District 64 schools will benefit from more than $20,000 in innovation grants for 2017-18 awarded by the District 64 Elementary Learning Foundation (ELF). A non-profit foundation, ELF has supported exellence in education since 1994 by raising and granting funds to teachers and schools seeking to try new ideas and methods in District 64 schools and classrooms.
Five grants for the coming school year were announced at the May 22, 2017 Board of Education meeting, bringing ELF's total direct grants to nearly $760,000!
ELF grants for 2017-18 will focus on the elementary and early childhood levels, and include:
- LRC Flexible Learning Space Remodel - MakerSpace area at Franklin School - This grant will support Franklin’s renovation of an outdated LRC space, by providing tables, chairs, and shelving for their pilot MakerSpace program. The MakerSpace area is part of a larger renovation that aims to make Franklin’s LRC more a flexible learning space used for instructional purposes centered around incorporating the 4Cs (Communication, Creativity, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking). All Franklin students will benefit from the renovation of this space. This grant supports District 64’s 2020 Vision Strategic Plan Objective One “Develop Students Who Master the 4 C’s” and Strategic Objective Five “Provide Safe and Secure Learning Spaces to Support 21st Century Learners”.
- Google Expeditions - Virtual Reality at Roosevelt School - This project will allow students school-wide the opportunity to experience virtual reality through the use of Google “cardboard” viewers and devices, through Google Expeditions. Teachers will be able to meaningfully integrate virtual reality experiences into the established curriculum by providing the ability to experience places around the world with a 360 degree field of view and redefine learning with a focus on student inquiry. It supports the District 64’s 2020 Vision Strategic Plan Objective One by offering “Engaging, Motivating, and Challenging Educational Programming”, as well as “Technology Integration.”
- Outdoor Learning Environment at Jefferson School - This project allows Jefferson School to incorporate an existing, underutilized courtyard space into everyday learning by creating an outdoor learning environment filled with native plant species, Pocket Greenhouses, and Window Nest Boxes. This grant supports the Creative Curriculum used at Jefferson School and will help support intentional learning by getting students outdoors and actively observing their surroundings. This grant supports the District 64’s 2020 Vision Strategic Plan Objective One by offering “Engaging, Motivating, and Challenging Educational Programming.”
- Fidget Cubes - Move and Learn Initiative at Carpenter School - These innovative fidget cubes continue to add to Carpenter’s Move and Learn Initiative by helping students school-wide to improve learning and focus through the use of a small fidget device. Students can utilize this device anywhere in the classroom. The fidget cube is a small, silent device that students can hold in their hands that helps prevent distraction caused by other nearby stimuli. Fidget cubes for homerooms and targeted learning rooms will provide a sensory check-out in each room to help students listen, learn, and work. This grant supports the District 64’s 2020 Vision Strategic Plan Objective Three by offering differentiated tools to support student learning.
- Lego StoryStarter Kits at Roosevelt School - Lego StoryStarter kits will be implemented school-wide into reading, writing, language arts, social studies, science, and intervention classes. By utilizing Lego StoryStarter kits, teachers will promote critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creative thinking by engaging students in the learning process. In addition, by working together to build a scene, students will exercise their leadership, compromise, and listening skills to increase social emotional learning (SEL). This grant supports the District 64’s 2020 Vision Strategic Plan Objectives One and Three by offering “Engaging, Motivating, and Challenging Educational Programming” as well as support for SEL.
Visit the ELF website to contribute, volunteer or learn more about the many ways ELF is supporting District 64 schools!