Spring 2008 Teacher Innovation Grants

The following Teacher Innovation Grants were approved April 15, 2008.

#0308-10 Jerry Clemens, Middle School North Science Teacher Seed Germinating System $1000.00

A seed germinating system will be used to grow plant material for incorporation into the current 7th grade science curriculum. Plants include the mimosa plant which responds to touch, wind, light intensity and temperature fluctuations and the telegraph plant which will twirl its leaves in response to environmental changes. Other plants will be grown for use in the genetics unit to demonstrate genetic diversity and trait inheritance. Through a NASA program, Jerry was selected to receive “Seeds from Space”. The germinating system will be used to compare the germination/growth of cinnamon basil seeds that flew on the STS-118 space shuttle mission with cinnamon basil seeds that have not flown.

#0308-02 Elizabeth Buenning, Middle School South, Library Podcasting @ the South LMC $550.00

The Library will have one podcasting station where teachers can check out equipment to produce their own classroom podcasts. The library will use podcasts to encourage recreational reading through student book reviews and book discussions.

#0308-04 Mark Dolce, Lake Zurich High School English Teacher Lake Zurich Veterans Memorial Project $2500.00

The project will seek to document the lives and experiences of local veterans of foreign wars and conflicts. Interview footage will become part of the Veterans History Project established by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. The goal is to preserve the stories of local veterans and share the experiences with District 95 students, and will be an ongoing project for many years to come.

#0308-07 Pat Armbruster, LZHS Chemistry Teacher Chemistry Problem Portfolio $2500.00

Students will use a tablet PC to share solutions to difficult AP Chemistry problems during class. Solutions will be saved to create an electronic portfolio of student work and absent students can review work completed in class. Students will also be able to solve problems at home, bring to school on a flash drive, and share solutions with the class. The tablet PC will be used throughout the year and students will be able to see their progress through difficult problems and observe how chemistry problem solving builds on previous concepts.