2009-2010 Teacher Mini-Grants Award Booklet - The Education Fund

TEACHER MINI-GRANTS SPONSORED BYP.L.DODGE FOUNDATIONPAN TIMEA multicultural and multidisciplinary introductionto Pan or steel drum music willusher students through a journey from theinstrument's origins in Africa and India tothe Caribbean, where it remains a mainstayin island music and culture. A focuson the history and the people whodeveloped the drum will enhance readingand writing, while math and science areused to understand how the convex andconcave indentations create different notesand how tempo values can be calculatedthrough fractions. Budding percussionistswill get drum time as a reward forimproved school work.Hyder Davie, Ina E. McNeil & LindaBrent, Dr. Robert B. Ingram ElementaryPHINEAS, FERB, PHONICSAND FAMILYThird-grade ESE students will study vocabulary,phonics and reading, through curriculumnarrated by popular animatedDisney characters Phineas, Ferb and theirpet platypus, Perry. In addition to songs,games, flash cards, comic books and othertools, parent packs use CDs and softwarethat can be checked out and taken hometo involve the family in a fun and effectivelearning process.Georgianna ReedJohn I. Smith ElementaryPICTURE SUCCESSThis reading and tutoring project will usemotivational books to mentally strengthenand prepare ninth-grade students for theFCAT, while encouraging parents to havetheir children attend afterschool tutoringthrough drawings for school shirts,supplies and restaurant vouchers.Students will learn how to "self-motivate,"by journaling and creating encouragingbanners as they improve their readingskills and build confidence that will guidethem through testing to high schoolgraduation and college.Patricia GambleMiami High SchoolPOP IN CHARACTER EDUCATION:DEVELOPING LEADERSHIPThis project will foster critical thinking, confidence,independence, and self-reliance inincoming 9th-grade students, as theydevelop their leadershipskills in public demonstrationsby presentingworkshops to classes andteacher groups. Studentswill learn and mastermotivational games andactivities that are popularfor corporate team-buildingretreats, such as groupjuggling and kickball, thendesign and promote anoriginal personalpresentation, incorporatingtheir message. They willkeep journals, createpromotional materials and videotape theirpresentations.Andrew Melville & Katerina NadelAmerican High SchoolREADY - READING EMPOWERSAND DEFINES YOUThe Reading Empowers and Defines Youprogram reaches out to third-gradestudents who test below the requiredreading level with small group andindividual instruction at school andassistance to the students' families inestablishing libraries in the home. Whilestudents take home new and used booksthat supplement their lessons, a networkof community volunteers will visit theschool to read with small groups threetimes a week.Willie Mae InnissGolden Glades ElementaryREADY, SET, GO!This is the old popular Pinewood Derbyin 21st-century hyperspace, as teams ofmiddle-school students attach CO2cartridges to balsa wood race cars for aseries of races. After establishing a baselinetime for the cars to propel 65 feet,they will collect data and reconstruct thevehicles based on the knowledge ofaerodynamics, weight and friction. Theywill learn to use technology to measureprinciples of speed and weight whileusing scientific research and mathformulas to calculate acceleration anddistance, as their cars eventuallycompete to break the classroom speedrecord of 65 feet in less than one second.Glover RogersAllapattah Middle SchoolSERVING UP A MENU FORSUNSHINE STATE BOOKSIn an attempt to complete all 15 books onthe Sunshine State list of recommendedreading, this ambitious literature club of25 students will meet twice a week afterschool to participate in critical discussionsand take part in cross-curricularactivities that complement the texts andmake the reading come alive. Each bookis linked with unforgettable interactivestudent events, such as planting pumpkinseeds, writing Chinese calligraphy,creating paper lanterns, preparingCincinnati chili, listening to cello music,serving Indian tea and examining virusesthrough a microscope, to name just a few.Theresa Angiolillo and Arlene TrotterCrestview ElementarySTARTING OVER: STORIES OFSUCCESS AND STRUGGLEIn addition to adjusting to a new country,culture and language, imagine beingthrust into the unforgiving social strataand academic expectations of anAmerican high school. These tenth-gradeEnglish Language Learners will work toovercome isolation by reading storiesand studying the experiences ofimmigrants who've adapted to andsucceeded in their new lives in thiscountry. After writing essays about theirown unique experiences, students willmix with native students in leadershipclasses and visual technology/ photographycourses to publish a compilationof their stories on the Web and in print.Isabel PerezHialeah Gardens High SchoolThe Education Fund - www.educationfund.org 5