I am requesting funding for a large magnetic white board and additional manipulatives for the media center at Harvest. The board will be the home to many experiences in the media center for all of the learners, including makerspace activities, supporting literacy skills and enhancing our ability to engage in all of the four c’s that we focus on throughout the media curriculum. Through the sharing of ideas, collaboration while in the process of completing a task, and critically thinking about the most innovative ways to work through a problem, the learners at Harvest will be allowed to grow and develop in many ways.
Sphero SPRK+ robots for Innovation Labs
This project is for Sphero SPRK+ robots and introduces coding to the elementary students. Through play, these robots empower students to embrace challenge, enjoy their efforts, shine with resiliency and value the opportunity to fail and then make improvements. Students take ownership of their learning by creating their own fun programs, activities and games. Sphero SPRK+ allows students to actively practice the 4Cs (creativity, communication, collaboration & critical thinking).
KEVA Planks
I would like to obtain an educators set of KEVA planks to benefit student learning in several academic content areas as well as student attributes highlighted in our districts Learner Profile. Students will be presented with challenges and activities that will fit the needs and varying abilities of all. KEVA planks will serve to enhance educational and social/ emotional concepts through hands-on, authentic, and student led innovations, which also lends itself to kinesthetics and visual concepts of varying levels of complexity.
O2 Grow Better
The purchase of a O2 Grow electrolysis unit to generate nano-oxygen to improve yield and quality of tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables grown by Agriculture students to supply the Culinary Arts Program Students
To the Beat of the Drum
Students will play “To the Beat of the Drum” during music therapy sessions. Exploring their imagination through song, rhythm, and tune while building communication through verbal and nonverbal expressions. “To the Beat of the Drum” will allow students to express their creative and communicative sides in a diverse environment for all. The rhythmic component of music is organizing to students with sensory processing differences which enables them to feel calm and open for learning and communication.
Woof Woof Finn the Therapy Dog (Training)
The emotional well being of students significantly impacts success and achievement. We must be creative in supporting student mental and emotional health given fixed numbers of trained mental health professionals and finite student resources in the district. Training Finn to be a therapy dog is an additional avenue we can use to reduce stress, promote mental health and encourage overall student success. We routinely interact with students who are struggling with anxiety and/or other emotional challenges and I (Jason Pickett) am uniquely positioned to introduce the dog to these students.
Hovercraft Obstacle Course Design Challenge
This design challenge will require students to collaborate, research and think critically to solve a problem. The hovercraft will serve as the control in this scientific challenge. Students must research, design, and build a way to steer the hovercraft. They will be able to test out and improve their design to, in the end, steer their craft through an obstacle course.
Keeping Speed Stacking Alive!
Between the years of 2005 and 2007, a successful series of FSAS Grants came together to create a complete set of classroom Speed Stacking supplies. Speed Stacking is cup stacking, where an individual attempts to create different blends of pyramids with cups while being timed.
We are very proud to say that roughly 13 years later, our Speed Stacking supplies are still used on a daily basis! With constant use comes the need for new supplies to keep this worthwhile program moving.
Commissioning Creativity: SHS Chamber Choir World Premiere a New Choral Work
The Saline High School Chamber Choir plans to commission a piece from Connor Koppin, an award-winning and nationally recognized composer of new choral music. Students will go beyond their normal practice of simply learning a piece by being a part of the creative process from the very start. This grant will include the commissioned work itself, visits from Mr. Koppin who is currently doing his DMA at MSU, and a unique collaborative experience for our students to be the very first voices to share a piece of new art. The final published score will include a dedication to Saline Choirs, and we hope it will carry our name beyond Saline to performers and audiences around the world.
Wheely Great Sensory Input
Self-regulation is the ability to adjust or regulate the level of alertness depending on the time of the day and the stimuli presented. When students have a difficult time with self regulation, we observe maladaptive behavior or responses to the environment and sensory stimuli. WeÛªd like to provide students with the equipment necessary to enable them to self-regulate in order to increase abilities in all areas of learning and in all learning spaces. Improved self-regulation will increase the opportunities for special education students to collaborate in and participate with the general education setting through all eight Saline Area Schools Compass Attributes.
