D&D for YEG Kids

I'm a passionate D&D player who has started a D&D club for the grade 4-6's in my school. After crushing my first goal of $1000 to buy the books and minis that would keep their love of the game going, I decided that my new goal was to get enough books and materials to get at least 7 similar clubs in Edmonton schools started. There are many social, emotional and curricular benefits to role-playing. Roleplaying allows them to process and express their feelings through storytelling and their character. Through a collaborative storytelling process they also increase their literacy and numeracy skills, both of which are low in my school. They also have the opportunity to explore and try things in a fantasy world that allow them to experiment with characteristics that they themselves would like to express in their real life, but are a little scared to. D&D teaches many skills: teamwork, collaboration, risk taking, resilience, storytelling, critical thinking, problem solving and flexibility. All skills that are vital to everyday life. The scope of my initial goal was to give 3 kids a kit (detailed below). Now that the campaign has more than doubled, my goal has changed. Now my goal is to help schools set up D&D clubs and connect them, if need be, with local DM's. Each kit will include: A Player Handbook-the core rules and the book most necessary to play. A Dungeon Masters Guide - the core book necessary to run a group. A Monster Manual - no Monster Manual, no monsters to slay. Miniatures for them to move and physically play with on the table. A battlemat - AKA a blank map so that whomever is leading the group can draw out the maps for the players to play in. Markers - to draw the maps. Dice - you can't roll a natural 20 if you don't have dice! All totaled, each set I hope to provide to a school, and some of the kids in each club to take home costs nearly $300. Thank you. You will be giving kids the gift of imagination and creative expression as well as friendship and resilience.