About LASF: Grant Program

Fall 1998 Grant Awards

1. K-5 Technology Integration for Teachers & Students

Angie Corritone, Instructional Technology Specialist @ Lafayette District
Kent Peterman- Faculty @ Burton Valley School Site: Burton Valley Elementary

This project is a technology integration training model, providing intensive staff development with a focus on using innovative student-centered technology curriculum. Two teacher representatives at each grade level of Burton Valley Elementary have been chosen to receive technology skill and integration training workshops. The goal, to develop a team of "technology mentors" to whom the District teachers can turn for support in integrating technology into their classrooms. The training will cover topics such as innovative software utilization, Internet resources and projects, multimedia integration and instructional strategies using technology, helping to broaden the participants’ knowledge and really make a difference in student learning. The teachers will build a portfolio of lesson plans, organized by grade level, developed as a result of this training.

2. K-5 Math Festivals for 5th Grades

Juanita McSweeney, Wendy Duncan, Shyna Giorianni - Faculty @ Happy Valley
School Site: Happy Valley Elementary

The Happy Valley 5th grade teachers will stage two math festivals, Build It! and Math Around the World,which are patterned after programs developed by Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University at Berkeley, and are age appropriate for all students in grades 5-8.

Included in the grant is funding for teacher training, manipulative materials and software necessary for the festival activities. The Math Festivals will occur on two separate school days and all three fifth grade classes will participate. The activities expand and complement the fifth grade math standards; patterns, functions, and algebra (standard 3); geometry and spatial sense (standard 5); and problem solving strategies (standard 6).

3. K-5 A Child’s History of Lafayette

Mary McCosker, Emily Haas - LASF Docent/Parents
School Site: All Elementary Sites (3rd Grade Social Studies)

The goal of this project is to write "A Child’s History of Lafayette" which would accompany the third grade Social Studies unit on Lafayette. Two reference sources for classrooms have been Lafayette: A Pictorial History (from the Lafayette Historical Society) which is difficult for use by third graders and Lafayette Grows Up (written in 1963) which is in short supply but also inaccurate. Educators in the district have expressed the need for written material; such a book would reinforce the classroom unit provided by the LASF Social Studies Docent program and enhance the study of Lafayette history currently presented in all third grade classrooms in the District.

The authors will work closely with the Lafayette Historical Society, which will provide photos to be included in the book, from its archives. Third grade teachers from the district will also be consulted to ensure that the material is appropriate for this grade level. At this time, it is planned that 500 copies will be produced, in order to provide a classroom set for each third grade class.

4. 6-8 Magnetic Levitation Train with Integrated Circuits and Mechanical Marvels

Michael Meneghetti - Faculty @ Stanley
School Site: Stanley Intermediate, 6th Grade Science, Math, Technology

This purpose of this project is to dramatically improve and expand the Magnetic Levitation Train unit that Mike Meneghetti has been doing successfully for the past 4 years. The most important goal of the project is to give the students the practical opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of concepts in electricity, magnetism, simple machines, and the scientific process to build a train that levitates and travels down a track with a light on, propelled by a small motor and propeller. The students will go through a process of testing, redesigning, and rebuilding to try and make their trains move down the track as fast as possible. The unit has always been one of high interest to the students. This grant will add more technologically-oriented extensions to the unit, including a Mac G3, integrated circuit boards, electric components, motors, gears, pulleys, wire, etc.

5. 9-12 The Visual Voice

Susan Lane - Faculty @ Acalanes (Graphic Design) School Site: Acalanes Grade Level - 9-12

The Graphic Design class is a pilot program, new to Acalanes High School as of Fall, 1998. The focus is to use a variety of graphic software to learn the importance of communication in Graphic Design, using combinations of words, typography, symbols, drawings, photography and diagrams. The students who complete the course are equipped with the skills to fill an entry level graphic arts job.