CTE/ROP Business Management students researched protective headwear and facemasks to assist in their development for a survey assessment. The assessment was designed to generate results for preferred garments by student agriculture laborers. Heat press machinery was utilized to create hats and facemasks. Student agriculture laborers that completed the survey assessment received a hat and facemask.
The goal of the Community Garden project was to establish a tradition of a seasonal vegetable and plant sale and help bring fresh produce and plants to the local community. Students created pots for growing the plants and they used potting benches to safely display them for the plant sale. Students sold vegetable seedlings, water wise California Natives and annual flowers, and they were able to fill all the planter boxes with vegetables for the community to purchase.
The West Coast Grand Prix motivates students to learn more about tools and how they can be used to build a race vehicle. Students were challenged to expand their knowledge in math, engineering, physics, drafting, design, sequencing, and creativity. A number of students from elementary school, junior high and high school were able to participate in a national event that would not have been possible without the Innovation Grant. The event inspired students and they are excited for future opportunities.
Students were very excited to use iPads and Osmo kits in their everyday learning. Some of them had seen them on television, but had never had a hands-on experience with the kits. The delight on their faces was priceless! Their favorite was the coding kit and they diligently worked to figure out how to adjust the code to successfully navigate through the maze. Although the number of students able to utilize the iPads and Osmo kits this year was limited due to distance learning, future classes will gleefully enjoy them for years to come!
Robots and Coding II was an expansion project of CUE Robots funded previously. Students at San Joaquin Elementary had an opporutnity to work collaboratively in groups, with COVID-19 safety measures in place, to perform tasks or create projects using Cue robots. They used the Blocky app as an introduction to coding using pre-written lines of code that provides rigor in their logical thinking and problem solving abilities.
Students at Rafer Johnson Jr. High have an opportunity to enhance their skills with the use of technology to create media content to reflect their learning, knowledge, and personal creativity. With the use of a green screen, students will video record school announcements for the school broadcast and personal narrative projects for ELA class. The portable nature of the green screens allows students to use them while practicing social distancing using a camera or Chromebook webcam.
This project allowed for students at Parlier Jr. High School to learn about Mindfulness and the impact that it can have on social/emotional needs. The books that were purchased through this grant generated open discussions about how practicing mindfulness and using different techniques are helpful and easy to practice on a daily basis. Because of the various conversations that took place, students were also able to identify the techniques that serve them best.
Project Attendance Matters was aimed at educating families about the importance of attendance and the impact it has in their child’s academic progress. Students and parents were invited to attendance workshops in conjunction with school sites in Sanger Unified. The workshops covered topics such as creating routines, setting goals, understanding parent discipline procedures, partnerships with schools, reaching out for resources, and understanding the impact it has on their child’s education.
Fifteen Kindle Fire tablets and cases were purchased for students to use at home and in the classroom to access online applications that will enhance math and reading skills. The addition of these tablets to the technology resources already available, allowed students to access online curriculum used during instruction in a fun alternative manner other than their daily laptop use. The goal of the project was to encourage and foster growth in individual student reading and math skills.
Students in Kingsburg High School's AP Environmental Science classes took a break from being cooped up in the classroom and used their new PocketLab Air devices to collect Ozone and Particulate Matter readings throughout a typical day in February. They made observations of the weather conditions, number of vehicles passing by, and other factors that might affect their readings, and then completed a full lab report on their findings using the PocketLab Notebook Pro software.
Good health and fitness is at the core of students being ready to learn! The Fitness Equipment project provided fitness and conditioning equipment for all students to use upon returning from distance learning. The new work-out room gives students the opportunity to train and get in shape after a school year of decreased activity due to distance learning. Feeling great physically will also benefit their mental health.
At Washington Colony Elementary, individual music kits were created and distributed to each student. These music kits were comprised of various small percussion instruments, including a castanet, movement scarf and rhythm sticks, in a colorful pencil container. This project was successful in continuing music education through distanced learning. The music kits were distributed to students right away and they were moving and making music during music class on Zoom!
The Innovation Grant helped fund new materials and instruments such as a guitarron, strings, rosin and oil. The Mariachi music program is continuing and just recently, students returned on campus to practice with masks and social distancing for the remainder of the school year. Students are excited and working hard to hopefully one day soon, play together for live audiences.
The goal of the Handwriting at a Distance project was to help special education students develop their handwriting skillset. This is a very hard skill to teach through distance learning on a typical laptop because of its vertical screen. This project provided a tablet for 10 students to practice writing with a stylus in a proper grip. Students often have occupational therapy goals that are served through handwriting practice - fine motor control, motor planning, and appropriate grip are some examples.
This year Firebaugh High School started the Early College Guided Pathway for 9th graders with 81 students enrolling in a West Hills College Student Success Course. The Innovation Grant helped with promoting the program with t-shirts to distribute to students in the cohort. Both parents and students were excited to receive their certificates upon completion and to continue on the pathway and the opportunities it will bring. The cohort will continue next year into another set of outlined courses.
This project gave students the opportunity to learn new art skills using their new art kit and three different types of art paper. Fridays were designated as art lesson day and each week they explored a different lesson. The students had a great time using the kits to expand their art knowledge. The students enjoyed exploring the use of all the items in the kit and the variety of ways to use them and discover their inner-art selves!
The Innovation Grant enhanced the development and quality of informational podcasts to enhance student learning and engagement. Podcasts are a series of spoken word digital audio files that cover a specific area of interest. They are a great way to give students information about teaching, employment, and other career opportunities after high school. New equipment was purchased that allowed for remote interviews of industry professionals and a more polished final product.
Sigue el Mariachi! was an expansion of Orange Center Elementary's Mariachi group that began in 2018-19 focusing on a Mariachi music program for students in grades 6-8. The project has been instrumental in introducing students to the Mexican culture, providing a learning experience of Mexican music for the entire school, and unifying the community.