Fund Your Classroom Set for Free

We know school budgets are tight. That's why we've created this toolkit to help you request a Laminated Classroom Set (30 Maps) or a Paper Classroom Set (30 Maps) through DonorsChoose.org.

Since we are not yet a standard vendor in the DonorsChoose catalog, you will need to submit a Special Request project. Don't worry—it's easy, and we've provided all the exact wording you need below.

Project Title: Bringing Our Local Watershed to Life! About My Students: My [Grade Level] students are curious, energetic, and eager to understand the world around them. However, when we study earth science and the water cycle, textbooks often feel abstract and disconnected from their daily lives. They need hands-on, visual tools that show them exactly how water flows through our own community and region. About My Project: I am requesting a classroom set of Professor Higbee's Stream & Lake Maps for our state. These are the only primary and secondary watershed boundary maps available anywhere, providing an unparalleled level of detail. With a map for every student, we will move beyond the textbook. Students will be able to physically trace the path of a raindrop from a local creek all the way to the ocean. They will learn to identify stream orders, delineate watershed boundaries, and understand how human development impacts our local water quality. These maps will transform abstract environmental science concepts into a tangible, localized learning experience that my students will never forget.

Educational Standards Alignment: This project directly supports the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Earth and Space Sciences: • MS-ESS2-4: Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity. • MS-ESS3-3: Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment. • HS-ESS2-5: Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes. By using these highly detailed regional maps, students will engage in the Science and Engineering Practices of developing and using models, analyzing and interpreting data, and constructing explanations based on real-world geographical evidence.

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If DonorsChoose requires an official quote or invoice before approving your Special Request, please contact us and we will provide one immediately.

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