Richard Elementary School
Auburn, AL

To engage students in a variety of activities and experiments to construct their own knowledge of science concepts through questioning, experimenting, observing and journaling, Johnson proposed the creation of a science lab at Richard Elementary. Rather than simply read about butterflies, balls and ramps, magnets and sound waves in a textbook, Johnson's "Science Quest" project will provide an in-school science lab that allows approximately 120 first and second-grade students to become scientists by encouraging them to use their five senses to explore and experience science. This lab will include a sand and water table, a light table, Digital Blue microscopes, computer, Smart Board, Science books and magazines, tables for Science notebooking, magnifying glasses, test tubes and more. The goal of the lab is to provide a place where children can conduct inquiry-based explorations of scientific concepts and construct their knowledge through child-led and teacher-facilitated activities and experiments. Professors from Auburn University and other local science experts will be invited to visit the lab and extend lessons for Richard Elementary students. Johnson lives in Auburn.

Section High School
Section, AL

"The Xtreme Vehicle Challenge" is a county-wide program developed by Saint to help at-risk high school physics and physical science students rev up their comprehension of the connection between science and everyday life. Scientific principles such as Newton's Laws of Motion: pressure, force, velocity and acceleration are brought to life through the hands-on designing, building and racing of CO2 dragsters, 4-wheel drive monster trucks, solid fuel model rockets and mouse-trap powered cars. Each year, 400 students from eight high schools are taken out of everyday classroom settings and placed in a more creative environment where they are encouraged to apply ingenuity and learn problem-solving skills through this real world, project-based learning program. Saint resides in Section.

Mt. Iliamna Elementary School
Eagle River, AK

Because salmon plays a vital role in the Alaskan economy and lifestyle, Cornwell-George has partnered with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to launch a "Salmon Incubation Project" to provide 20 students with a hands-on education of the life cycle of these fish. Students will research the Alaskan salmon, prepare the appropriate tank environment for salmon eggs, and take a trip to Campbell Creek to catch a spawning pair of salmon, collect 500 eggs and fertilize them. They will be expected to care for the tank, take/record temperature, learn about water quality, and nurture the salmon once they hatch. The project includes a trip to the creek in the fall to collect bugs and plants. Students will determine the health of a river by the type of bugs and plants living there. The project culminates with a trip back to Campbell Creek to release the salmon where they'll someday return to spawn and complete the cycle once again. The students will ultimately be able to explain the life cycle of the Alaskan salmon and how it affects Alaska and their community. Cornwell-George lives in Eagle River.

Western Valley Elementary School
Phoenix, AZ

"So You Want to be an Urban Ecologist?" was created by Brotherton for the more than 120 fourth-grade students at Western Valley Elementary School to incorporate technology into the areas of science, social studies and mathematics. Over the years, students have conducted bird protocols on the school's campus and traveled to five different locations in the Phoenix metropolitan area to observe birds that have adapted to living in the Sonoran Desert. Throughout the project, students update their class Web page with observations, anecdotal records, graphic representations and photos from their bird expeditions. With assistance from the ING Unsung Heroes Award, Brotherton plans on empowering students to use the latest in digital technology to create multimedia presentations. By utilizing technology, "So You Want to be an Urban Ecologist?" will provide students with an opportunity to improve their fine motor skills, enhance mathematical thinking, increase creativity and score higher on critical thinking and problem-solving tests. Brotherton lives in Laveen.

Copper Trails Elementary School
Goodyear, AZ

The goal of "A World of Difference" is to give first-grade students at Copper Trails Elementary School a historical look at how heritage and ethnicity has helped shape society and the world around us. Through a study of nationalities, Pederson will teach students to recognize and celebrate the different languages, art, dress, food, music, events and literature that gives each of us pride and cause for celebration. Students will be immersed in project-based learning activities integrating subjects across the curriculum, including social studies, reading and writing. Hands-on explorations, presentations from guest speakers, performances by dance groups, works of artists, and research will help them gain an understanding of diversity. Using the Internet, students will also build relationships with other first-grade students in the countries being studied. Through this year-long study, students will learn to understand the world around them by creating maps and learning economic principles such as money, commerce and trade. Pederson lives in Goodyear.

Norman Junior High School
Crossett, AR

As a way to emphasize the interconnectedness of math and science concepts in real-world situations, Todd has proposed the development of the "Science and Math: GO Figure!" program. Math and science teachers will plan projects integrating math, science and data collection technology. Students will use data gathered from temperature, motion and light probes to analyze in both math and science classes. Math students will use the data to construct meaning for math concepts and science students will use the same data to form scientific conclusions. The Science and Math: GO Figure!" program will use real-world examples to provide students an opportunity to practice the math and science knowledge they've acquired in class. The program will also foster greater collaboration between math and science teachers at Norman Junior High School. Todd lives in Crossett.

Crossroads Alternative School
Rogers, AR

"Pack It & Cache It 4 Life" is an innovative high school outdoor adventure fitness youth mentoring program for at-risk teens. Walter provides students with positive opportunities to work through barriers in supportive environments; she hopes they can then transfer those acquired skills to challenging situations in their lives. These adventure activities build confidence in at-risk students who have low self-esteem, motivation issues and false perceptions that "failure is their only option." The program improves student learning by providing immediate and concrete consequences through personal outdoor challenges that are experimental and exciting. Students develop a basic level of competency utilizing outdoor recreational equipment such as setting up tents, searching for hidden items using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) handheld unit and abiding by the cooking "leave no trace" camping principles. Additional objectives for this project will be to establish social, emotional and physical competencies included in the National Association of Sport and Physical Education standards for high school physical education. The skills learned by students during this project will promote and enhance responsible personal behavior and stimulate options for recreational engagement out of school. Walter is a resident of Bella Vista.

Laurel High School
Los Alamitos, CA

Over the years, Robert Ostmann has worked relentlessly to keep Laurel High School students in school. His latest creative business ideas just might have what it takes to keep at-risk students in class, as well as preparing them for productive adult lives. His "LifeWorks Studio" program consists of two components: 1) a student-operated small business that contracts with parent groups at other district schools to videotape plays, concerts and other events to produce professional-quality DVDs for the schools to sell as fundraisers and 2) a public-service partnership between students and a regional hospice organization to film and produce "LifeStory" video memoirs of men and women nearing the end of their lives. LifeWorks Studios moves learning outside the conventional classroom model. Running a community-based business gives students a chance to move beyond their limited world of school and friends to connect with the larger community. Interacting across generations and immersing themselves in the life stories of others will give students a unique perspective on the possibilities and challenges that life can throw their way. Over the school year, about 40 students will directly benefit by working in both the small business and the public service components of LifeWorks Studio. The project reinforces the Laurel High staff's commitment to keep their students in school and equip them to become productive citizens and lifelong learners in a technology-driven world. Ostmann resides in Los Alamitos.

Almondale Middle School
Littlerock, CA

Nelson and his five colleagues at Almondale Middle School are looking to foster college-going interest in students who are members of underrepresented populations at institutions of higher learning. Heightened exposure to career choices and universities, especially those that focus on the sciences, technological, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, will be the focus of their 'AVID UnSung Heroes: "The Future is Yours"' program. Students will take a scientifically validated career/personality survey, research careers that match and interest them and be mentored in reaching those educational and professional preferences. Throughout the process, seventh and eight grade students will be exposed to speakers from various local and regional businesses and universities whose career and educational choices match theirs. This real-world exposure will culminate with an eighth-grade research project that focuses primarily on college selection.

Ridgeview Elementary School
Craig, CO

Samuelson hopes 150 students in kindergarten through second grade to benefit from being part of a structured literacy environment through a program titled, "The Daily Five Alive! Strategies for Literacy Independence". Utilizing the concepts shared on the DVD by authors Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, Samuelson and Ridgeview Elementary School's team of kindergarten through second grade teachers are eager to implement the structured set of tasks designed to help students learn to work independently as readers and writers. The program includes: Read for Self, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Listening to Reading, and Word Work. According to Samuelson, this program will help students develop the daily habits of reading, writing and working with peers and will lead to a lifetime of independent literacy. It will also result in an improvement in student achievement, both with the district and state assessment tests. Samuelson is a resident of Craig.

Frontier Academy
Greeley, CO

Schreiber's program, "Seeds for Change" is the latest addition to his ongoing effort to engage students in deep and meaningful learning experiences through community projects that use powerful documentaries as a catalyst for social change. The goal of this program is twofold: 1) beautify the facilities of local charitable organizations with landscaping plants raised at Frontier Academy and 2) create a powerful documentary film of all stages of the project. Approximately 85 ninth-grade students and 20 members of Schreiber's Documentary for a Difference (D4D) class will learn the value of community service in a real, hands-on way. While doing so, students will film interviews of participants, fellow students, staff and community members to help show the powerful impact that service work can have on the life of a community. Schreiber lives in Ft. Collins.

Rangeview High School
Aurora, CO

Helping students prepare for the academic rigors of college is what the "Rangeview History Day" project is all about. Willis modeled his Rangeview High School history project after the National History Day program that helps teachers meet educational standards, disseminates high-quality curriculum materials and sponsors challenging contests that teach students the critical skills they need to be effective citizens in the 21st century. Current research on "best practices" in social studies classrooms specifies that students gain more knowledge through "doing" history. This project will provide more than 250 tenth and eleventh-grade students with a curriculum whose objectives are to 1) increase CSAP and ACT scores in reading and writing, 2) provide an opportunity for students to conduct college level research, 3) provide an authentic means of assessment and 4) find opportunities for students to attend college without the need for remediation. The monies awarded by ING will go toward assisting students with research opportunities, travel materials and computers. Willis resides in Aurora.

