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GRANT
AWARDS
Round 29 - Fall, 2001 (Page 1
of 2)
ELEMENTARY LEVEL
AWARDS
Title: Faces of Africa – African
Mask Design
Level: Elementary
School: Rostraver Elementary School, Belle Vernon Area School District
Contact: Scott Kennel
In this grant project, students will learn about the design elements of African
mask art. They will use clay to create their own African mask, carving textured
designs into the mask. African music will help stimulate creativity. Completed
pieces will be displayed in school and at the district-wide community showcase,
Arts Alive.
Title: 911 – Second Graders to the Rescue
Level: Elementary
School: Rostraver Elementary School, Belle Vernon Area School District
Contact: Carol Manack
The purpose of this program is to make first and second graders aware of the
community they live in, the resources and services available, and the individuals
who provide these services. Students will gain an understanding and respect
for the professionals that serve, govern, protect and provide for their community
needs. Students will learn about potential careers that will expand their interest
in community and citizenship.
Title: This Little Class Went to the Market
Level: Elementary
School: Rostraver Elementary School, Belle Vernon Area School District
Contact: Jody L. Grove, Carol Manack, Melanie
Martin, Caroline Smith, Brandy Washinski, Alisha Hixenbaugh, Frank & Lisa
Spagnola
This great idea finds second graders working and operating a simulated community
grocery store in their classroom. Students will study the importance of the
community grocery store through the use of children’s literature and learning
centers. They will role play the various jobs in a grocery store and then visit
a local store for a "behind the scenes" tour of this community resource.
Title: Let’s Go See What Our Taxes Do
Level: Elementary
School: Rostraver Elementary School, Belle Vernon Area School District
Contact: Carolyn P. Smith
In this grant project students will study about their local government using
books, videos, speakers and project activities. Children will learn about their
elected officials, laws, law enforcement, public services and the taxes that
make it possible. Students will understand how public servants and public services
make their community better.
Title: You’ve Got Mail Second Graders
Level: Elementary
School: Rostraver Elementary School, Belle Vernon Area School District
Contact: Brandy J. Washinski
Second grade students will learn about the U.S. Postal Service through teacher
instruction, video presentation, and demonstration by postal employees. After
mastering several skills relating to letter writing and the operation of the
postal service, the students will start their own simplified inner-school –postal
service for the second grade.
Title: Take That to the Bank!
Level: Elementary
School: Rostraver Elementary School, Belle Vernon Area School District
Contact: Alisha Hixenbaugh, Jody Grove, Carol
Manack, Carolyn Smith, Brandi Washinski, Melanie Martin
Through this Great Idea Grant project students will become familiar with the
organization and operation of a bank. They will build on their counting and
math skills, learn about the functions of a calculator, be responsible for
check accounting and gain organization skills. They will visit a banking facility
and learn about the professional behaviors of staff employed there. They will
see what they have learned through classroom instruction and hands-on activities.
Title: Decisions, Decisions: Ancient
Empire Challenges
Level: Elementary
School: Westinghouse Elementary School, East Allegheny School District
Contact: Kimberly A. Sroka, Nicole Mahsoob
Using a computer program, "Decisions, Decisions: Ancient Empire" challenges
students to think like an ancient leader. Students role-play the leader of
a city-state and must struggle with the dilemmas of an ancient culture. They
must consider the impact of geography on culture, struggle with the best way
to please their gods, devise ways to protect their city, learn the power of
myth and legend. This project will be a challenging yet exciting way for children
to explore history and its relevance.
Title: Black History Quilts: An
American Dream
Level: Elementary
School: Westinghouse Elementary School, East Allegheny School District
Contact: Jacqueline Haber, Kim Sroka, Nadine
Godlesky, Nicole Mahsoob, Deb Gutwald, Kelly Santimauro, Tim Hurney, Marty
Casper
In this project students will have the unique opportunity to tell the story
of the African American experience through the writings and the design and
creation of a "Dream Quilt." In a cross-curricular unit of study,
students will study African American history including music and art, literature,
science, and the civil rights movement. Students will research and write a
poem about an individual that they have learned about. Writings will be published
in the computer lab and they will also create a power point presentation. Finally
the poetry will be illustrated in the design of a quilt square. The squares
will be pieced together to create a special quilt that tells the story of the
African American experience.
Title: The Publishing Center
Level: Elementary
School: Westinghouse Elementary School, East Allegheny School District
Contact: Kimberly A. Sroka, Nicole Mahsoob
This grant will assist in the completion of a publishing center for the many
writing projects taken on by sixth graders. Many of the studies of the sixth
grade are culminated by an adventurous writing project such as creating a children’s
book about Mesopotamia, or making an Ancient Chinese character book, or creating
a Roman travel brochure. This grant will allow for the student’s writings
to be bound after the pieces have been produced in the computer lab.
