Fall 2011

The following Grants were awarded in the Fall 2011:

 

Meet The Animals
School: Forest Avenue Elementary School
Applicant: Doreen O’Neil

Meet the Animals is an engaging outreach program provided by the Norman Bird Sanctuary’s education department. This interactive class teaches the children about the habits, behaviors and physical features of a few different animal groups.   This presentation is a meaningful connection to our science unit called Animals 2×2.  It also will be utilized when teaching Informational Writing and non-fiction reading.

 

Kaleidoscope Theatre Presentation of “B.U.L.L.Y”
School:  Forest Avenue Elementary School and Aquidneck Elementary School
Applicant: Patricia King

“B.U.L.L.Y.” or “Better Understand by Listening and Learning about You” is a theatrical presentation performed in-the-round in which the actors enact various bullying situations that may be encountered in a school setting.  Some of the topics covered include physical bullying, emotional bullying (and the consequences of these). The program stresses self worth and helps students develop the social skills needed to co-exist in a peaceful atmosphere.

 

March Into Reading
School: Forest Ave. Elementary School; Aquidneck Elementary School and J.H. Gaudet Middle School and Learning Academy
Applicant: Chyleene O’Connor

March Into Reading will bring 3 book authors to Forest Ave. Elementary School, Aquidneck Elementary School and Gaudet Middle School.  The program will expose the students to literature and a love of reading. This year’s theme is “Wild About Animals” and supports both informational and fiction text.  The event includes a week of activities at each school, culminating with the authors’ visits on Friday, March 2, 2012.   MEC is partially funding this program; the Aquidneck Collaborative for Education (ACE) is funding the majority of the program.

 

Biomes Field Trip
School: Aquidneck Elementary School
Applicant: Diane Lukowicz

Kindergarten students will attend a 1 hour tour at the Biomes Marine Center to enhance its science curriculum. Each class will explore the 12 different learning stations which include 100 different species of locally collected marine life. Students will learn about adaptations, habitats, feeding behaviors and tropical strays. This hands on experience will allow the students to investigate touch tanks hence providing a multi-sensory learning experience.

 

BrainPop, Jr.
School: Aquidneck Elementary School
Applicant: Melissa Bolton

BrainPop, Jr.  is an educational internet site for students in the areas of math, science,  reading/writing and social studies. It can be used by all students at Aquidneck, in grades K-3,  as a resource for the topics covered during lessons in the academic areas mentioned above. It is easy to use for teachers and engages students throughout the presentations. This visual medium gives students another learning modality to access and acquire new information and/or review class topics. This program can be used in the computer lab with an entire class. Games, quizzes, and vocabulary word walls are a few of the other features. Teachers can also use this program to get ideas for lesson plans that directly link to the standards.

 

Project Chicks
School: Aquidneck Elementary School
Applicant: Laura Pasyanos

A farm educator will teach the students about the endangered Dominique Chicken breed during an in-class, hands-on presentation.  The presenter will set up an incubator in the classrooms and provide a clutch of eggs to observe until the chickens hatch. The baby chicks are returned to Casey Farm at which time students will tour the facility and learn about farm plants and animals.  This program is a meaningful connection to the students’ science unit, and will also be utilized when teaching Informational Writing and non-fiction reading.

 

Alternative Energy Enrichment
School: J.H. Gaudet Middle School and Learning Academy
Applicant: Heidi Gauch

Alternative Energy Enrichment uses the Thames and Kosmos science kits for students to work on high-interest activities that are an extension of the 6th grade science curriculum.  The kits will be used during flex-time.  They will also help the students work on their inquiry skills, which is an area that needs improvement  according to recent NECAP scores.

 

BrainPop
School: J.H. Gaudet Middle School and Learning Academy
Applicant: Donna Murphy

BrainPop is an educational internet site for students in the areas of science, social studies, English and math. It can be used by all students at Gaudet, in grades 4-8,  as a resource for the topics covered during lessons in the academic areas mentioned above. It is easy to use for teachers and engages students throughout the presentations.  This visual medium gives students another learning modality to access and acquire new information and/or review class topics. This program can be used in the computer lab with an entire class. Games, quizzes, and vocabulary word walls are a few of the other features. Teachers can also use this program to get ideas for lesson plans that directly link to the standards.

 

Music Curriculum Resources
School: J.H. Gaudet Middle School and Learning Academy
Applicant: Claire Johnson and Emily Hookway

The purchase of a new  musical score entitled, “Choices Count”, to be performed as our 4th grade Spring Musical. This musical score will support the positive behavior program “PBIS” at Gaudet, as well as incoming third graders from Forest and Aquidneck schools. The grant will  purchase 2 Director’s Scores, 95 student’s scores and 1 performance/accompaniment CD.

 

PawSox Field Trip
School: J.H. Gaudet Middle School and Learning Academy
Applicant: Christine Clancey

6th Grade students  have mini-lessons in the areas of math, ELA and PE taught by RIC students during McCoy Stadium’s Curriculum Day. Students learn how to score a baseball game and the history behind the team and the stadium. After two hours of math and history lessons, students watch a PawSox game to see the things they have learned taking place, since everything they have done relates back to baseball.  The field trip enhances the students’ math and social studies curriculum; relating baseball to their areas of study.

 

Flocabulary
School: Middletown High School
Applicant: Rachelle Myllymaki

Flocabulary mixes hip-hop music and curricular materials to teach academic content in grades K-12.  Flocabulary will help social studies students remember the curriculum as it is set to music. Flocabulary strives to test scores and foster a love of learning by making it fun.

 

Geometer’s Sketch Pad Software
School: Middletown High School
Applicant: Gus Steppen

The Geometer’s Sketchpad Software is an interactive math education software that allows geometry students to see and manipulate sides and angels of shapes. It is also a powerful tool in algebra/trigonometry for seeing and relating to functions. It can be used at all levels of math instruction at Middletown High School.

 

Harvard Model U.N. Club
School: Middletown High School
Applicant:  John Cunic

Students/club members will attend the 2012 Harvard Model United Nations Conference in Boston in January 2012.  Students will gain insight into the workings of the U.N.; will debate issues that confront world leaders; and, will draft resolutions in response to global issues.  Students work on their knowledge of world governments, economics, cultures and customs, and social issues, as well as honing their writing and presentation skills.

 

Latin Dance Instruction
School: Middletown High School
Applicant: Anita DeLima

The MHS PE/Health and World Language Departments have been working collaboratively for the last few years to introduce our students to Latin Dance. P.E. students will be instructed by Sara and Chris Baker from the East Bay Ballroom in a  bi-lingual “Spanish/English” Salsa, Rumba and ChaCha dance unit.  400+ high school students will have the opportunity to experience the art and culture of Latin Dance. Some students will showcase their newly acquired dancing skills talents at the high school’s annual International Festival.

Que Tal magazine
School: Middletown High School and J.H. Gaudet Middle School
Applicant: Amy Kalif, Kristen Lyon,  Christine Karoly

Spanish 1 students in both Middletown High School and Gaudet Middle School will be provided with a 6-issue subscription of Que Tal magazine This magazine provides current, age-appropriate cultural information that students may access both inside and outside of the classroom. Additionally, students will be reading informational material in the target language which directly ties into the new common core standards.