Riverside School
Riverside, CT

The pilot "Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Lab Classroom" will employ teaching concepts designed to reach and teach all students in a manner that works for them. Berlinski and Daniels agree that if lessons are designed with the notion of reaching all students, there will not be a need for adaptations and modifications after the fact. "Universal Design for Learning" does that. This research-based framework for developing curricula includes: educational goals, methods, materials and assessments that allow students to gain skills and enthusiasm for learning. This is done by providing support for learning and reducing barriers to the curriculum. An example of this is providing text in a digital format. This allows for many learners to access the text. Students with dyslexia, English as a Second Language (ESL) and vision impairments could have the text read to them. Students with comprehension difficulties could have "thinking prompts" imbedded in the text to stop while they are reading. This upfront planning enhances learning for many. At Riverside School, Berlinski and Daniels will start with a fifth grade class of 25 and begin to spread the concept to the remaining fifth graders.

Lewis Mills High School
Burlington, CT

Jones, a K-12 physical education teacher/health coordinator at Lewis Mills High School, seeks to expand the winter physical education curriculum to include outdoor activities that students can engage in from December to February. The goal of her "Catch the Winter Wellness Bug" program is to improve cardiorespiratory fitness for all students and to promote year-round physical activities that contribute to personal wellness. Students will get their heart rate into the target zone and maintain it while participating in outdoor activities during their physical education classes. They will also learn proper technique for using cross country skis and snowshoes. By providing these activities in an ongoing instructional capacity, students will understand that health and physical activity are continuous throughout the year in warm and cold weather. Jones lives in Burlington.

Springer Middle School
Wilmington, DE

Gliniak developed the "Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK)" project to teach eighth-grade students how to grow a vegetable garden and how to cook what they've grown. With 800 square feet of raised bed vegetable gardens at Springer Middle School, more than 350 students plant, harvest and taste a variety of vegetables. This hands-on gardening experience not only makes learning more meaningful to students, but it also enhances achievement and comprehension, promoting integration of knowledge across subjects. Gliniak's green thumb program encourages students to eat more vegetables, try new ones, improve their diets and health awareness and become more aware of agricultural and environmental issues. Gliniak plans to also engage his students in expanding the school's composting area and increasing HFHK's ecological emphasis. Students have already demonstrated they will eat vegetables they have grown themselves, including chard, beets, radishes, turnips and arugula. Gliniak resides in New Castle.

Eau Gallie High School
Melbourne, FL

Frey plans to offer a more constructive alternative to handling student discipline cases at Eau Gallie High School. Through her volunteer efforts and those of a group of concerned teachers, the "Learning Alternative Appropriate Behaviors for Life (LAAB)" program will add a social skills learning component to the school's In School Suspension (ISS) program. The LAAB for Life program will enhance student learning by teaching the social skills needed to be successful in a school setting. Life lessons in positive communication, understanding diversity, exemplifying cultural and gender sensitivity, developing positive coping skills and handling conflict resolution will be shared with in school suspension students. Students will learn these much needed life skills through exposure to literature, lectures, role-play, and visual and performing arts. Frey's goal is to create a more positive school environment for students and staff, which is more conducive to overall student learning. Frey lives in Palm Bay.

Giunta Middle School
Riverview, FL

Hosick's "21st Century Literacy" project will provide students and teachers with computer technology to bring them together to create an innovative and exciting new way to approach the Language Arts Curriculum. With "21st Century Literacy", the objective is to create an educational atmosphere in which students use technology to aid in academic advancement. Motivation provided by this project will work to increase reading/academic abilities, student creativity/productivity and excitement to learn while simultaneously enhancing their technological knowledge, which is essential to reach their future goals. Hosick hopes that this 'language arts meets technology' program will excite students and enhance their learning experience. Hosick resides in Riverview.

Forest Hill Elementary
West Palm Beach, FL

Small believes that most students would succeed if they knew how to examine themselves in terms of their habits, self-perception and beliefs. "Character Circle", a program that brings groups of kindergarten through sixth-grade students together, along with their guides, to discuss techniques that will help them to achieve academic success from the inside out. Small's program empowers students to discover the keys to unlocking their greatest academic potential. A guide states the objective and engages the students in discussion that entails vital coping skills that build self-confidence and boost enthusiasm toward learning, culture and life. Guest speakers help students discover that they hold the power to shape their destiny in spite of difficulties. Students will learn that they control whether they get all A's or F's, succeed or fail, or fall victim to being bullied. During each session, students learn to successfully reprogram their habits, self-perception and beliefs and uncover the secrets to becoming a better student and a better person. Small lives in West Palm Beach.

Lakemont Elementary
Winter Park, FL

Webster's "Lakemont Outdoor Classroom Initiative" incorporates "Hands-on–Mind-on" learning activities while promoting responsibility, understanding and respect for natural resources and living things in an outdoor interactive setting. Her project will allow kindergarten through fifth- grade students to develop an awareness of how concepts learned in science, math, language arts and fine arts relate to the real world. The outdoor initiative will partner and collaborate with such organizations as the Eagle Scouts, Whole Foods, Beautify Winter Park, Beautify Orlando and the Lakemont Elementary PTA to create an authentic nature-filled experience for students. Among other stations slated for implementation, students will enjoy a habitat consisting of plants, tress, bat houses and a pond. This project also addresses state and district benchmarks, as well as National and World Standards. Webster lives in Altamonte Springs.

Heard County Elementary School
Franklin, GA

To be successful in all academic areas, a student must be able to read in order to truly learn. 'Language and Literacy: "Sounds" Like Fun!' provides a solid basis of language and literacy to ensure students will be well equipped to excel in all academic subjects. Teachers, speech pathologist, and paraprofessionals, armed with a wealth of instructional strategies from various disciplines, will work together and use their knowledge about articulation (speech sounds) and language (vocabulary, grammar, phonological awareness, and pragmatics) to make a difference in early intervention for reading. The team's project focuses on National Reading Panel's five essential elements for reading: 1) phonemic awareness, 2) phonics, 3) comprehension, 4) vocabulary and 5) fluency. The program is implemented in six general education kindergarten classrooms. The collaboration effort will benefit everyone, including those students at-risk for academic difficulties.

Woodland Elementary Charter
Sanmdy Springs, GA

"Telling Our Story - A New Renaissance" is a fourth and fifth-grade program being led by Hodges that "re-imagines" and "re-images" moments from the Harlem Renaissance. Students research art, photography and music from this period and examine its influence on their own lives and the changes taking place today. This collaborative effort between the school's art teacher, band director and students is a totally new approach to teaching social studies and history. Students research the works and lives of photographer James Van Der Zee and composer Duke Ellington who lived in New York City during the 1920s and 1930s. Like these great artists, students are active participants in telling their stories through art. The project provides students with an opportunity to create both photographs and digital musical compositions that depict the time period and upload them to the Web for the world to see. Hedges is a resident of Roswell.

Hilo Intermediate School
Hilo, HI

Fong is on a mission to help all feeder schools to Hilo Intermediate School develop their own ROV Robotics club and to provide regional competitions for students to showcase their new-found knowledge. Her hands-on project, "ROVing the Way to the Future", is the next step in implementing what she learned at a ROV (Remote Ocean Vehicle) workshop. After implementing the program, she discovered that many female and ethnic minority students really enjoyed designing, building and operating ROVs. To accommodate their interest, Fong has offered the program on an after-school basis to become a volunteer Lead Coordinator for the Regional Marine Advanced Technology Education - Big Island Regional ROV (MATE-BIRR) competition. Fong also introduced a Scout Class comprised of students from two of Hilo's feeder schools. Fong now aspires to do more for more students. After watching students become motivated, produce high quality products and develop leadership skills, she has decided to launch the "ROVing the Way to the Future" program to get students interested in Science, Technology, Education, and Math (STEM) areas by creating a fun, learning environment. Fong resides in Hilo.

Vision Charter School
Caldwell, ID

Students at Vision Charter School will be introduced to something new when they return to school this fall. "The Eagle's Eye", a bimonthly, digital student news magazine will feature school happenings, individual classroom and student spotlights, student versions of "man-on-the-street" sound bites and 30-second-spot commercials about character traits such as honesty, integrity and respect. Wafwa's multimedia project will also capture scientific experiments, reenacted pieces of literature, social studies projects, field trips and dignitary visits. Students will work in cooperative groups so that each member can assume a production role. They will update the content and apprise the student body for school-related news twice a month. The goal of "The Eagle's Eye" is to promote creativity, news reporting, collaboration and the use of multimedia technology. Wafwa resides in Nampa.

Washington School
Evanston, IL

"Digital Literacy" is a project-based program developed by Erf that will integrate reading ability and familiarity with technology into the teaching curriculum to advance the reading fluency and comprehension of fourth-grade Washington School students identified as performing below grade level expectations. During a daily reader's workshop, students will rehearse appropriately challenging theater scripts, discuss the material to ensure understanding and clarify the author's intent. Final performances will be recorded using digital video cameras, and burned to DVD by the students. The technology used in "Digital Literacy" will heighten students' motivation to improve their reading ability in preparation for their performances. Erf's program will target and benefit at-risk students who read slowly or inefficiently or are experiencing frustrations with learning. By using mixed-ability groupings, students are not made to feel singled out and all who participate will find it to be a fun, learning environment. Erf resides in Skokie.

