Educational Grant Sample Proposal

Through Reach for the Stars teachers and community partners will be trained to fully utilize the optical telescope that was purchased previously with grant funding and is now housed at Petersburg Elementary School. After this training has been established students and parents will be invited to participate in learning workshops one evening each month. The natural progression of Reach for the Stars will include the formation of an astronomy club with members of all ages. This organized student driven teacher guided instruction will provide ongoing extended hour learning opportunities to all grade levels.

The primary goal of Reach for the Stars is to help prepare students to live and work in world that is increasingly scientific and technical in nature. Reach for the Stars will provide training and support for teachers as well as increased opportunities for inquiry based science instruction. The use of speakers field trips and hands on activities will provide students with the opportunity to aggressively explore the link between space science and technology. Reach for the Stars student activities will address at the appropriate grade levels the West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives National Education Goals National Science Education Standards and the International Society for Technology in Education Standards.

Teachers will be provided with resources to supplement their current curriculum through WVU NASA Ames IV & Facility offerings and training provided by the staff at Greenbank National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Internet based resources will be identified compiled and presented to staff by the Project RIGHT2 Reaching Instructional Goals with Hi Tech Tools coordinator. Reach for the Stars will involve parents and community members as partners in the education process by utilizing their skills and knowledge to support the development of junior astronomers club.

Community leaders have committed to provide leadership and support in this exciting endeavor to help our students "Reach for the Stars" both literally and figuratively. Reach for the Stars is program that will reach more than students in grades 6 at Petersburg Elementary School and their families. This program will train teachers provide opportunities for student experimentation involve participation by parents and utilize partnerships with community experts.

Through Reach for the Stars teachers and community partners will be trained to fully utilize the optical telescope that was purchased with earlier grant funding and is now housed at Petersburg Elementary School. After this training has been established students and parents will be invited to participate in learning workshops one evening each month. Local astronomers and teachers will conduct these workshops which will provide hands on opportunities for students and their parents to explore the stars and planets of our solar system.

Reach for the Stars will also provide opportunities for our students to experience first hand various careers in space science through visits to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank West Virginia as well as to the planetarium at Frostburg State University. The natural progression of Reach for the Stars will include the formation of an astronomy club with members of all ages. This organized student driven teacher guided instruction will provide ongoing extended hour learning opportunities to all grade levels.

Petersburg Elementary School is located in Grant County West Virginia which is designated as 100% rural county. More than percent of students at Petersburg Elementary School receive free or reduced price lunches. Project RIGHT2 has identified the following needs.

Needs

An optical telescope was purchased with earlier grant funding and is now housed at the school; however additional funding is required to train teachers and community partners and to pay for books software and field trip expenses to utilize and benefit from the equipment.

Solution

By providing training and materials to teachers and students along with practical hands on experience and field trips to related installations the students and teachers will be able to use the existing on site equipment.

Resources

Volunteers with related field experience will cover approximately half of the costs required to complete the project. Additional funding is required to pay the majority of the material costs of the project. Green Bank National Radio Astronomy Observatory staff will provide teachers parents and community partners with multi faceted training. The first phase of staff development will prepare participants to fully utilize the existing optical telescope at Petersburg Elementary School.

Secondly STARLAB training will be the focus of attention so that our students can utilize the STARLAB during school hours. In this way we can ensure that all students will have the opportunity to explore the vast expanse of our universe in an exciting and meaningful manner. Finally Hands On Universe training will be provided to interested teachers throughout our county.

Software necessary to support trained teachers will be purchased as part of this project. James Goodman and Arthur Madson prominent members of the community who have volunteered their time and expertise to support this project have both agreed to come into the classroom and provide astronomy related hands on activities and to assist with the astronomy club. Julie Colaw math science technology instructor and Project RIGHT2 coordinator will provide technical support and assistance to all staff in utilizing the STARLAB telescope and computer software. Julie Colaw will also serve as the teacher supervisor for the astronomy club.

A star party will be held as kick off activity to encourage participation in the astronomy club. Students and their families will participate in an evening of star related activities and have the opportunity to hear knowledgeable guest speakers. Learning stations including the STARLAB and the optical telescope will be staffed and available for exploration. Year long activities will include.

Use of Hands On Universe software by trained teachers. Documentation of Reach for the Stars activities. Media coverage of classroom and school wide activities.

Presentations to Grant County Board of Education by students. Evaluation of Reach for the Stars success will be tri fold. The first component of this evaluation will be the completion of planned professional development activities. After training teachers will be able to utilize the STARLAB Hands On Universe Curriculum and telescope.

Each teacher who participates in this project will document classroom activities using the digital camera video camera or media coverage. This documentation will be compiled and presented at the WVTEAMS conference and at state level science conferences. The second part of this evaluation will be to measure the extent of parental involvement in this project.

Currently there are no academic clubs or activities meeting after school hours. Through this project we will increase parental involvement and provide extended learning opportunities for students. The facilitator will log participation in after school activities by students parents and community partners.

The third aspect of evaluation will occur by an examination of standardized test scores of 3rd –6th grade students for the school year. Successful project will show an increase in science test scores for students involved in this program. Following is budget for the funds being requested.

Miscellaneous items to conduct variety of hands on experiments

Following is list of all In Kind Support for this project. Travel Accommodations Expenses for presentation of Reach for the Stars at Conferences. Requested funds are to be used as follows.

Field Trip Expenses Amount. Astronomy Computer Software and Guide Books Amount. Cost of software for teachers and books for students and teachers.

Miscellaneous Supplies for Student Experiments Amount. Cost of miscellaneous student supplies for hands on experiments. Reason for grant. An optical telescope was purchased with earlier grant funding and is currently housed at the school; however additional funding is now required to train teachers and community partners and to pay for books software and field trip expenses so students and community can utilize and benefit from the equipment.

Petersburg Elementary School is public school and is tax exempt. Reach for the Stars is program that will reach more than students in grades 6 at Petersburg Elementary School and their families. This program will train teachers provide opportunities for student experimentation involve participation by parents and utilize partnerships with community experts. Through Reach for the Stars teachers and community partners will be trained to fully utilize the existing optical telescope that was purchased with grant funding and is housed at Petersburg Elementary School.

After this training has been established students and parents will be invited to participate in learning workshops one evening each month. The natural progression of Reach for the Stars will include the formation of an astronomy club with members of all ages. This organized student driven teacher guided instruction will provide ongoing extended hour learning opportunities to all grade levels.