Wrentham Elementary Schools Trust, Inc.
| Providing Educational Excellence |
Grants
P.O. Box 852
Wrentham, MA 02093
Wrentham, MA 02093
Email: info@wrenthamwest.org
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Spring 2008 Grants
Creating Multi-sensory Language Arts Learning Activities
Mrs. Young & Mrs. Pitman - Grade 2
Creating Multi-sensory Language Arts Learning Activities
Mrs. Young & Mrs. Pitman - Grade 2
Janice Young and Kristin Pitman, the project directors for the “Creating
Multi-sensory Language Arts Learning Activities” stated that the main goal of
their project “is to provide the students with the opportunity to participate and
engage in purposeful, hands-on, learning experiences, therefore increasing
their level of understanding the skill at hand.” And, “additionally, through this
project, teachers will be able to address the needs of all learners through
differentiated instruction.” Mrs. Young and Mrs. Pitman, each second grade
classroom teachers, will initiate this project in their respective classrooms of
the Delaney School and plan on expanding the program to additional second
grade classrooms.
Multi-sensory Language Arts Learning Activities” stated that the main goal of
their project “is to provide the students with the opportunity to participate and
engage in purposeful, hands-on, learning experiences, therefore increasing
their level of understanding the skill at hand.” And, “additionally, through this
project, teachers will be able to address the needs of all learners through
differentiated instruction.” Mrs. Young and Mrs. Pitman, each second grade
classroom teachers, will initiate this project in their respective classrooms of
the Delaney School and plan on expanding the program to additional second
grade classrooms.
Paul Revere Rides to Wrentham
Mrs. Baglino & Ms. Wasdo - Grade 5
Mrs. Baglino & Ms. Wasdo - Grade 5
The recipients of the second WEST grant were Shelly Baglino and Arlene
Wasdo, both fifth grade classroom teachers. Their program “Paul Revere
Rides to Wrentham” plans to make “history more personal for the students”
by “contracting with The Paul Revere House Program in Boston providing an
in-school enrichment opportunity.” The program will be presented to all
eight classes of the fifth grade, followed by collaboration between the fifth and
third grades. The fifth grade students will partner with the third grade
students “to share the knowledge obtained in the workshop.”
Wasdo, both fifth grade classroom teachers. Their program “Paul Revere
Rides to Wrentham” plans to make “history more personal for the students”
by “contracting with The Paul Revere House Program in Boston providing an
in-school enrichment opportunity.” The program will be presented to all
eight classes of the fifth grade, followed by collaboration between the fifth and
third grades. The fifth grade students will partner with the third grade
students “to share the knowledge obtained in the workshop.”
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Winter 2008 Grants
Creating Multi-sensory Mathematic Learning Activities
Mrs. Young, Mrs. Pitman, Mrs. Christy, Mrs. Morgan & Miss
Geary - Grade 2
After being awarded an earlier successful grant creating language arts learning
activities for student use, several second grade teachers were awarded a grant
to design math games. The games are comprised of common items such as
counting chips, craft sticks, dry erase surfaces and buttons. These learning
activities provide students with “additional opportunities to maximize on
student learning outcomes. The activities are designed to reinforce previously
taught lessons while students work towards skill mastery.” The teachers
acknowledge that students have been “having so much fun using the activities
that they are unaware that they are learning and fine tuning their math skills.”
From Sap to Sugar: Maple Sugaring
Mrs Nunes, Mrs. Wagstaff, Mrs. Lamb & Ms. Swartzendruber
- Kindergarten
This grant will enable the entire kindergarten class to attend a winter program
at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary to learn about maple, trees, the history of
maple sugaring, and the production of maple syrup. This program offers
kindergarten teachers a way to enhance the existing science curriculum unit on
trees. The field trip “offers a natural extension that involves a hands-on
experience with a common native tree to our area.” In addition to the
scheduled trip, children will be reading about and discussing trees, maple
syrup, sugaring and will be utilizing tree growing kits in the classroom.
World Drumming
Mrs. Donna Cohen – Music Department
The focus of this grant is to enhance the existing curriculum of the Wrentham
Elementary School Music Department with the addition of the World Music
Drumming Curriculum. A large variety of African instruments have been
purchased to be used by students in grades 2 through 6. Over 800 students
will have the opportunity to participate in authentic sounding African drum
ensembles and learn more about other cultures. This curriculum “will help
develop students’ listening and critical thinking skills through analyzing music
they hear and play.” The results of the ensembles learned in the classroom
will be demonstrated at concerts, gym show and workshops.