Saugnash Elementary
Chicago, IL

"Digital Storytelling" is a program being led by Lundak and his six colleagues. They have created a cross-curricular Language Arts and Media Technology experience for 150 middle school students at Sauganash Elementary school in Chicago. Their program provides students with an opportunity to write narrative stories full of symbolism and imagery that is brought to life by combining images downloaded from digital, video and Web site photos with narration, music and sound bytes to create digital stories. Although the project will address several Illinois Language Arts and Technology standards, it will also appeal to the "digital generation" and will help them develop writing skills using tone, mood and voice with verbal, visual and auditory features. The high-engagement factor of this program will ensure improvement in writing skills for these sixth through eighth-grade students.

Columbia Central School
Steger, IL

Through Melnyczenko's "Reality Store" program, eighth-grade students at Columbia Central School will learn basic skills in financial and career planning, goal setting and decision-making. By simulating real-world experiences such as exploring occupational opportunities, receiving a monthly income and keeping a checkbook register, students will examine their attitudes about their financial future and their career expectations. To support this hands-on initiative, MeInyczenko will create a Reality Store staffed with volunteer students, parents, community members and local business owners to sell everything from insurance to real estate. From time to time the students will also spring the occasional unexpected event on participants. They will then write a first-person narrative essay describing their consumer and career decisions. MeInyczenko hopes to someday be able to offer scholarships to students who demonstrate exemplary learning through the project. MeInyczenko resides in Cedar Lake.

NorthWood Middle School
Wakarosa, IN

The "Aim High with Rocketry" project involves sixth-grade astronomy students at NorthWood Middle School designing, assembling, testing and launching rockets. Bennett's project provides students with hands-on learning activities that teach the inspection, disassembling and reassembling of mechanical devices, including technology essential to reaching outer space. Students will use models to illustrate processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, too small a scale to observe directly or are potentially dangerous. They will also explore the differences and similarities in sizes, compositions and surface features of planets in the solar system as well as objects orbiting them. Students are encouraged to work on various aspects of the project at home with parents. Bennet is a resident of Goshen.

Barker Middle School
Michigan, IN

Hamann plans to use the ING grant funds to purchase laptops to help teach eighth-grade students the value of energy conservation. Her program, "Conservation Smarts Using Technology" will facilitate online research to gather information on energy conservation, including strategies and solutions for daily life. Hamann hopes that the discovery of eye-opening findings about different energy sources and uses, and ways of conserving energy and available natural resources will help students become stewards of their communities and the Earth. After researching this valuable information, students will make others aware of energy conservation issues and Earth-friendly strategies through school and community presentations that cover the importance of energy conservation. This project will give students the positive tools needed to help them make better decisions about energy conservation each day. Hamann is a resident of Michigan City.

Kesling Middle School
La Porte, IN

Dearing and his four colleagues developed the 13-week problem-based curriculum "Mysteries of Kesling Middle School" program to increase science, math, social studies and language arts achievement as students search for answers in a treasure hunt. Each lesson will take place in one of Epcot Center's 11 accurately-depicted countries, where teachers will act as virtual tour guides by filming stories to be shown to students each week on interactive whiteboards. After viewing each story, students will work in teams to conduct science labs, decipher codes and solve mathematical equations in order to solve clues that open a treasure box. By creating this hands-on treasure hunt, the team hopes to facilitate the development of critical thinking skills and student reasoning.

Dowling Catholic High School
West Des Moines, IA

Lensing wants to develop an "Outdoor Classroom" equipped with a prairie to enhance the research opportunities of his environmental science classes where students can conduct ecological comparative studies between the prairie and the forest thereby creating a human altered landscape. Students would use field techniques, global positioning system (GPS) and satellite map data to create a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the research area. The main objective of the project is to restore a prairie on school grounds and continually increase its diversity each year by having students grow an assortment of plants. Students will also use cutting-edge environmental technology to monitor the progress of the prairie. Lensing believes an outdoor classroom will increase local biodiversity and provide a beautiful, natural space for students, teachers and the community to enjoy. This classroom will also raise awareness of conservation issues and help educate the public about conservation and restoration projects in Iowa. Lensing lives in West Des Moines.

Gardner Edgerton High School
Gardner, KS

Through Abromeit's "Creating the Perfect Candidate; Political Parties and Elections" program, twelfth-grade students at Gardner Edgerton High School will work together in groups of five to create their own unique and original political party, party platform and fictional presidential candidate. Students with similar beliefs will form new political parties, conduct opinion polls within the community, determine important issues to be included in their platform and then construct their "perfect candidate" Wiki site, including background information on their presidential and vice presidential candidates. Selected members from the community and school faculty will join parents in viewing the completed student Web pages. Then, they'll vote for their preferred presidential candidate using an online survey program. This program will improve student learning by requiring them to apply knowledge of the U.S. political process. Students will gather information from a variety of sources, synthesize the information and develop an original product. Abromeit resides in Lawrence.

Gardner Elementary School
Gardner, KS

The "21st Century Reading: Everyone Exceeding Expectations" project will involve students in kindergarten through fourth grade at Gardner Elementary School. Utilizing a MP3 player and a Language Audio Card Reader, Thies will help students improve their reading comprehension and fluency. Through this program, students will read stories, record them on the computer and download them onto a MP3 player to take home so they can work on their reading skills with a parent. The Language Audio Card Reader, which benefits the growing population of English learning students, allows students to "scan" cards that, in turn, repeats their words. Thies plans to have a card reader at each student's home to help them learn new sight words and vocabulary. With its focus on improving reading comprehension and reading fluency, this access to technology will create a more educated school population which then extends to the whole community.

Derby High School
Derby, KS

Woods' "Cadet Teaching" program dispatches a 15-member Cadet Corp of third and fourth-year high school French students to as many as nine elementary schools to teach elementary conversational French to elementary school students in their district. This research-based process provides real-life practice to advanced language high school students to utilize their knowledge of foreign language. Cadet students create and organize flash cards, posters, games, songs, nursery rhymes and other elementary realia to aid in their teaching process. Students also plan lessons and schedule class time as part of their own language learning process. The "Cadet Teaching" project is not merely a "program" with an ending, but it is an intense teaching process with academic excellence in foreign language as its goal. For the elementary student, the Cadet Program is both exciting and motivational. For the high school participant, the program helps them strive for accuracy in their French communication skills. Woods is a resident of Mulvane.

Beau Chene High School
Breaux Bridge, LA

Loreauville High School
Loreauville, LA

The goal of Lavergne's project is to educate students on the daily food recommendations to become healthy teens, teach healthy cooking methods and portions and provide an opportunity for students to showcase local culinary arts of the Louisiana region. Her program "Tasty Treats for Teens" helps students evaluate favorite desserts, side dishes and snack foods to decide how to make "healthier" versions of them. Healthier recipes for these munchies will be presented to the student body in a taste test. The approved food will be compiled in a cookbook for distribution to other students and high schools in the area. Lavergne notes that there are "a lot of health programs out there for the obese child or unfit adult, but teens seem to fall through the cracks." Her project, which will use the USDA's Food Pyramid Web site to calculate the daily requirements that teens need to keep their bodies healthy will address this issue. Lavergne is a resident of Lafayette.

Slidell High
Slidell, LA

The "Tradition Touching Today" project is an idea that Wiebelt, a broadcasting teacher at Slidell High, developed to document the commemoration of 100 years of the school's history. The ING award will allow the communications academy students to acquire video and digital cameras, computer equipment and production resources needed to capture the happenings that will be part of media press kits, yearbook content and marketing projects. Students will conduct in-depth research to show how life has changed over the years. It will be conveyed through pictures, interviews and written stories. Oral histories dating back to the 1930s will be captured in documentaries for students and community members to view. Highlights will include clothing, cars, entertainment, major events and life at Slidell High from each period. The goal for Wielbelt's project is to inform the student body of changes that have occurred over the past 100 years within the school and the community. Wiebelt lives in Slidell.

Cheverus High School
Portland, ME

"Haiti Solidarity Club: Sustainable Giving Project" is a program developed by Lee, a theology teacher at Cheverus High School, to promote learning about the economies of developing countries and ways for students to contribute to the easing of global poverty. Lee's project provides student/club members with one feasible, self-sustaining solution - micro loans. Students research and learn about lending small sums of money to aspiring entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic and Haiti to help individuals break the cycle of dependency. Participants develop compassion and solidarity for the developing world and become future investors in ways that are self-sustaining. Information about micro-loaning institutions is presented as well as success stories and simple concrete ideas about how to get involved. This program also teaches the club's 65 members and the 200 students affected by the project about the challenges of starting a small business in the developing world, while creating solidarity with the loan recipients. Thus, students in the Cheverus "Haiti Solidarity Club Micro-Loan Project" will learn the importance of sustainable giving for the rest of their lives. Lee resides in Portland.

Sanford Junior High
Sanford, ME

After learning about the consequences of food waste, Sanford Junior High students created a fictional company called "Waste-Busters LLC". The company's goals are to observe practices, record findings, analyze data and take action regarding school cafeteria food waste. Seventh and eight grade students discuss the consequences of food waste and its impact on the school, the local community and globally. They are learning about the science of composting and the replication of nature's natural system of breaking down materials. They've designed and built compost bins for their school and will use compost to plant vegetables, flowering plants, bushes and trees in the school and the community. Students will design and build a Full Circle "Green Foot-Print Walking Path" with informational signs on how food waste can come "full circle" by being recycled into compost and helping in the growth of plants and vegetables. This project not only raises students' level of awareness, but it also prepares them to become "Waste-Buster Activists" for life.

