Innovative Teaching Grant Recipients • Spring 2006

Buried in my Garden! - $486.16
David Gasewicz • Maurine Cain Middle School
Seventh and eight grade students were introduced to the life cycle of plants and the food chain. Science lessons were developed to learn about plants and animals while a garden was grown in the Daily Living Skills classes. Students were responsible for the entire gardening process from soil preparation to the harvesting of the produce. Students then enjoyed the experience of preparing, cooking and eating the food.

Celebrations Around the World - $826.10
Janice Longino and Jan Stonestreet • Amy Parks-Heath Elementary School
First through fifth grade students were able to explore cultural celebrations from around the world through movement, dance, music, and literature. Students discovered and experienced not only our American holidays, but holiday celebrations such as Ramadan, Las Posadas, Oktoberfest, Hanukkah, Cinco de Mayo, and Kwanza. Students truly encountered an incredible adventure gaining a newfound knowledge and appreciation of the diversity in our world.

Give it the Old College Try - $348.90
Marc Green • Maurine Cain Middle School
The project was designed to benefit both seventh and eighth grade students in designing a possible education plan that begins with high school and carries them through post secondary education. The students had access to materials from the College Board and the internet to thoroughly research college majors, degree programs, and requirements for graduation from a university. The students used the information they uncovered and composed a brochure on the college of his/her choice.

Go Go Motion Racer - $956.15
Ann Knostman • Grace Hartman Elementary School
This project was designed for sixth grade students to become immersed in physics, specifically Newton’s Laws of Motion as well as engineering. The students discovered how these laws affect everyday life by identifying and graphing motion of different objects using motion sensors. The students experimented with motion using different types of objects such as tennis balls, racket balls and golf balls. The students applied this knowledge by building a mouse trap car that was raced against other teams in the class.

I’m a Sensory Kid - $4,261.90
Helen Gulley, Dondi Hampton, Donna Irons, Lauri Ritter and Tammie Sullivan •
Grace Hartman Elementary School
“I’m a Sensory Kid” was designed to help students faced with the challenges of sensory processing. The project allowed students with differing abilities, including those with Autism, Cerebral Palsy and other learning disabilities, to enjoy a sensory-rich learning environment that enhanced learning opportunities, social skills, and therapy. Classroom teachers, parents, speech therapists, and occupational and physical therapist were able to integrate a wide variety of multi-sensory products into a child’s learning and therapy in order to promote calm and focused attention to learning.

It Makes “Sense”- $1,017.82
Jason Mitchell and Elena Straight • Ouida Springer Elementary School
“It Makes ‘Sense’” has provided materials for students to touch, feel, and observe. Materials like blocks, models, and puzzles have opened the door to Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science along with process and laboratory skills. Rocks and minerals, specimen jars, life cycle puzzles, and magnetic rings are just a few examples of the hands-on activities students have had the opportunity to observe and explore. It Makes “Sense” has disguised learning with fun-filled activities that have turned our students into little scientists and life-long learners.

Let’s Go on Vacation! - $1,923.09
Jennifer Goss and Ruth Johnson • Grace Hartman Elementary School
Where is your dream vacation? Paris? London? Cairo? Sixth grade students had an opportunity to answer that question and more; they traveled the world without ever leaving the classroom. Through this project students were immersed into cultures different than their own while enhancing their understanding of the past, present, and future events taking place in our world. This grant provided students the means to create costumes, foods, artifacts, and other products of their choosing from various countries. All products were showcased at a bazaar held at the end of the unit.

Math Camp - $733.27
Cynthia DeFreese • J. W. Williams Middle School
Students attended a one week day camp during which time they worked on TAKS objectives both formally and informally. Students played math games involving computation and patterning and discovered that math CAN be fun. These students entered their math classes this year more open-minded about their ability to do math.

Measurement Olympics - $596.75
Wendy Smith • J. W. Williams Middle School
The students had the opportunity to participate in the 1st Annual Measurement Olympics. The students practiced all sorts of measurement skills by participating in such events as: Straw Javelin Throw, Cotton Ball Shot Put, How Much Does that Sponge Hold, and The Weight of Money.

Orienteering Your Way to Fitness - $445.40
Jason Foster and Dr. Jamie Vestal • Doris Cullins – Lake Pointe Elementary School
Fifth grade students participated in an orienteering program to gain knowledge in map reading and compass skills. Students utilized their newfound orienteering skills to maneuver their way through an outdoor fitness course. This project increased student fitness levels and encouraged students to apply this knowledge to other outdoor recreational activities for a lifetime.

Red Carpet Readers - $904.98
Stephanie Hickman and Holly Sanford • Doris Cullins – Lake Pointe Elementary School
All students were given the opportunity through Readers Theatre to improve fluency, oral reading expression, and confidence. Students enjoyed reading multi-genre and multi-level scripts which allowed students to participate on their level.

Spelling Whiz Kids - $774.00
Dixie Gordon, Cindy Jones, Jennifer Stout, Kory Turner and Noelle White • Amy Parks – Heath Elementary School
“Spelling Whiz Kids” was developed because we realized that most of what fourth graders read contains a huge amount of big, relatively unfamiliar words. Our program helped our students to pronounce and access meaning of words by using a hands-on method to manipulate letter tiles to decode and use word roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Wee Deliver, the Old Fashioned Way - $2,318.74
Kathy Adams and Cheryl Kelly • Doris Cullins – Lake Pointe Elementary School
and Grace Hartman Elementary School
“Wee Deliver” provided a creative outlet for students that encouraged them to develop reading and writing proficiency through the art of letter writing. Students had the opportunity to write letters to other students and staff members which were then delivered by student postal workers. Children were provided real-life experiences in which to apply basic skills such as: addressing envelopes, writing compositions, using appropriate punctuation and grammar, locating street addresses, and utilizing zip codes. Wee Deliver encouraged students, faculty and the community to correspond through the use of hand-written letters.

What’s the Matter - $243.65
Jason Mitchell • Ouida Springer Elementary School
The students were able to better understand the concept of changes in Matter. Using the solids, liquids, and gases with Toys Kit, the students were able to see changes in matter with every day items that they see every day. They were able to use hands-on activities to engage in learning.

Young Einsteins with Green Thumbs - $950.00
Babbie Blake, Jennifer Hansard, Kara Petrocelly, Barbara Rushing, and Lisa Shipley • Amy Parks – Heath Elementary School
First Graders discovered the wonders of gardening. Students planted radishes, lettuce, spinach, and broccoli in the fall. Testing Squanto’s planting method for corn was top priority with the children in the spring garden.