The reason that 25 or so busy professionals, retirees, teachers, parents, and community leaders volunteer their time and efforts to attract funding to the Morris Educational Foundation is...so that we can AWARD GRANTS! The process is quite simple. We try to reach the public, both individual and corporate, with our message that better education can be accomplished with financial support for innovative ideas and programs. Every staff member of the Morris School District is encouraged to apply for a grant. The actual application form is available for download on many pages of this website. The Grants Committee is always eager to discuss an idea or answer any questions you might have regarding grants or the grants process. Email us at MEF@MSDK12.net Please be sure to visit the ARCHIVES at the left, as well as the current year grants listed below to see the wonderful, creative and educationally enriching ideas that have been funded by the Foundation to the staff of the Morris School District.
A Technologically Advanced Reading Experience--$957 The grant would provide teachers with the privilege of downloading current young adult novels off of the website Audible.com. The two one year long memberships would give the teachers their choice of 24 young adult novels from this site. Most importantly, the website has one of the widest selections of digital audio books, many of which are read in book clubs in sixth grade or are popular young adult novels that might interest struggling readers. The audio books would be used for reluctant readers so that they can experience reading in a way that will aid in the comprehension of the text, participation in book club discussion, and motivation in their personal reading. These books will greatly help the ELL students as well. Portable CD players will be purchased so that once the audio books are downloaded and burned to a CD, students will have access to a CD player in class to listen to their reading and follow along in their book.
Better Focus though Balance--$192 The five teachers involved wish to purchase twenty Pilates/balance balls. Research shows that students who have ADD and ADHD can focus better when sitting on a Pilates ball instead of a regular chair. The ability to bounce creates an appropriate way for them to use extra energy, as well as helping improve their posture. There are a number of websites that refer to their research. A b test pilotb assessment took place in January. Pilates balls were borrowed from the Physical Education department. Students reacted well.
Cultural Arts for 2010-2011-$22,500 All K-5 schools and NP - $2000 Lafayette Learning Center - $1000 Frelinghuysen - $3000 MHS - $4500
Digital Storytelling for Language Arts--$1,270 MHS language arts teachers want to incorporate digital storytelling into the classrooms. Digital storytelling refers to using digital tools to help students to tell their own real-life stories. Digital storytelling uses the available tools of the computer and Internet and morphs it with words and narration, with the final outcome being an interesting multi-media mix of images and voice. Digital storytelling is a powerful vehicle for students to demonstrate understanding, and it is an effective measure for teachers to evaluate student progress. Digital storytelling supports the MHS English curriculum as well. It presents an outlet through which students can express complex knowledge about a theme and deliver personal perspectives on the essential questions. The equipment will be housed in the library so that the all classes can take advantage of this enrichment project. In addition, the digital stories will be posted on the school website so that evidence of the work that is produced can be viewed by all.
Digital Storytelling Through Kid Pix Software -- $685.00 The goal of this project is to enrich studentsb writing through digital storytelling. There is a large need to infuse technology into learning and digital storytelling is an excellent way to infuse technology into the writing curriculum. Through the software called Kid Pix 4.1, students in grades 3,4,and 5 will learn to create digital stories through the design of slides. Students will not only learn to design their slides through importing photos, voice, and music but also grasp the concepts of writing a story through storyboards. It is easy for young students to learn and is suitable for ELL and bilingual students.
Digital Storytelling--$1,300 For the Science Fair, students will study and then create their own complex machine in science. They will research complex machines and then scan in their project and create digital storytelling presentations to run at the Science Fair. They will learn internet and book research skills and then integrate their work with technology for a presentation. In addition, the ESL students will tell their own stories from photographs. The digital storytelling will be a tool to promote language literacy as well as technology literacy.
Discovery and Relevancy of Elements--$1,650 Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Studentsb understanding of chemistry and the elements will become more extensive with the use of colorful, up-to-date hands on activities. The Elements Display Mounts Set allows students to experience real life hands on visual application of the elements in their natural state, highlighting sources and everyday relevance. The book, The Elements, by Theodore Gray contains photos of each element of the periodic table, short essays, and applications which can be incorporated in teachersb daily lessons beginning with the introduction of matter and ending with environmental impacts. Each unit of the Chemistry Curriculum integrates knowledge of the elements, properties, and trends. Using these exciting resources at each lab table encourages students to investigate, evaluate, and draw conclusions based on scientific knowledge and scientific processes.
FitnessGram/ActivityGram Test Kit--$381 Created more than twenty years ago by The Cooper Institute, FITNESSGRAM is based on solid research. It is the only health-related fitness assessment to use criterion-referenced standards, called Healthy Fitness Zones, to determine studentsb fitness levels based on what is optimal for good health. FITNESSGRAM was developed in an effort to provide physical educators with a tool that would facilitate communicating fitness testing results to students and to parents. The assessment measures three components of health-related physical fitness that have been identified as important to overall health and function: aerobic capacity, body composition, and muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility. ACTIVITYGRAM is a behaviorally based physical activity assessment tool. It provides a three-day record of activities performed during each thirty minute period. The report provides information in the following areas: total number of minutes of activity each day as compared to a goal of sixty minutes, periods of time each day spent in activity, and types of activities. FITNESSGRAM/ACTIVITYGRAM enables you to promote awareness about the importance of physical activity and fitness, assess the fitness and activity levels of children, and help them develop patterns of lifelong, health-promoting physical activity. The project will begin with Frelinghuysen Middle School students and expand to include building faculty, staff, and families.