Southern Garrett High School
Oakland, MD

If Bender has her way, "Making Students Future Ready" will turn her classroom into a business center for students. A typical day will include students attending financial literacy lectures then heading over to the Traders Desk to check stock portfolios in real time and stopping in the Apprentice Area to engage in online business simulation scenarios. The following day, students will work in the Podcast Center to maintain weekly business journals as they tune into podcasts about business financials. Finally, they will enter the Mini-Production Studio to create video public service announcements to share over the school television network so their peers can learn about money management. By creating this financial literacy suite, Bender hopes to educate and excite students about financial literacy and create an atmosphere that focuses on "Making Students Future Ready" for tomorrow's workforce.

Harlem Park Elementary School
Harlem Park Middle School
Baltimore, MD

Exploring cultures and teaching tolerance is at the heart of Bradford and Keith's visual arts program, "Worldview". In this cross-curricular program, students learn about global societies with particular attention paid to the visual and performing arts, including the legacies of famous individuals and governing principles. Following last year's pilot program, "Worldview: France," kindergarten through eighth-grade students at Harlem Park Elementary and Middle Schools will focus on India for the 2008-2009 school year. "Worldview: India" will consider the country's visual and performing arts, the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and the principles of non-violence, with connections made to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students will participate in a letter exchange program, study dance and music, practice yoga to enhance self-awareness and focus, fundraise for selected charities and host a cultural fair in the community. Worldview's comprehensive program will establish the concept that art and culture are integral aspects of politics, history and character development. The resulting change in students' world views will enhance their abilities to see similarities in certain circumstances facing people around the world, encourage empathy for different people and increase understanding of beliefs that may not be their own.

Harlem Park Elementary School
Claremont High School
Baltimore, MD

Through Vikestad's innovative program, "Switch on the Music / Adoptive Music", Claremont High School students with severe and profound disabilities are actively and independently creating music on their own. The program brings together a music therapist/teacher, speech pathologist and occupational therapist to work with students who are often viewed as dependent on others. Thanks to this collaboration, students are provided with materials that they can independently manipulate to create music. Instruments and musical toys activated by headtilt, wobble, oversize switches, and/or finger, hand, head, foot or torso motor movements, allow these students to successfully operate music equipment. This project shows staff and family members that these students are capable of doing more than was previously believed or expected of them. Vikestad resides in Essex.

Center Technical Education
Ashland, MA

Klonsky plans to increase student understanding of the relationships between variables in complex equations with his "Simply Complex" program. According to Klonsky, students tend to memorize equations and solve them with minimal understanding of the relationships between the variables involved. Klonsky's program will group students together, emulating real world experiences to construct 4 to 8 capacitors each. Each team's capacitors, often used in electric and electronic circuits as energy-storage devices, will have one varying variable and all others constant. Students will gather and record data in an organized and meaningful format and share their findings with the class. Klonsky believes his "Simply Complex" program will foster a thorough understanding of complex equations and improve students' ability to investigate the relationship of a single factor (variable). Through the program, Klonsky hopes students will find that this methodology may be used on a wide range of practical problems with proper equipment, supplies and data to enhance their understanding of complex equations. Klonsky is a resident of Ashland.

Washington School
Lowell, MA

Students participating in Washington School's "Photo Voice" program are strengthening the connection between the school and community, while giving students a powerful voice through the art of photography. The program, founded by Leslie McPhail, a resident artist in Lowell, helps foster relationships with the local elderly home and veteran's associations by partnering student photographers/interviewers with gray-haired models/interviewees. While powerful portraits speak volumes themselves, written biographies of the subjects show the connection that these students have made with members of the community. This program helps students discover their own voice and improve their descriptive writing skills. Photos from the "Photo Voice" program are shown all over the city, and several have been sold to local elderly homes, veteran's hospitals and government buildings for their permanent collection. Stahl is a resident of Lowell.

Patrick F. Gavin Middle School
South Boston, MA

As a way of sowing seeds for future involvement in the political process, Tang proposed the development of "Civics in Action: Making the Changes We Want to See" program to empower students with the knowledge, skills and experience that inspire civic action. Tang believes youth have great potential to participate and reenergize citizenship in the 21st century. It's just a matter of drawing out that energy and potential. To that end, her program provides students at Patrick F. Gavin Middle School an opportunity to address issues and problems seen in their school, community and the environment. Students identify and research issues, debate the strengths and potential challenges of finding practical solutions to them and come up with a plan of action. Through Tang's program, students are gaining the necessary skills to engage in solving school and community issues. Last school year, students successfully campaigned to increase recycling and reduce littering. They also participated in the creation of a new teen center. "Civics in Action" will continue to provide students with hands-on experiences so they can make changes in their school and in their community. Tang is a resident of Boston.

Zilwaukee International Studies School
Saginaw, MI

"Michigan Explorers" is a program designed to invite second and third-grade students at Zilwaukee International Studies Schools to take an active part in learning about history, civics, economics, geography and global issues. The program uses learning stations such as the Core Democratic or Events Stations throughout the classroom to appeal to students' auditory, visual, oral and kinesthetic learning styles. Decuf's use of a layered curriculum allows students choices in accomplishing their learning goals. For example, in the first layer of the unit students will gather information. In the next layer, students will apply the information to discover, hypothesize and demonstrate the new material they have acquired. In the final layer of the unit, students will analyze an issue, using their research to support their resolution. The students will showcase their projects for the school and community at the end of the school year. Decuf resides in Bay City.

Barker Middle School
Michigan City, MI

Hamann plans to use the ING grant funds to purchase laptops to help teach eighth-grade students the value of energy conservation. Her program, "Conservation Smarts Using Technology" will facilitate online research to gather information on energy conservation, including strategies and solutions for daily life. Hamann hopes that the discovery of eye-opening findings about different energy sources and uses, and ways of conserving energy and available natural resources will help students become stewards of their communities and the Earth. After researching this valuable information, students will make others aware of energy conservation issues and Earth-friendly strategies through school and community presentations that cover the importance of energy conservation. This project will give students the positive tools needed to help them make better decisions about energy conservation each day. Hamann is a resident of Michigan City.

Dundee Middle School
Dundee, MI

"The American Revolution Project" created by Jacobs at Dundee Middle School includes the production of a stop-motion claymation film to teach students about the economic impact of war. It will also help raise funds for rehabilitating injured veterans working to re-acclimate themselves into daily life. Eighth grade students will learn film making techniques such as writing scripts, making props, adding narration, packaging the final product and raising funds at a movie viewing for students, staff, parents and community members. Through advanced technology and interactive class work, they will learn about history and the principles of economics (i.e. product development, price points, profit margins, advertisement and supply/demand). According to Jacobs, by the end of the project, students will have developed a basic knowledge of the economic impacts of war, thus bridging the gap between book knowledge and applied learning. Jacobs resides in Milan.

Roscommon Middle School
Roscommon, MI

First of its kind in Roscommon, the "Submerging Students in Engineering" project includes the design and construction of underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for student exploration of nearby lake waters. The project intends to "literally submerge" 60 eighth-grade students in applying engineering, math and science by "watering down the curriculum." Each semester, Schepke will use an engineering format to teach science by having teams of students design, construct, test, revise and finalize a working underwater ROV. These middle school explorers will analyze and present video and temperature/light data collected from a body of water to students, local marinas and members of the community. Schepke's aims to get middle school students excited about math, science and engineering in hopes of motivating them to further their study of these disciplines in high school and college. Schepke is a resident of Roscommon.

Winona Area Learning Center
Winona, MN

Since last year, these two teams have been on a quest to do something with their shared passion for ecological change. Their upcoming launch of the "WALC Habitat Restoration" project does just that. Staff and students are planning to create an outdoor classroom to increase academic engagement of students using environmentalism across the curriculum, and an educational, earth-friendly ecosystem around the school building. Students and staff will work collaboratively to grow native plants, install recycled plastic outdoor furniture, build a greenhouse and nurse plants for their outdoor classroom. While the program focuses on ecology, native habitat planting also incorporates math, science and art. Students will also build confidence and resiliency through their inclusion in decision-making and gain greater ownership in their learning, school and community. This hands-on experience will help students become experts in habitat restoration and ecology advisors to a wider audience throughout Winona. The teams consist of Debra Moe, Adam Rislov, Nate Pollock, Victoria Bronk, Rick Kuusisto, Scott Hannon, Mary Jennison, Joel Bruels, Ted Stuckmayer, Scott Lowery, Kristen Wicks, Terri Spartz, Lindsay Mather and Marji Ford.

Bay-Waveland Middle School
Bay St.Louis, MS

Gilmore wanted to do something to help students psychologically and physically impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Her "Earn Your Stripes" program does just that by encouraging, recognizing and rewarding exemplary academic and citizenship characteristics of students at Bay-Waveland Middle School. Gilmore's program promotes work ethic, team building, goal setting and character in these students. Nearly the entire population of Bay St. Louis lived in FEMA trailers right after the storms and some students still reside there. Yet, Gilmore is determined to prepare these students for future success by implementing a recognition and reward program for those who rise above their daily challenges to set, achieve and maintain new heights in academic achievement, perfect attendance, and self-discipline. The program will not only benefit Bay-Waveland Middle School students, but also the entire town of Bay St. Louis as students take the lead in recovering and building a brighter future for the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast. Gilmore is a resident of Bay St. Louis.

Heber Hunt Elementary School
Sedalia, MO

In White's "Sharing and making memories (SAMM)" program, she incorporates community service into the learning experience to help Heber Hunt Elementary School students gain a rich cross-curricular experience. This student-volunteer program sets out to promote character education, encourage community involvement, increase attendance, improve behavior and enhance the curriculum for its participants. Students and residents of a nearby assisted-living facility will meet twice a month to discuss real-life experiences pertaining to positive character traits such as respect, acceptance, responsibility and friendship. They'll work together on activities like a Living History Project, planning/creating a garden, reader's theatre, mock presidential election and more. Approximately 40 first through fourth-grade students will share their experiences in a quarterly student newsletter. SAMM is sure to provide the mixed-aged classroom with opportunities to give back to the community and experience a higher level of learning. White is a resident of Sedalia Hughesville.