Fall 2008 Grants
Wampanoag Visit
Mrs. Kelly – Grade 3
The entire 3rd grade class (190 students) was visited by members of the
Wampanoag People for an in-depth exploration of daily life of the
Wampanoag People of the 17th century. The Native museum teachers
showed slides, passed around artifacts, and brought to life the seasonal ways
of the Wampanoag People. This program “enriched and enhanced the third
grade social studies curriculum by providing an interactive learning
environment for the students.” Students learned more about distinguishing the
differences in Wampanoag life throughout the four seasons and gained a better
understanding of how the Native People were able to live in harmony with
nature.
Daily Bite Program
Mrs. Fownes – Grade 6
Several 6th classrooms participated in this program designed to be a morning
warm-up activity integrating a full range of academic disciplines including
language arts, analogies, math, geography and science. The Daily Bite is” a
rigorous, standards-based academic warm-up lesson created to help teachers
get students productively on task every day.” Students start each day with an
overhead transparency activity enabling them to focus and be prepared for
daily classroom tasks thereby optimizing productive learning time.
Creating Multi-sensory Mathematic Learning Activities
Mrs. Young, Mrs. Pitman, Mrs. Christy, Mrs. Morgan & Miss
Geary - Grade 2
After being awarded an earlier successful grant creating language arts learning
activities for student use, several second grade teachers were awarded a grant
to design math games. The games are comprised of common items such as
counting chips, craft sticks, dry erase surfaces and buttons. These learning
activities provide students with “additional opportunities to maximize on
student learning outcomes. The activities are designed to reinforce previously
taught lessons while students work towards skill mastery.” The teachers
acknowledge that students have been “having so much fun using the activities
that they are unaware that they are learning and fine tuning their math skills.”
From Sap to Sugar: Maple Sugaring
Mrs Nunes, Mrs. Wagstaff, Mrs. Lamb & Ms. Swartzendruber
- Kindergarten
This grant will enable the entire kindergarten class to attend a winter program
at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary to learn about maple, trees, the history of
maple sugaring, and the production of maple syrup. This program offers
kindergarten teachers a way to enhance the existing science curriculum unit on
trees. The field trip “offers a natural extension that involves a hands-on
experience with a common native tree to our area.” In addition to the
scheduled trip, children will be reading about and discussing trees, maple
syrup, sugaring and will be utilizing tree growing kits in the classroom.
World Drumming
Mrs. Donna Cohen – Music Department
The focus of this grant is to enhance the existing curriculum of the Wrentham
Elementary School Music Department with the addition of the World Music
Drumming Curriculum. A large variety of African instruments have been
purchased to be used by students in grades 2 through 6. Over 800 students
will have the opportunity to participate in authentic sounding African drum
ensembles and learn more about other cultures. This curriculum “will help
develop students’ listening and critical thinking skills through analyzing music
they hear and play.” The results of the ensembles learned in the classroom
will be demonstrated at concerts, gym show and workshops.
Fall 2008 Grants
Wampanoag Visit
Mrs. Kelly – Grade 3
The entire 3rd grade class (190 students) was visited by members of the
Wampanoag People for an in-depth exploration of daily life of the
Wampanoag People of the 17th century. The Native museum teachers
showed slides, passed around artifacts, and brought to life the seasonal ways
of the Wampanoag People. This program “enriched and enhanced the third
grade social studies curriculum by providing an interactive learning
environment for the students.” Students learned more about distinguishing the
differences in Wampanoag life throughout the four seasons and gained a better
understanding of how the Native People were able to live in harmony with
nature.
Daily Bite Program
Mrs. Fownes – Grade 6
Several 6th classrooms participated in this program designed to be a morning
warm-up activity integrating a full range of academic disciplines including
language arts, analogies, math, geography and science. The Daily Bite is” a
rigorous, standards-based academic warm-up lesson created to help teachers
get students productively on task every day.” Students start each day with an
overhead transparency activity enabling them to focus and be prepared for
daily classroom tasks thereby optimizing productive learning time.