project request submitted by teachers.

Process donor transactions using the most secure and trusted technology available.

Purchase the classroom materials, shipping items directly to the school and alerting the principal when the materials are on their way.

Provide photos of the project taking place, teacher and student letters, and a cost report showing how every dollar was spent.

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Helpful Links

DonorsChoose.org

DonorsChoose.org Blog

DonorsChoose.org Donor FAQ

All DonorsChoose.org Math & Science Projects

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The Projects

Utah (R + 30.768) Project: Using Calculators Everyday!

Resources Needed: 20 calculators and a calculator pocket chart kit

School Poverty Level: Moderate

Total Cost: $423.17

Still Needed: $212

Expires: Oct 01, 2009 Project: Building Bridges and Making Connections

Resources Needed: One classroom set of the K'nex Introduction to Structures, Bridges Set and three sets of the K'nex Real Bridge Building Sets.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $928.80

Still Needed: $414.87

Expires: Oct 05, 2009 Project: That is so MANIPULATIVE!

Resources Needed: A complete set of Stamp and Solve Math Activity Boxes, a set of Build-A-Story Problem flip books, Daily Math Stations for grades 1-6 and Hands-On problem solving books.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $525.61

Still Needed: $262.61

Expires: Oct 06, 2009

Idaho (R + 27.018) No project requests ending within 7 days.

Wyoming (R + 26.132) No project requests ending within 7 days.

Nebraska (R + 22.606) No project requests ending within 7 days.

Alaska (R + 20.946) No project requests ending within 7 days.

Oklahoma (R + 20.152) Project: Pre-K Pickin' Pumpkins

Resources Needed: 15 assorted resources, including headphones, a junction box, 2 CD Read-Alongs, paint aprons, a Tote & Play Garden Set, a Growing Things Theme Book Library and safety goggles.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $548.24

Still Needed: $548.24

Expires: Oct 02, 2009 Project: Its A Bug's Life

Resources Needed: 12 Riker mounts and 6 Insect Nets to capture, mount and classify insects.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $340.66

Still Needed: $207.66

Expires: Oct 05, 2009

Kansas (R + 16.892) Project: Makin' Some Noise!

Resources Needed: A Lapel mic voice amplification system to be able to better hear in the classroom.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $808.62

Still Needed: $808.62

Expires: Oct 05, 2009

North Dakota (R + 16.484) No project requests ending within 7 days.

Alabama (R + 15.162) Project: It's a Small, Small World!!!

Resources Needed: 4 Frey microscopes to peer into the microscopic world of the unknown and discover what inhabits that world.

School Poverty Level: Moderate

Total Cost: $1,008.22

Still Needed: $998.54

Expires: Sep 30, 2009 Project: "Give Me Math for $1000 Please!!!!!!!!"

Resources Needed: Math classroom jeopardy with Pre-Algebra cartridge to help incorporate Graduation Exam skills and instill life long learning skills needed to become functional, productive individuals in society.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $653.04

Still Needed: $586.44

Expires: Oct 04, 2009

Mississippi (R + 12.766) Project: Projecting Better Futures

Resources: A new projector for our team SMARTBoard

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $1,167.07

Still Needed: $1,167.07

Expires: Sep 30, 2009 Project: Bring History to Life

Resources: 28 books covering a number of social studies topics, including 3 copies each of U.S. and World Atlases and a number of Eyewitness Series books.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $584.15

Still Needed: $584.15

Expires: Oct 01, 2009 Project: Give Us A Hand(book)

Resources: A class set (30 copies) of "Sciencesaurus - A Student Handbook" to enhance their understanding of science concepts, increase their reading comprehension skills, and provide them with opportunities to practice the writing skills taught in their Language Arts classes.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $1,069.51

Still Needed: $1,069.51

Expires: Oct 02, 2009 Project: Help Us Visualize Math

Resources: 1 Math Manipulative Library.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $226.30

Still Needed: $216.83

Expires: Oct 05, 2009

South Dakota (R + 11.920) No project requests ending within 7 days.

South Carolina (R + 11.230) Project: If A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words, What is A Video Worth?

Resources: 5 RCA Small Wonder Digital Camcorders.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $754.88

Still Needed: $754.88

Expires: Sep 30, 2009 Project: Criss-Cross-Applesauce...Spoons-in-the-Bowl

Resources: A Sunny Day Learn and Play Rectangle Rug.

School Poverty Level: High

Total Cost: $714.17

Still Needed: $674.63

Expires: Oct 01, 2009

Montana (R + 9.668) No project requests ending within 7 days.

Kentucky (R + 9.408) Project: A Sponge Is An Animal?

Resources: A DVD about sponges, a varied collection of microscope slides and storage boxes for a sponge and cnidarian lab.

School Poverty Level: Poverty Data Unavailable

Total Cost: $554.88

Still Needed: $554.88

Expires: Oct 04, 2009 Project: What's A Sea Squirt?

Resources: A set of preserved specimens for labs in the Animal Kingdom Unit.

School Poverty Level: Poverty Data Unavailable

Total Cost: $395.12

Still Needed: $395.12

Expires: Oct 04, 2009

Indiana (R + 9.398) Project: Chemistry Games

Resources: 3 Atom Building Games.

School Poverty Level: Moderate

Total Cost: $378.05

Still Needed: $378.05

Expires: Oct 04, 2009 Project: Math and Reading: Colliding Curriculum!

Resources: 17 picture books to learn Math concepts.

School Poverty Level: Moderate

Total Cost: $198.78

Still Needed: $198.78

Expires: Oct 04, 2009 Project: Dragon Scales

Resources: Four sets of spring scales.

School Poverty Level: Moderate

Total Cost: $139.88

Still Needed: $85.24

Expires: Oct 04, 2009 Project: Marbles and Physics

Resources: A Straight Marble Track from CPO.

School Poverty Level: Moderate

Total Cost: $132.00

Still Needed: $71.71

Expires: Oct 04, 2009