Irving School
Bozeman, MT

Strand believes that meaning and substance should be infused into American history. So, he designed "Windows Into the Past" to have students imagine and grasp the world in which nine significant Americans, including Ben Franklin and Harriet Tubman, handled challenges, accomplished goals and dealt with defining moments. Strand is organizing instruction in a way that personalizes history. Each month, his students are asked to put themselves in the shoes of one of the historical figures and delve deeper than what's known by most. Students must consider things like what the person ate, wore, argued about and believed. The answers provide a window through which to view a major historical era. This investigation requires online research of photographs, personal letters, maps and works of art. Students visit historical monuments and landmarks to help bring richness to a subject that has been characterized by dry irrelevance because it is presented as a disjointed collection of information. Strand resides in Bozeman.

Dawes Middle School
Lincoln, NE

Crose and Adams' program, "See Me Think", enables seventh and eighth-grade math students to "hear" each other, "see" each other, challenge each other and evaluate their own work and thoughts. Incorporating a visual presenter, a video camera mounted over a large base on which books, lessons and students' work can be placed to project its image to the whole class, makes sharing student work quick and easy. Students at Dawes Middle School will be able to present and explain their solutions and compare their work. Teachers will be able to save graphics of the shared work for later examination in class and/or share it later with students who may have been absent on a particular day. Teachers will also be able to share student work in dynamic ways. Note taking for students with disabilities will be less difficult since the program will allow access to archived class notes, student examples and connection to the visual presenter during class presentation.

North West Career & Technical Academy
Las Vegas, NV

Students participating in the "Voices of Our Veterans" program at North West Career & Technical Academy will record, preserve and share oral histories and experiences of veterans from the Las Vegas area. Through this project, eleventh grade students learn about the challenges, contributions and sacrifices of local servicemen and women. Students will use digital recorders to record oral history interviews; they will then transcribe and catalog their interviews for the creation of a Web site that will contain histories of wars in which the veterans fought along with personal photographs and highlights of the recorded oral history interviews. Hinton intends to have students do more than just memorize names and dates. His goal is to spark a life-long love of history in students as they realize that history is about the lives of real people and not just words in a book. "Voices of Our Veterans" will help to acknowledge and remember local military heroes who have given so much and asked for so little in return. Hinton lives in Las Vegas.

Belmont High School
Belmont, NH

The "Getting a Charge Out of Helping the Environment" project brings engineering concepts and hands-on activities together to address an issue regarding the environment - pollution and efficiency of fuel-operated vehicles. Pre-engineering students at Belmont High School plan to convert a late-model, small car or truck from fuel-operated to electric-powered. The conversion will require students to investigate a variety of possible direct current (DC) motors, battery arrangements, transmission choices and wiring options. They will be asked to reach out to community members to gain everything from expertise and know-how to needed resources. The challenge of planning, designing, acquiring parts and services, and then building an electric vehicle will allow students to use their individual and collective strengths to produce a working vehicle that is road worthy. Along the way, they will also gain a greater awareness of the environmental issues that we face today. Wormald resides in Salisbury.

Ferris High School
Jersey City, NJ

Thanks to Cladakis, the "Medibotics (Medical Robotics)" program will be introduced to ninth and eleventh-graders at Ferris High School. The program provides a rich hands-on cross-curricular experience in biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics and technology. Students use LEGOS, motors, gears, sensors and computerized controllers to simulate medical robotics technology while gaining scientific skills in problem solving, critical thinking and cooperative learning. Students, teachers, parents, colleges and future employers partner in this project. The real-world application to medical technology provides motivation for the students to learn and introduces them to science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) careers. In New Jersey, the Medibotics Program is a partnership between high school teachers, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cladakis resides in Monroe.

Archbishop Damiano School
Westville Grove, NJ

The "Not-So-Secret Garden State Garden" is a handicapped-accessible garden project designed to create a learning experience for students aged 16-21 with significant cognitive/physical impairments. Reinforcing core curriculum content standards learned in the classroom such as math, science, language arts, social studies and health, McHugh's project will provide special education students with hands-on skills needed to experience the joys of working in the garden. Students partner with teens from 4-H clubs and volunteers from Rutgers University Master Gardener program to grow organic vegetables, native wildflowers and herbal tea for sale through the Gloucester County Seeds to Success Youth Farmstead Program. Profits and unsold produce will be donated to a local food pantry. McHugh is a resident of Pitman.

Capital High School
Santa Fe, NM

Seventh through twelfth-grade students at Capital High School will be making the grade in alternative energy awareness thanks to Gurule-Leyba's innovative "Diversity and Sustainability of Renewable Energy" program. The program helps students learn how current habits are contributing to Global Warming. Collecting science data, performing computer analysis and building and comparing models to the "real things" found in the communities are all part of this program. Students will also gain a better understanding of hydroelectric, wind power generators and differential heating and cooling. Modeling and probe ware studies, and using Xplorer GLX Interface technology will focus on efficiency, plant and solar energy and hydropower. Students will educate the community and the state on alternative energy through their planned newsletter and possible Web site. Gurule-Leyba lives in Santa Fe.

Public School 188X
Bronx, NY

To help address students struggling with retention and comprehension of scientific concepts, Crowley proposes creating a "Digital Science Lab" on the Web to archive science projects and topics that students can access and review at any time from any place. Approximately 100 fourth through eighth grade students with emotional and learning disabilities will use digital camcorders to record science experiments and demonstrations. They will edit and narrate the videos in the computer lab, import the videos into a Web development software, add informational/procedural text and diagrams and upload the Web page to the school's hosting account. Crowley contends that there are no science Web sites that host videos created by students for students. She believes an added benefit to this program is that the vocabulary and explanations used by students of similar age will resonate more effectively with their peer group than traditional instructional science videos. Crowley lives in the Bronx.

Arlington High School
LaGrangeville, NY

Flanagan and Lawrence wanted to do something to increase students' understanding of alternative fuels and renewable energy. Their "Going Green: Understanding and Using Alternative Fuels" program does just that by converting waste vegetable oil collected from the school's cafeteria and a nearby diner to alternative bio-fuel that will power demonstration vehicles, a small school maintenance vehicle and a golf-cart-style vehicle used for hallway security. Forty students in grades 10-12 will learn about renewable and alternate forms of energy via hands-on exploration and real data collection and will become ambassadors of "green change" in the school and local community. They will also build bio-diesel engine compartments that will enable certain gas-powered vehicles to alternatively use bio-diesel fuel that has been mixed by a Fuelmeister Bio-Diesel Mixer. This project provides students with an opportunity to gain applied, authentic experience working on alternative fuel vehicles which may very well be the wave of the next decade. Their understanding of the growing industry of renewable and bio-fuel systems will increase their career opportunities, simultaneously invoking change in the community by showcasing actual solutions to some of our current environmental problems.

Midtown West, P.S. 212
New York, NY

Heist's "Visual Literacy: Integrating Art in the 21st Century Curriculum" will give students visual ways to think about their studies by making connections between literacy-oriented learning and visual material. Art will now be implemented as an integral part of the social studies-based curriculum. Thank to Heist, kindergarten students will learn about the way they look by photographing each other. First grade students will fashion props. Second graders will make birdhouses, and third and fourth graders will learn about abstraction and symbolic meaning by designing masks and beaded jewelry. Heist's "Visual Literacy" project upholds literacy as a key component of elementary education and gives children the tools they need to explore their visually-oriented world thoroughly and analytically. Heist's hands-on art curriculum recognizes different learning styles and aids Midtown West's fundamental goal of reaching all students. He is a resident of New York City.

River Elementary
Patchogue, NY

At the heart of Zegel's program, "The Civil War Experience", is a student magazine project that requires fifth grade students to examine different genres of writing available to them so they can write about individuals and events important to the Civil War. But before pens hit paper or fingers tap keyboards, students must demonstrate their understanding of the Civil War's importance in American history. Knowledge of Union and Confederate state locations, its peoples and epic battles must be demonstrated. Research is brought to life by students who participate in a Civil War encampment. Students dress as Civil War persons and given presentations to other students, teachers, parents and the community at a school-wide writing showcase. Armed with answers to questions about individuals and events surrounding the Civil War, students then demonstrate their mastery of writing for one of their genre-specific magazines. This multi-sensory approach to learning ensures success for students with different learning styles. It provides an authentic purpose for learning and the activities are designed to be of high-interest to students. Zegel resides in Medford.

Polk County High School
Columbus, NC

The expansion of Polk County High School's existing farm is the catalyst behind Davis and Ledford's project. The "Agriculture for Everyone/Farm Project" is a unique opportunity for students, staff, family and community members to work together to create a more 'modern' farm where basic, traditional agriculture and horticulture practices can be taught along with more advanced technology. Overall, this project will teach students about basic farming and how farmers can implement new technologies and water conservation to help the environment and become better stewards of the land. With an increased level of funding, students will experiment with lighting and feeds to create different fertilizer from chickens, learn the business of selling eggs to the local farmer's market and place rainwater cisterns next to the barn to provide the irrigation needed for newly-created vegetable plots. The objective of the program is to enhance the farm behind Polk County High School and to cultivate student appreciation for agriculture. Davis and Ledford's plan would include building of outside hutches with electricity, purchasing irrigation materials and installing windmill and solar panels to provide the irrigation needed for the vegetable plots. Davis resides in Mills Spring. Ledford lives in Mills River.