Title: Donuts for Dad, Muffins
for Mom
Level: Elementary
School: Westinghouse Elementary School, East Allegheny School District
Contact: Margaret Meighan, Loretta Matsko, Joanne Popovich, Jan Ruffolo
Donuts for Dad, Muffins for Mom will be a monthly parent involvement activity
held in the library 30 minutes before school begins. Parents and their child
will enjoy a light breakfast together while sharing various books, magazines,
math manipulatives and other activities. Parents will become more effective
partners in their children’s reading and math education.
Title: Salute to Veterans
Level: Elementary
School: Westinghouse Elementary School, East Allegheny School District
Contact: Susan Mathews, Dwight Hackett, Marge
Meighan, Anissa Thompson, Marge Cerra, Art Sample, Debbie Gutwald, Jim Catone,
Loretta Matsko
The goal of this grant program is to make Veteran’s Day meaningful to
students. Students will research family history to find relatives and friends
who have served our country in the armed services. Students will present an
assembly of instrumental and vocal music along with readings to local veterans.
Students will understand, recognize and honor the contribution of veterans
through this project. A small reception will follow the ceremonies.
Title: Scrap It!
Level: Elementary
School: Port Vue Elementary School, South Allegheny School District
Contact: Kristen Wagner
"Scrap It" is a computer created scrapbook account of the fourth graders’ school
year. Assemblies, holidays, class projects, after-school activities and field
trips will be captured on film and captioned with children’s writing. This
creative effort will use technology, writing and language skills to make a record
of the school year.
Title: Home to School Resource Center
Level: Elementary
School: Glassport School, South Allegheny School District
Contact: Janice Boyko, Jim Sowerby, Edward Burnett
This grant will create a parenting resource center for families. Videos, tapes,
and publications will be available to assist parents in motivation, homework
issues, anger management, AHDH, rebellious behaviors, etc.
Title: The Sky is the Limit
Level: Elementary
School: Port Vue Elementary School, South Allegheny School District
Contact: Debra Pliska, Stephen Slafka
In this grant project, sixth grade students will construct and launch a model
rocket after they have completed a study of the concepts of flight and the
history of flight. Students will also construct paper airplanes, and gliders
to demonstrate their understanding of the concept of flight.
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Title: Immersed
in Math II
Level: Elementary
School: Glassport
Elementary School, South Allegheny School District
Contact: Sally
Podvasnik, Peter Pascarella, Mary Dora, Mary
Chris Curran, Gary Kristen
This grant creates an annual school-wide event
that engages students in exciting and intriguing
math activities, which crosses art, science and
language arts
curriculums. With the assistance of university pre-service teachers and community
volunteers, the students will participate in developmentally appropriate problem
solving, mathematical and scientific conceptualization, and verbal and written
mathematical communication. Fundamental math concepts will be applied and reinforced
through "Immersed In Math II".
Title: Let’s
Play Math Day
Level: Elementary
School: Park
Elementary School, Steel Valley School District
Contact: Paulette
Smart
This grant finds first graders participating in a day of fun, hands-on math
activities including War with Dominoes, Graph That Skittle, LRC Game, Skunk,
Pattern-Patterns, Snakes-Oh No, Bears & Go. The goal is to motivate students
and help them think of math as fun and exciting rather than burdensome and
difficult.
Title: Franklin
Puppet Library
Level: Elementary
School: Franklin
Primary School, Steel Valley School District
Contact: Lori
Ann Mehalik
This grant will provide a variety of puppets and story props to be used by
teachers and students to reenact existing stories and create new stories. All
the activities will promote literacy, improve language skills and encourage
imaginative storytelling in all subject areas. For example, the caterpillar
puppet would be used in reading the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric
Carle. Students would be able to use it again when retelling the story in small
groups. It would also be incorporated into the science lesson on the butterfly’s
life cycle. Creating ways to actively engage students in learning will enhance
both the lessons and the children’s comprehension levels.
Title: The Nifty
Fifty State Fair
Level: Elementary
School: Homeville
Elementary School, West Mifflin Area School District
Contact: Michele
Kameg, Kelly M. Gomolak
The Nifty Fifty State Fair, similar to a science fair, will allow students
to research and display a project related to a specific state. Other classes
will be invited to tour the fair and also learn about our nation. This project
will help students meet educational standards in reading, writing and speaking.
