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

TEACHER MINI-GRANTS SPONSORED BYMIAMI-DADE COUNTYC.C.C.-CHILDREN'SCONSERVATION CORPSThis multi-faceted project introduceskindergarten and first-grade students tothe natural resources in their environment,and how they can make a differencethrough reducing, re-using and recycling atschool and at home. Lessons addressidentifying Florida's animal and floral communities,understanding what creates trashand where it goes, participating in a recyclingfair, and creating posters with conservationtips. The class will even create a"Swap Box," where kids may exchangeand re-use items they no longer need.Jennifer WilliamsLehman ElementaryCONSERVATIONCOLLABORATION WITH PSAsUsing numerous multimedia platforms, thecreative writing club and science club willcollaborate to create environmental awarenessPublic Service Announcements tobroadcast during school announcementsand on the Internet. Participants get acrash course not only in environmentalactivism but also in the interactive mediatechnologies to disseminate the message,including print brochures, school newspaperarticles, weblogs, podcasts, andvideos. Students will also sponsor a beachclean-up day and adopt a manatee byworking with a marine wildlife conservationgroup to add hands-on direct service tothe advocacy process.Kristin Hoyer & Gwen FooteNautilus Middle SchoolCONSERVING OURRIVERS OF GRASSAs these young scientists research theEverglades and South Florida's marineecosystem, they will understand the importanceof wetlands protection and developan appreciation for marine conservation,activism and the beauty of nature thatcould last a lifetime. During a field tripsafari to the Everglades, the fourth-gradestudents are encouraged to view naturethrough the perspective of artists, who thenwill express their discoveries by creating aceramic mural, fired and glazed by thestudents and displayed at the school.Michael F. FlaumJack D. Gordon ElementaryFROM "TERMINATOR"TO CONSERVATOR!Each month, fourth-grade students willfocus on a different method of conservation--water,energy, soil and wildlife--tocreate a well-rounded, holistic introductionto environmental awareness.Activities from science lab experimentsto hydroponic plant cultivation to endangeredspecies research will illustrate theinterconnectivity of all living things on theplanet, and prepare students to deliveroriginal environmental presentations tothe school's third-grade students.Sandra CastellonCutler Ridge ElementaryPAPER FROM PAPER 3 R’s:REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLEStudents in World History, SocialStudies, Visual Arts and Leadership/Service-Learning classes are broughttogether with the Environmental Club inthis schoolwide cross-curricular projectto recycle and create new paper usingancient Chinese methods. After in-depthstudies on the country and culture thatinvented the process, students convergeon the art room to produce bookmarksand notecards. These may be marketedthrough fundraising activities decided inclassroom discussions of business andcommerce. Student trainers instruct newgroups in the artistic process to continuethe pursuit.Maydelis Gutierrez, Katerina Nadel& Trina CabrisasHialeah Gardens High SchoolWATER CONSERVATIONJUST DO IT!This project addresses a critical environmentalissue through various learningstyles and activities to reach SPED studentsin an Earth Space science class.After studying the various ways societyand individuals may save water, theseninth-grade students will analyze pollutionthrough lab experiments with a waterqualitytest kit, complete personal waterusecharts and create PowerPoint presentationsof their findings.Lynda MiretSouth Miami Senior HighThe Education Fund - www.educationfund.org 9