Dobson Elementary School
Dobson, NC

Dorsett and Johnson's project, "The Tiger's Den", brings the parents of Dobson Elementary School's growing population of English Language Learners (ELL) students into the school and establishes partnerships between school and home, creating bonds of trust. "The Tiger's Den" will be a resource room filled with bilingual reading games, books with audio CDs, personal CD players with headphones, various manipulative and fun take-home activities. All items will be available for Hispanic parents to check out so they can work with their children at home in both their native language and English. This project seeks to improve approximately 260 kindergartens through fifth-grade students' communication and academic skills, helping ELL children progress toward fluency in English with the target of exiting the ELL program. The long-range goals of the project include increasing ELL reading fluency, conversation skills and reading comprehension while improving communication between home and school. The program also hopes to get parents involved in their children's education throughout the entire school year.

Northwoods Park Middle School
Jacksonville, NC

"We're Out of This World" will provide access to "E-Mission," a student-centered, problem-based, interactive experience that uses the Internet and videoconferencing equipment to motivate sixth-grade students to learn science and math. Live simulations are conducted by a flight director at Mission Control from the Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling Jesuit College. Students use teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills to avoid disasters and save lives. They also perform calculations, create graphs and assess data every five minutes. Three weeks are spent preparing for the e-Mission by completing standards-based materials, lesson plans and activities provided by the e-Mission Web site. Katter's "We're Out of This World" project will give students an opportunity to participate in a fast-paced, engaged learning environment. Kautter also believes this program will help her science students grasp and retain difficult concepts more easily as they track, analyze and interpret live data. Kautter is a resident of Jacksonville.

Hardwod Elementary School
Hardwood, ND

"Live Fit From 6 to 60" is a fitness program at Harwood Elementary School that provides an alternative to physical activities that requires elite athleticism by focusing on a large variety of activities that students can engage in for a lifetime. In light of the issues around childhood obesity, Geiger's program sets out to broaden less physically-active students' exposure to other fitness activities that will increase their chances of becoming and remaining active. Kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Harwood have the option of throwing Frisbees, playing golf, tossing horseshoes or shooting archery. This program builds upon and complements the physical and health program already implemented. Students are expected to draw their families into these activities away from school. Academically, the students and teachers benefit through a more physically fit, attentive and ready-to-learn student body. Geiger lives in Harwood.

Joseph M. Gallagher Elementary School
Cleveland, OH

Dixon, an occupational therapist at Joseph M. Gallagher Elementary School, would like to develop a stronger school community by bringing special and regular education students together to work and play. Through her project "Occupational Therapy Working in the School Community Through the Use of Environment, Meditation, and Movement" she would like to address the needs of kindergarten though eighth-grade students so they can participate in outdoor activities. Through self-discovery and organized purposeful activities students with a disability will have the opportunity to get the most out of their school experience. Gardening, yoga and movement equipment would be made available to all students to help them learn about the outdoor environment, become active members of the school community, develop friendships, experience teamwork and encourage responsibility. Dixon's project aims to contribute to the development of underlying performance components that are prerequisites for academic learning and vocational training within the student's current educational setting. Dixon is a resident of Lakewood.

Liberty Benton Local Schools
Findlay, OH

Anchoring concepts in the brain by listening to core subject material as you participate in movement activities is the premise behind Matson's "Carving Across the Curriculum" project. In this project, second through twelfth-grade athletes, non-athletes and those with special needs at Liberty Benton Local Schools can participate in cross-lateral activities. Activities such as riding Trikke 3 Wheel Carving Vehicles while listening to MP3 players downloaded with math, science, reading and social studies lessons, will "wake up" the brain and promote the development of whole brain communication. Supported by research, Matson believes learning this way will also foster easier recall in academic settings. The "Carving Across the Curriculum" project aims to provide students with opportunities to develop the whole brain communication, reinforce core concepts that are addressed in the Ohio Grade Level Indicators Manual and enhance the physical fitness of all participants. Matson is a resident of Findlay.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights Middle School
Broadview Hieghts, OH

The goal of the "Planet Protectors" program is to bring awareness to how humans are impacting our planet. Bussell and Fisher intend to teach 200 students how to use technology to research, design and develop a community conservation plan. Students will implement their green projects and be empowered to make a difference in their community by taking content and applying it to the real world. The program will also engage students in interactive technologies, giving them proper, levels of support in the classroom and at home to be challenged and successful. The program includes weather research, green graphs and water activity research. At the conclusion of the research phase, students will design, create and market one of their ideas for protecting the planet. The project will be posted on the school's Web site so that the entire community can learn the student's ideas on how to change the world.

Woodbury Elementary School
Bay Village, OH

Steiner's "D.R.U.M." program teaches Discipline, Respect, Unity and Musicianship, introducing the rhythmic and harmonious concepts of a drum circle to fifth and sixth graders to get them in tune with each other and themselves. Ten and eleven-year-olds learn and perform music from each continent while gaining an understanding of the relationship between the arts and sciences. Inspired by Jim Solomon's book, D.R.U.M., Steiner's program increases interest and instills a source of pride in students who formerly exhibited behaviors that communicated disengagement from school. Participation in the D.R.U.M. program has changed the attitudes of students and has inspired them to improve their math, reading and writing skills. Participants have not only built their self-confidence, but have also increased their reading comprehension, including stories told through music, read and wrote music compositions and poetry set to rhythm and performed for the public. Steiner lives in Bay Village.

McKinley Elementary School
Norman, OK

Through "Kids are Poets…They Just Don't Know It" program, Johnson plans to provide creative methods to teach basic literacy skills to McKinley's kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Recognizing that today's students are inundated with games, music and other gadgets, the library media specialist looks forward to the day when students will be equally excited to come to the Literacy Lab to listen to electronic books, write stories, research papers, develop poetry writing skills and create e-greeting cards. To introduce students to the literacy lab, Johnson will collaborate with teachers to teach a poetry unit that includes learning how to write poetry, using digital photos to illustrate poetry, publishing poems on an e-book anthology and presenting poems at a POETRY SLAM. Johnson foresees each child reading their poem from the e-book anthology at the POETRY SLAM to the sound of applauses from peers, parents and family members. Through this project, students will be enriched by improving their writing skills, increasing self-motivation and confidence to write and publish work and strengthening computer and public speaking skills. Johnson is a resident of Noble.

Ripley School
Ripley, OK

Watson-Marlow's project, "Science On The Move", was created with three goals in mind: 1) improve the overall accessibility of modern science equipment and materials to Ripley Schools' elementary students, 2) allow older students the opportunity to share their knowledge and abilities by teaching laboratory activities to younger students and 3) increase the overall science comprehension and enthusiasm among elementary and upper-level students. Volunteer student mentors in grades seven through 12 will staff mobile science labs to provide various elementary grade students with "hands-on learning activities" that include growing plants under different environmental conditions, creating marble mazes to explore physics and building volcanoes to model the Earth's processes. The project will provide a collaborative learning environment for student mentors and the younger students. Watson-Marlow lives in Stillwater.

Gresham High School
Gresham, OR

Daley's "A Really Big Show" project is designed to foster a relationship between 120 Gresham High School students, the Courtyard Fountains Retirement community residents and the staff of the Gresham Historical Society to work together on a historic preservation effort. Under his program, these "core institutions" will collaborate in sharing senior citizen stories about life in Gresham between 1955 and 1970. Using digital recorders, students will create an archive of digital interviews of residents at the retirement community and work with the Historical Society staff to add their work to its local research materials. Students will celebrate their work with the senior citizens through a reenactment of Ed Sullivan's variety television show. Daley believes that it is vital that students learn civic involvement by interacting with and gaining insight from the local senior citizen community while assisting the local historical society. This program would be a great opportunity for Gresham students to provide a valuable service to the understaffed Gresham Historical Society and bridge the tremendous disconnect between teenagers and civic virtue. Daley lives in Portland.

Murrell Dobbins & 3 Other High Schools
Philadelphia, PA

Divine's "SuccessStories" project will give students from five inner-city high schools the opportunity to work together to build a successful clothing consignment boutique. The teams, comprised of students from each school, will be responsible for all aspects of the business: marketing, consigning, accounting/bookkeeping, displays, pricing, customer relations and human resources. In addition to hands-on activities, this cross-curricular project will introduce students to various education and business professionals and offer workshops and training to help students understand the practicality of their education. The objectives of Divine's innovative idea is to create networking and collaboration opportunities for the 45 students/participants, expose them to positive role models, develop and encourage critical thinking and business skills and have fun learning. Divine anticipates that students will transfer the lessons learned to other subjects, become more actively engaged in classroom discussions and mentor and encourage their peers to get involved in school activities. Divine is a resident of Philadelphia.

Saint Jospeh High School
Natrona Heights, PA

Greco developed the "Genetics Decisions" course to provide students with an essential understanding of genetics so they can become informed citizens with the ability to address the resultant social, political and personal issues connected to this field. The program idea, born out of a 2007-2008 cooperative effort with University of Pittsburgh geneticist, Dr. Jeremy Martison, will help 40-50 students each school year to gain an understanding of the nature and extent of gene interaction with intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the development of any given disease phenotype. Topics include the cell cycle, human reproduction, the chromosomal and molecular basis of inheritance, DNA technology and more. Students approaching the required voting age will be able to use their knowledge to become informed participants in the political process. They will also become informed consumers on everything from personal eating habits to reproductive testing. Greco resides in New Kensington.

