Robert P. Bell Teacher Creativity Grants Awarded to Local
Teachers
The following Robert P. Bell grants totaling $1,583 have
been awarded to local teachers for the second grant cycle of the 2010-2011
academic year. It is estimated that nearly
175 Delaware County students will benefit from these
grants.
- April Williams, Sutton Elementary School, was awarded $120 for kindergarten students to learn about proper hand washing and how to prevent the spread of germs. Students will read books and watch videos about germs and then practice the appropriate way to wash hands with soap and water. Students will use a gel to simulate the spread of germs on themselves and around the classroom and then will view the simulated germs using a black light. The process will be repeated after proper hand washing and the results will be compared.
- Sheri Watson, Muncie Southside High School, was awarded $331 for high school students with disabilities to participate in a unit focusing on social skills such as responsibility, generosity, respect, honesty, and compassion. After learning about each social skill, students will create a “passport” and travel around the school noting in their passport each time they practice a social skill studied.
- Bethany Clegg, Storer Elementary School, was awarded $306 for elementary adaptive physical education students to continue their thematic studies in their academic coursework into their physical education classes. Students will work on gross motor skills and social skills while using equipment reflecting the units they are studying in other classes, including the arctic, oceans, and farm animals.
- Rita Wessel, Wilson Middle School, was awarded $319 for middle school students with disabilities to use photos of themselves to create a picture schedule of their daily activities. Students will then use their picture schedules throughout the day to facilitate learning, communication, and interaction.
- Cresta Hancock, Muncie Southside High School, was awarded $357 for ninth grade honors biology students to explore the historical aspect of disease with the reading and discussion of the novel, The Microbe Hunters, by Paul de Kruif. Students will then research a modern disease that has emerged during their lifetime (such as H1N1 or Avian Flu) and create a short film highlighting the ever-evolving study of microscopic life and its effect on human life.
- Shawn Churchill, Cowan Junior/Senior High School, was awarded $150 for high school Spanish students to study the Spanish Quinceanera. Students will plan their own mock Quinceanera celebration including the religious ceremony, food, location, music, and traditions and then create a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation in Spanish demonstrating what they have learned.
Bell Grants of up to $450 are awarded to teachers with innovative ideas, programs or projects designed to stimulate learning in their students. The deadline for the next round of grants in the 2010-2011 academic year is February 1, 2011. For more information about Bell Grant applications, contact the Foundation Program Officer, or click here for more Information.