Title: Kick Butts
Level: Elementary
School: Homeville
Elementary School, West Mifflin Area School District
Contact: Arlene
S. DeMauro, Donna Filipowski, Kelly Gomolak,
Michele Kameg,
Kathy Lenze, Barbara Gregory, Jennifer Terzich, Erik Hilligsberg, Janice Bonacci,
Ellen Castor
This grant program is designed to discourage tobacco use in fourth and fifth
graders through a variety of activities and lessons. Students will learn of
the dangers of tobacco use from teachers and community partners and participate
in "Kick Butts Day", the "Tar Wars" program, and Ugly Face
Contest.
Title: Buddy Up
Level: Elementary
School: McClellan
Elementary School, West Jefferson Hills School
District
Contact: Susan
Startari, Carol Adams, Nancy Douglas, Tomi Lynn
Porter, Karen Cerqua, Mary Gail Lautner, Mary
Vee Streever, Dena Davis, Deborah Markwith, Donna
Watson
The "Buddy Up" project will focus on written communication skills.
Each student will be teamed with another student across the district. Students
will communicate with each other through letters (district-mail), e-mail (computer
classrooms) and telephone. They will prepare questions to ask to gather buddy
information. They will do several activities together, such as read the same
book, exchange bookmarks, etc. Students will write and illustrate buddy biographies
that will be shared at a year-end "in-person" celebration.
Title: Tell Me
A Story…Spin Me A Tale
Level: Elementary
School: Mendon
Elementary School, Yough School District
Contact: Elaine
Yackovich, Irma Kramer, Carol Gonda
Tell Me A Story…Spin Me A Tale is designed to foster an appreciation of
classic children’s literature in the first grade classroom. Guest storytellers
will become part of the reading program using classic stories, puppet theaters,
literacy bags to engage first graders in these tales. As a culminating activity,
students will be encouraged to dress as their favorite character and attend
a "Fairy Tale Tea".
Title: Just the
Facts
Level: Elementary
School: Mendon
Elementary School, Yough School District
Contact: Brian
Grindle, Terry Lawson
The goal of this program is to help students develop a solid math fact foundation
by using the basic drill and practice technique to practice addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division facts both at home and school. Using flash cards,
students will work with family and friends to master math facts. "Math
Wiz" certificates will be awarded when mastery of 95% is achieved.
MIDDLE / INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
AWARDS
Title: Talkin’ Baseball
Level: Middle
School: Bellmar Middle School, Belle Vernon Area School District
Contact: Ross Farmer, Nancy Berna, Carol Aten, Stephen Russell
This great idea will find seventh and eighth grades creating a unique history
of baseball and American Culture. The students will do this by integrating
research, interviewing, and writing to make an archive of baseball history
as it mirrored the problems and triumphs of American history. The project will
be completed over a five-year period and will result in a comprehensive, unique
history of America and baseball.
Title: Classic Holiday Treats
Level: Middle
School: Redstone Middle School, Brownsville Area School District
Contact: Mary Seelye
This project will use seasonal holidays and celebrations as an opportunity
to introduce classic literature to special needs students. Halloween will find
students meeting Ichabod Crane in the "Legends of Sleepy Hollow." Discussions
of luck, superstition and ghosts will engage students in the stories. The students
will meet the spirits of past, present and future in "A Christmas Carol" and
then share their own visions. Students will also get to view videos of the
stories and compare and contrast the versions of the stories presented in the
different mediums. Holidays will open the door to classic literature for the
participating students.
Title: Turbans and Pillows
Level: Middle
School: Elizabeth Forward Middle School, Elizabeth Forward School District
Contact: Brenda M. Hoffman
This project is designed as a community outreach opportunity for seventh graders.
Students will learn sewing skills to create turbans and pillows for cancer patients
in local hospitals and oncology units. They will also practice their research
skills to learn about cancer and the needs of patients as they fight this disease.
Involved students will develop academic and vocational skills as they experience
caring and giving in their community.
Title: Apron Art
Level: Middle
School: Elizabeth Forward Middle School, Elizabeth Forward School District
Contact: Jeennie K. Nickolls
In this grant project, students will make art aprons with famous masterpieces
painted on them. The students will research an artist and painting. They will
then do a sketch, transferring it and painting it on an apron. The aprons will
serve a two-fold purpose of sparking interest in the art of the great masters
and protecting the clothing of students as they express themselves in clay,
plaster, and paint artwork.
Title: Jewels of the Sky
Level: Middle
School: Frazier Middle School, Frazier School District
Contact: Donna M. Clark, Ross Ackinclose, Gladys Burton
This grant activity finds students learning about moths and butterflies to
better understand and care for their environment. The world of butterflies
and moths will be explored from larvae pupate and metamorphosis to Painted
Ladies through videotapes, worksheets and direct observation. The purpose of
the activities is to ignite the students’ natural wonder through exploration
and observation of moths and butterflies.
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