Venture Grants
The Lancaster Foundation for Educational Enrichment has been funding Venture Grants for classroom teachers since 1989. The Foundation accepts applications from teachers who wish to use a creative strategy for enhancing teaching and learning in their classrooms. Grants are made for projects that fall in the $100 to $5,000 range.
• The
concept must be creative and innovative
• It must align with School District of Lancaster standards that can be specified and work purposefully within a unit of study.
• It must affect a significant number of students
• The project will preferably have long-term use and the possibility of being replicated by others in the District.
• The project must not be funded through the School District of Lancaster budget
A standing committee of the LFEE Board reviews each application.
Click here to learn more about the Venture Grant Program and download the Venture Grant application.
For more information, contact the LFEE office.
Examples of Venture Grants that have been funded in the past two years include:
“Start Spreading the News!”
Eilene Euston, Fulton Elementary
Through the establishment of a classroom newspaper, concepts in different subject areas will be reinforced. In addition to providing motivation for writing and for producing high quality work, the newspaper will unite class members to become a community.
“From Seedlings to Garden”
Marion Piersol and Christina Rajavitch, Reynolds Middle School
Over a three year period, an extensive garden (58 x 90) will emerge behind Reynolds Middle School. Students will learn the life cycle of plants, investigate methods for pest control, create a plan for a working garden (complete with fruits, vegetables and native plants) and execute the plan. They will grow plants in the classroom while researching fruit and vegetables to be grown outside. After plotting and fencing the plot, they will plant trees, bushed and plants and maintain their care. The project includes involvement with the neighboring community, including Franklin and Marshall College.
“Ballet Bound”
Ann Leonard, Buchanan Elementary
Two second grade classes will travel to the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg to attend a performance of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker Ballet. Prior to the performance, the students will read the text. After the performance, the students will compare and contrast the written version with the ballet. Students will use the experience as they practice and create their own production of The Nutcracker.
“Using Primary Sources and Hands-On Activities to Explore Colonial America”
Tara Morcom, Lafayette Elementary
Fourth grade students will explore primary sources and artifacts provided by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to enhance and develop an understanding of life during colonial times for a variety of people from different backgrounds. Materials include CD-ROMs, music CDs, videos and artifact kits.
“Fred Morsell Artist-in-Residence – Presenting Mr. Frederick Douglass”
Lauren Buchmann, Hand, Lincoln, Reynolds and Wheatland Middle Schools
The centerpiece of this nationally acclaimed program is a 75 minute assembly featuring a first-person portrayal of the life of Frederick Douglass by professional actor and educator, Fred Morsell. The program offers students a vivid history lesson and delivers significant messages about self-worth, dignity and individual empowerment. Mr. Morsell follows the performances with three-hour workshops for 20 students.
“Introduction to Playwriting via Aristotle’s Poetics”
Dolores Parsil, J.P. McCaskey
Amount requested: $500
Number of students affected: 100
Barry Kornhouser, playwright-in-resident at the Fulton Opera House, will be an artist-in-resident for 9th grade Communications Arts in the Honors SLC. He will provide an introduction to the craft of playwriting, using Aristotle’s Poetics as his springboard.
“A Night of Jazz”
Jon Derby, Wheatland Middle School
Jim McFalls, a professional jazz musician, will conduct a clinic with student musicians from Wheatland, Reynolds and Lincoln Middle Schools, Wharton Elementary and J.P. McCaskey. Rehearsals will culminate with a jazz concert on May 24. Students will work with a performing musician, as well as be exposed to career opportunities in music.
“Fun Fitness Forever – Skating in School”
Edward Yohn, Reynolds Middle School for all District middle schools
PE teachers will rotate the rollerblade packages (skates and protective gear) for students at each middle school to use over a 9-week period. Students would spend time during the marking periods learning to safely rollerblade and the life-long health benefits that rollerblading offers.
“Music is Doing”
Judy Brown, Washington Elementary
The purchase of Orff-Schulwerk instruments (xylophones and mallets) will expand music classes’ ability to create and read melodic music individually and as a whole class. Following the Orff-Schlwerk approach, students will be able to achieve a higher level of melodic improvisation and composing.
“Author Visit”
Lois Straus, Wheatland Middle School
Author Laurie Halse Anderson will conduct four presentations/workshops to students for the purpose motivating and enriching their learning as readers and writers. Two sponsors of this proposal attended a presentation by this author at a book store. It was her engaging presence that encouraged them to pursue having her visit as a visiting author. Ms. Halse will offer a stimulating and substantive presentation to middle school students. The contents of her novels, Fever 1793, Catalyst, Speak, and Prom, are written to engage young adult readers.
“Walking in the Water – Elizabeth R. Martin Outdoor Site”
Darrell Yoder, Martin Elementary
For the past three years Martin Elementary has been developing a 1.6-acre Outdoor Education and Watershed/Habitat Restoration Area that incorporates a small stream along one border of school grounds. Waders for two adults and ten children will allow monitoring projects and stream restoration projects to be ongoing throughout the year. Water test kits will allow for data collection about the stream.
“Art and Technology”
Ginny Ackiewicz and Kathy Klein, Hamilton and King Elementary
Through the use of the Wacom Grahire4 Drawing Tablet and accompanying software, students will become knowledgeable about computer art and artists, and will become involved and proficient in the artistic process of creating visual computer art.
“Taking a Close Look”
Lourdes Vazquez and Shahin Sayeg, King Elementary
The purchase of 30 Brock Magiscopes will be used primarily by fourth graders (they will be available to other grades to borrow) to enhance the science curriculum. The “simple to use” microscopes (no cord, mirror, lamps, batteries, knobs or gears) provides 20x images. Students will use the microscopes as a tool for scientific investigation in the classroom, outside on the King site, and on field trips to Lancaster County Park.
“Tinker Bell Teaches”
Virginia Gillespie, Judy Martin and Mary Jane Kaufman; Buchanan Elementary
Students will gain mastery of skills (reading, writing, stage production, set design, music, dance, and the visual arts) while producing a play. Teachers, performance artists, parents and other professionals from the community will work with second and third graders to stage a production of the play Peter Pan. The play will be performed for all Buchanan students, parents and friends.
“English in a Basket”
Vicki Legath; Burrowes Elementary
English in a Basket is a “survival kit” for ESL students. This collection of resources and materials (flash cards, vocabulary builder books, activity kits, etc.) will enhance, supplement and enrich instruction for all ESL students. It will especially strengthen instruction for “newcomer students” -- those students who are entering a school in the U.S. directly from other countries with little or no English proficiency.
“The Virtual Earth”
Richard Pool, J.P. McCaskey
A digital projector, attached to the classroom computer, will be used to teach 9th grade students math, literacy, computer and science skills needed to created a “Virtual Earth” PowerPoint presentation. Each student will embed his or her research on a city in the world into a “Virtual Earth” global map. Pointing the cursor over that city will bring up the student’s PowerPoint presentation. The disks can then be shared with other classrooms.