Abington Heights Middle School
Clarks Summit, PA

The "Aquaponics" program developed by Lott is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students at Abington Heights Middle School to have a broad-based science experience while actively participating in a hands-on, cutting-edge program. Lott will partner with a local fish hatchery to allow students to observe aquaculture practices at work beyond the classroom, which will show how the science they learn in the class has real-world importance. His "Aquaponics" program combines hydroponics, the farming of plants in nutrient solutions instead of soil, and aquaculture, the cultivation of aquatic organisms. Student groups will learn the basics of aquaculture by raising viable fish in tanks. The goal of the program is for 280 of Lott's sixth-graders to learn about water testing, remediation of diseases, raising hydroponic crops using water waste from fish tanks as a natural nutrient solution and how to purify the tank water so it's healthier for fish. Lott lives in Olyphant.

Curtis Corner Middle School
Wakefield, RI

The sky is the limit for more than 100 students at Curtis Corner Middle School when Porrier launches project "Simulation – Aviation". Seventh and eighth-grade students will experience enjoyable and challenging aviation–related, hands-on activities where they discover the relationships between math, science, English and technology in authentic applications. The training schedule is divided into two parts: ground school where students acquire knowledge required for flight and flight training conducted in teams of two at one of 18 computer simulation stations. Students complete the ground-school curriculum and pre-assigned flying tasks before becoming proficient in computerized aviation simulation programs that are comprehensive and provide realistic experience down to the smallest detail. The use of computers during classroom instruction helps students to acquire important technical and cognitive skills. Poirier believes that this project not only imparts a real-time, self-directed and meaningful learning experience in science, math, social studies and language arts, but it also provides the unique opportunity for students to learn the different aspects of flight, gain experience with computer simulations, have exposure to aviation career opportunities and possibly become the next generation of aerospace professionals. He lives in Wakefield.

Fort Mill Middle School
Fort Mill, SC

Students at Fort Mill Middle School will promote respect for the environment thanks to Dean's "Japanese Garden" program. In the program, sixth-grade students will apply their knowledge from many subject areas on this working ecosystem while recognizing that learning is practical. They will solve math problems by measuring the courtyard. They will graph the layout of essential site features and existing vegetation. They will analyze wind direction, soil type and condition. Art students will write Haiku poems inspired by the garden. Dean's "Japanese Garden" program will also teach students about the history of Japanese gardens and its five different styles, purposes, characteristics and design qualities. The creation of the garden will directly benefit 610 Fort Mill Middle School students, students at the neighboring elementary school and the faculty by providing a number of learning opportunities. The Japanese garden will serve as a link between students, families and visitors who want to learn more about the Japanese culture or simply enjoy the beauty of the garden. Dean resides in Fort Mill.

Chapman High School
Inman, SC

Hollis' "iPoet - Digital Poets for the 21st Century" project gives students at Chapman High School an opportunity to conquer the often difficult subject of poetry by using one thing they have conquered: technology. Students will use digital cameras and camcorders to record "poetic" images from their lives. These photos and video clips will be used to inspire various types of poems. Students will digitally combine their edited collection of images and poetry to create a digital poetry anthology for publishing. While giving approximately 100 students an opportunity to work with high-end digital equipment, this project also addresses state standards in ninth-grade English Language Arts: reading and writing poetry. Hollis believes today's high school students are products of the digital age, and this project will allow them to explore themselves through poetry and deliver results through their most familiar medium – technology. Hollis is a resident of Inman.

Liberty Middle School
Greer, SC

The goal of Mennel's project, "Professional Practices", is to provide available technology to strengthen the musicianship of the Liberty Middle School Band. By integrating a computer program called Smart Music, students will be able to practice at home with more productivity. Students will also be able to send reports of practicing, along with recordings to the teacher for a grade or simply for help. Smart Music helps students practice steady tempo and rhythms, along with correct notes, dynamics and music theory. The "Professional Practices" program looks to build upon the basics of Smart Music by bringing in professional instrumentalists, conductors and music educators to conduct master classes for certain sections of the band. Liberty is a small town and most students do not venture beyond a 40-mile radius. This program will bring the world of music to these students and inspire them to go beyond their borders. Mennel is a resident of Greer.

Northside Middle School
Greenwood, SC

The "Spark Plugs" program is designed to clean out the "education gunk build-up" that causes once excited students to lose their vision, lack goals, become scarred by failure or simply not fit in academically, socially or athletically. The underserved students are reenergized by mentors, teachers, parents and the support of each other. Grades are monitored. Students are mentored. Teachers facilitate, encourage and plan experiments and activities for these students who have so much potential "spark." Participants build earthquake structures, assemble rockets, tour company science and technology facilities, make and explore polymers, test water quality and create a green plan for a local neighborhood. "Spark Plugs" help students earn confidence and provide support to help them succeed in areas they once saw as intimidating or overwhelming.

Hot Springs School
Hot Springs, SD

Savery's "Special Needs Student Concert" will give special needs students in grades five through 12 the venue to share their gift of music. This program's call to gather and celebrate talented mentally and/or physically challenged individuals would be similar to the Special Olympics but would center on music celebration instead of athletic competition. The music would be produced by the students to create a concert totally unique and different from the average concert. Savery recalls the awe and emotional feelings experienced while watching athletes in the Special Olympics run a race, complete a jump or score a hoop. The same pride and love can be shared by parents, friends and special need students in the arena of music. Students will be able to share their musical achievements with their peers, family members and friends. Savery hopes that this 'music meets special needs' program will inspire special needs students and boost their sense of pride in their accomplishments. Savery resides in Hot Springs

Caryville Elementary School
Caryville, TN

The "Balanced Literacy" program strives to develop confident, independent kindergarten, first and second grade readers and writers. With lessons designed to develop connections between reading and writing early in a child's education, Branam's instructional framework moves from demonstration and explicit teaching to guided practice and then to independent writing. Students' reading level and writing skills are continually assessed as teachers support them while they attain the skills to progress through sequential levels of text and prose. During the two-to-three hour daily literary activities, strategies are introduced and/or reviewed to help students problem solve on their own. Students experience success but are always challenged to improve their skills. Branam also encourages parents to get involved in their child's learning by reading to or with them daily. Books are sent home in kindergarten and first grades. This helps to put books in homes that otherwise may not have books for children to read. Branam lives in Jacksboro.

Bolton High School
Arlington, TN

The "Fashions of History" project was designed by Hinkle, Anderson and Morgan as a hands-on educational venture that addresses a national obsession among most young people today - fashion. Through their program, French students at Bolton High School will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of fashion from a historical perspective. They'll conduct research and collaborate with art students to produce a fashion designer's sketchbook of an authentic historical outfit that considers fabric colors, style, textiles and apparels. This student-driven collaborative project will also demonstrate how modern technology has affected the process of designing and creating clothing. The finished product will be presented and studied in a variety of academic disciplines: economic (cost analysis), English (written research), art (fabric colors and style) and French/History (historical research). With their interest piqued and with the hands-on techniques that this project uses, students will take ownership of their learning.

Spring City Middle School
Spring City, TN

The project, "living out language arts" goes by the acronym "lol" to reference the "text lingo" teenagers use in order to suggest to a generation of students immersed in technology that language arts can be hands-on, up-to-date, and infused with technology. The project is designed to show students how they use language arts everyday, in and out of school. It provides real-life experiences and a model of what the real world is like by demonstrating language arts and technology in action through speaking and writing exercises. Students construct resumes and business letters on large interactive boards to enable real-time, constructive feedback from their peers. Educational Web sites with online lessons for students will give them the capability to keep online journals, receive daily prompts and have access to literary works. This program will serve as an excellent motivational tool for students and will introduce them to the fields of communication and technology.

Berry Elementary School
Spring, TX

Blankenship plans to use the ING grant funds to start the Energy Savers Club (ESC) at Berry Elementary. Students participating in the after-school program will meet weekly to brainstorm and implement ways to conserve energy in their school. Blankenship will coordinate fieldtrips to the Natural Science Museum to tour Weiss Energy Hall. Club members will research different kinds of energy, present their findings, encourage school-wide energy conservation and conduct "classroom checks" to help implement changes. As a member of ESC, students will learn the many ways humans consume energy, different types of renewable and nonrenewable resources and the benefits of alternative uses. As residential energy experts, club members will share ways to help the Earth by conserving energy with schoolmates, parents and community members. Blankenship and the Energy Savers Club hope to influence others to become more energy efficient. Blankenship is a resident of Spring.

Bammel Middle School
Houston, TX

"Project Rap Star" fosters the development of better writing skills, effective poetry writing and public speaking abilities by providing students with an educational venue to create rap music—the preferred music genre among the school's 1,625 students. Students are motivated to increase their vocabulary, taught elements of poetry that apply to rap lyric writing and publicly share their experiences. Writing assignments and required research help students to foster factual, informative writing and an incentive for reading. "Project Rap Star" also jumpstarts technology use among students with an eye toward preparing them for a possible career in music production and entertainment. Participants utilize technological applications to complete a CD of original rap music, produce artwork for CD labels and generate advertisements for a campus talent show. Students will develop a life-long interest in writing and performing through this innovative project. Fletcher is a resident of Tomball.

East Central High School
San Antonio, TX

McKay's program will incorporate handheld technology into teaching at East Central High School. "Using Technology Formatively in Informal Ways" empowers teachers to informally assess students' content comprehension in real time. In McKay's program students are given a remote control response system that allows them to anonymously answer questions posed in teacher created presentations. Empowered with this technology, students become more engaged and are free to answer questions without fear of criticism from classmates. Teachers are afforded the opportunity to immediately administer interactive quizzes or re-teach components of material by having students answer their own questions by thinking and drawing out the answers. This program actively brings the students into the lecture and makes them active participants in the learning process. McKay lives in Universal City.

