2023-2024 CLASSROOM GRANT RECIPIENTS
MPE invites its members to apply for classroom grant funding each year to try out a new idea or buy the “extras” for an already great lesson plan or project. Forty-four members received grants of up to $1,000 for their class projects and instructional program. We are pleased to spotlight several of the grants below for your enjoyment, as well as your reference for ideas for your own classroom.
Juliette Collier Northwest Rankin Middle School 3D Canvases
Thank you so much to MPE for funding the art project in my classroom. Making art in 3D gives students a new perspective on the concept of art, a question we ask everyday. Now, the students can say, “Art can be sculpture, not just paintings and drawings.” My students enjoyed making the 3D canvas paintings. I saw students who sometimes struggle do so well with the clay and also, students who sometimes are not interested in our lessons really enjoy themselves. It was refreshing to change
up the pattern in my classes. With the grant from MPE, my students were able to look at art a different way, express them - selves, and have amazing art to show online and at our end of the year art show. My students produced 146 3D canvases - they learned a lot about art, but even more about what they are able to do.
Anamaria Moore Vardaman Attendance Center Lactose Intolerance: Enzyme Specificity & Cellular Transport
Thank you so much to MPE for funding the classroom grant that provided lab equip - ment and supplies for my classroom! The grant was used to create and run an experi - ment investigating lactose intolerance and the effects of different variables on enzyme activity in my biology classroom. This lab allowed my students to better understand topics in the biology curriculum, which helped prepare them for their Biology 1 state test, as well as learn more about the relatable effects of enzyme activity through a study of lactose intolerance, which many of them could connect to their everyday lives. The hands-on learning created a new and invaluable experience for them they otherwise would not have. The goals for this project were for students to safely and ac - curately conduct a scientific investigation and construct an appropriate explanation to relate the results of the experiment to “real life” including data that was collected dur - ing the experiment. I think it is really important that students appreciate that science affects their everyday lives and extends beyond the classroom. Both of my goals were reached with this activity, all thanks to the MPE Classroom Grant!
Janice Barnes Arlington Elementary Centered on Literacy
My students, parents, and I are grateful that MPE funded our grant. The students were eager to read with their Adopt-a-Reading Buddy. My goals were to increase literacy across all subjects and improve parent involvement. My students enjoyed collaborating with their peers utilizing the journals, listening center, and the comprehension centers.
Students’ critical thinking, analytical, and questioning skills improved in all subjects. Most parents were very hands on and eager to assist as much as possible. The funding from the MPE grant afforded our class a listening center, a set of T-Rex read-along books, 6 National Geographic read-alongs, 12 comprehension centers, 20 writing journals, and math journals, and 33 stuffed Reading Buddies.
PAGE 18 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
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