The Lawrence Schools Foundation is awarding its 2018 Innovative Teaching Grants through April and May. The Foundation is recognizing six recipients and providing $14,800 to teachers and staff, who applied for these annual grants. We will update this page as we present checks to the recipients so check back here to see the projects. A majority of the money for these grants comes from the Foundation Follies and an annual donation from Srinija Srinivasan.

May 1, 2018

Marisa Hegeman

Cordley and New York Elementary Schools

Project Games for the Win ($900)

Project Games for the Win is a game-based learning project with a focus on STEAM education. Students will use Bloxels to create, operate and play their own video games for a hands-on project. The game creation will require students to use higher level thinking skills as they apply, analyze, evaluate and create. Classroom teachers can drive the curricular tie in (math, science, reading, social studies) to engage and motivate students and move them from consumers of technology to creators.

April 23, 2018

Johnny Paradise and Jeannie Merritt

Free State and Lawrence High Schools

Introduction to Robotics by Team STEAM ($2,750)

This project will give middle and high school students opportunities to develop their skills in engineering and technology, as well as improve soft skills such as teamwork, group problem solving and communications by participating in a summer camp taught by teachers and students already involved in the robotics program. New students will learn at the introductory level, while veteran students will increase their teaching and communicating skills. Campers will work in groups to program and wire robots to make them fully mobile and drivable using a standard keyboard and then test them in competitions. This grant will assist in purchasing computer systems, hardware, and design materials. (LHS team pictured)

April 17, 2018

Jessica Larsen and Jess Brown

Hillcrest Elemenatry

Google Cardboard ($3,000)

This grant is to purchase a classroom set of iPods, Google Cardboard viewer and charging stations to be housed in the school’s library media center for class checkout. Students in grades K-5 will use the materials to explore landmarks, future careers, museums, etc… all over the world. The project incorporates project-based learning activities, oral language structures and content vocabulary. Students will be able to see how tall mountains are, look off cliffs, explore inside of a human heart, walk the streets of another country, etc… This is more powerful than watching a video and allows students to be interactive in their experiences via technology.

- More To Come  -