North Christian High School
Houston, TX

Every child has unique talents and abilities waiting to be discovered and developed. It is this belief that led Mitten to create the innovative program "TGI Fridays" (Talents and Gifts Investigations Fridays) for third through fifth-grade students to realize their talents early in life. This confidence-building program gives students a choice to participate in a club where they are strong or to investigate a club that focuses on a talent they would like to develop. These areas include: honor choir, drama, art, creative writing, technology, science, Math Olympiad, Geography Olympiad, cooking, marathon and Red Cross basic first aid training and disaster relief. Clubs are facilitated by faculty and staff. Parents, community volunteers and guest speakers visit the school to talk to students about their area of expertise. Realizing that elementary schools typically dictate which subjects students will take, Mitten's student-centered program gives students an opportunity to discover and develop their talents and abilities at an earlier age. It also helps students develop positive attitudes toward one another and themselves. Mitten lives in Houston.

Melissa Ridge Elementary and Intermediate School
Melissa, TX

Smith's winning idea proposes an expansion of the Melissa Independent School District's (ISD) "Cardinal Writers of Outstanding Talent (WOOT) Camp". "WOOT Camp" just like "boot" camp, is an intense time of learning and motivation. The "privates" (students) muster in the gymnasium with their "officers" (teachers) and receive their "mission" (writing challenges) from the "general" (principal), who inspects the troops' work during camp. Students engage in four hours of writing instruction and practice each day. They participate in whole group mini-lessons, conferences with officers and peers, and small group mini-lessons on the craft and convention of writing. Teachers use valid research practices, including modeling writing strategies with their own pieces using real literature and authors as examples of writing craft, teaching grammar in the context of writing and making abstract concepts concrete for better understanding. The project's objectives are twofold: 1) support and improve writing instructions and 2) increase student achievement in writing as well as in all disciplines. According to Smith, there will be significant improvements in fourth-grade students meeting writing skills. Smith resides in Melissa.

Rose Spring Elementary School
Stansbury Park, UT

Robertson's "Homework Jungle: By Kids 4 Kids" Web site will contain student-created and taught lessons on the exact skills that Rose Springs Elementary third and fifth-grade students need for their math, science and language arts assignments. Parents, who may need material to jog their memory so they can assist their children with homework assignments, can find that information in lessons taught by "student experts." Robertson will provide "student experts" with initial instruction in literacy, math, science and technology, to serve as technology specialists for the website, and direct the student teams. Student teams will develop short lessons to teach targeted skills that will be published on HomeworkJungle.com. The "Homework Jungle" Web site project will also seek to 1) improve literacy, math, science and technology skills, 2) develop problem-solving skills by having students work in teams, 3) improve school/community/home communication and 4) motivate students to become more engaged in learning. Once posted to the Web, the lessons will be available year after year to students, parents and the community as a homework resource. When students encounter problems at home, families can visit the Website, view the tutorials and learn the skills necessary to complete their homework. With technology being of more interest to students than the traditional paper-and-pencil method of learning, Robertson even envisions less motivated students signing up to join one of the student expert teams to become more engaged in the learning process. She believes these students will encourage their peers to do the same. Robertson resides in Toele.

Otter Valley High School
Brandon, VT

"In the Company of Trout" is a thematic approach to education developed by Finley to connect reading, science and math to actual events and places. In this program, students use fly fishing as a means of studying the interconnectedness between watersheds, land management policy, environmental ethics, Vermont heritage, politics, economics, literature, algebra and art. Beyond the purely educational component of the program is an effort to expose students to the unique and special environments that create the place in which they live. At the conclusion of the program, Finley hopes students will develop life-long participation in the sport of fly fishing and fly tying, make connections between healthy watersheds to healthy lives and grasp concepts in streamside ecology and conservations. He also expects them to see literature and writings as an enhancement of their understanding of the sport and the environments that support fly fishing, and understand how fishing affects the economics of Vermont. Finley resides in Rutland.

Neil Armstrong Elementary
Reston, VA

"Think!" was created by Erickson for the more than 470 kindergarten through sixth-grade students at Neil Armstrong Elementary to improve their critical thinking skills. By utilizing ThinkBlocks, an educational construction set that makes it easy to teach beginners to advanced thinking skills, Erickson is teaching her students timeless, universal thinking skills. ThinkBlocks enable students to (literally) hold and manipulate any idea with their hands."Think!" involves training teachers to infuse thinking skills into their curricula and to use ThinkBlocks in their classroom. Thanks to Erickson, "Think!" will contribute to the school's reputation for being an environment where all students master concepts, develop skills and formulate values necessary for living in a rapidly changing world. Erickson is a resident of Reston.

Rosa Parks Elementary
Woodbridge, VA

Pratte wants to help strengthen the first language literacy of students and enhance the home-school learning connection through her program, "I Read to You, You Read to Me". The initiative, which targets kindergartners, will implement a take-home book program at Rosa Parks Elementary. For English as second language families, a Spanish version of the same book will be sent home to assist parents with teaching their children language literacy. The objective of the program is for students to read books on their reading level to their families. For Spanish speaking families, it will be an opportunity to strengthen first language skills. This will give these families the opportunity to read in Spanish and teach their children Spanish literacy. Pratte is a resident of Stafford.

Naches Valley Intermediate School
Naches, WA

"Video Conferencing Projects" is a program developed by Black that promotes learning together with students in other states using Web 2.0 technologies such as videoconferencing, blogs podcasts and wikis. The project helps fourth-grade students at Naches Valley Intermediate School have fun, successful learning experiences while expanding their reading and math comprehension. Past question and answer video conferences with "fourth-grade buddies in Missouri" provided memorable learning lessons for both group of students. Black's "Video Conferencing Projects" gives students an opportunity to share what they know about Internet research and high-tech communication. They are also expanding comprehension by analyzing, interpreting and synthesizing information and ideas in literary and informational texts. Students have already expressed an interest in collaborating with the Missouri class to post questions and answers on an eagle wiki site. Black resides in Selah.

Friendship Collegiate Academy
Washington, DC

"World at Your Doorstep" is a cross-curricular project designed by Engineering teacher Christian Schaefer to use technology to forge real and personal connections with people of other cultures. In doing so, approximately 150 students will learn to appreciate their own city, gain an understanding of other cultures, develop design-and-engineering skills, and acquire important technology know-how that will benefit them both as students and future professionals. Through Schaefer's project, Friendship Collegiate Academy engineering students will collaborate with students attending a school in Rome, Italy to explore the architectural, artistic and cultural influences of Rome on our nation's capital. There will be several outcomes to this project. First, a blog and Web site will be created documenting students' progress, thoughts and findings about architecture and culture. Second, students will create both computer aided designs (CAD) renderings and three-dimensional models of a local building of their choice. The technology involved in the implementation of the project, merged with a personal, human element, will make this activity much more engaging than traditional classroom projects and other learning activities. Using email and Web conferencing, students in both cities will exchange photos of ancient and modern buildings and compare their design. In this way, they will begin to make connections between ancient and modern architecture while gaining an appreciation for and familiarity with other cultures. This experience will also help them to place their native city in a greater historical and global context. Schaefer believes this program will leave students with a newly-found appreciation for the architectural influences of their city's buildings, advanced technology skills and an enhanced academic experience. Schaefer lives in Laurel, MD.

Marlinton Middle School
Buckeye, WV

Groseclose believes that Spanish should not simply be learned, it should be experienced. That is why she designed "Living Hispanic Culture" to reach beyond the walls of her Spanish classroom and utilize hands-on activities to help students learn more about the cultures/countries of the growing U.S. Hispanic population. Approximately 80 seventh through ninth-grade Spanish students will help transform the classroom into the country being studied. Transformation ideas will come from research assigned to pairs of students, classroom discussions and virtual field trips using computers and the interactive whiteboard. Visiting speakers from each country will share experiences and information. Students will also experience the culture through the study of arts, folklore and personal experiences of celebrating holidays and traditions. Dances will be learned and performed, skits will be presented at an Evening with the Arts, and the launching of an annual "Cinco de Mayo" Festival will take place. Groseclose, who lives in Marlinton, believes that this real-world exposure will help students gain intimate knowledge of other cultures and enjoy learning more.

Buffalo Ridge Elementary
Cheyenne,WV

"Shooting for Math" is a cross-curricular project developed by Broda that integrates math and archery into one unit to help students make real-world connections to mathematics, as well as enjoy the sport of archery at Buffalo Ridge Elementary. According to Broda, the same concepts needed to be successful in archery apply to mathematics and all other academic disciplines. Positive reinforcement and feedback are keys to learning and retention. Accentuating what students should do rather than focusing on their bad habits and mistakes will help students think positively and keep their minds clear of distractions. "Shooting for Math" includes such lessons as probability, area analysis, acceleration, scoring and self critique. Students also participate in the Wyoming State Archery Contest. Broda hopes pairing physical education with general education will enhance student interest in mathematics, bringing together real-world elements while having fun. Broda resides in Cheyenne.

Milwaukee Renaissance Academy
Milwaukee, WI

As a way of highlighting a historical period and bringing its influential figures to life, Enk and her three colleagues at Milwaukee Renaissance Academy propose the development of "The Living History Museum". By fully embracing earlier times and embodying historic figures through dress, words and gestures, students see history as a reality that has shaped their future. In addition to recreating characters, students also design costumes and construct sets that represent each time period. The six-week process culminates with the opening of "The Living History Museum" for families and the general public to tour. It's an interactive way for students to learn about the past and offers faculty and community involvement. Watching history come to life stirs a new level of academic learning in the students and creates new opportunities for parents and the community to interact with students as they discover the richness of history.