New Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers: Keys to … · 2011. 1. 5. · Toyota TAPESTRY...

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January 5, 20116:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Eastern time

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers:Keys to Success in Winning a $10,000 Grant in 2011

Presented by: Eric Crossley, Dwight Sieggreen and Virginia Baltay

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January 5, 2011

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers:Keys to Success in Winning a $10,000 Grant in 2011

Presented by: Eric Crossley, Dwight Sieggreen and Virginia Baltay

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers

Grants for innovative projects that enhance science education in the school, school district and communityDeadline February 23, 201121st Year of Toyota TAPESTRY

Have you submitted a proposal to Toyota

TAPESTRY previously?A. Yes, onceB. Yes, more than onceC. No

$500,000 in Grants Available50 large Environmental Science grants of $10,000 each

Grants totaling $550,000 were awarded in 2010

Open to K-12 Teachers of ScienceMiddle and high school science teachers must teach at least two science classes per dayElementary Teachers must teach some science in the classroomProject Director must be in at least his/her third year of K-12 teachingUp to four staff people allowed, may be non-teachers

Who may apply as project director for a Toyota TAPESTRY grant?

A. High School Science TeacherB. Middle School Science TeacherC. Elementary Teacher who teaches some science in the classroomD. All of the Above

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers

Entry CategoriesEnvironmental Science Education

Deadline February 23, 2011, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Website & Other Toolswww.nsta.org/pd/tapestry (online application link is here)Tips & Suggestions, Guidelines & RulesToyota TAPESTRY on Facebook

What is the one thing every teacher who is applying for a Toyota TAPESTRY grant should print out and review before starting his/her proposal?

A. This Year’s WinnersB. Tips & SuggestionsC. Photos of ProjectsD. Testimonials

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers

Large Grant Proposals Must Include:Proposal Summary (5000 Character Maximum)Project Description & Scientific Inquiry (Environmental Science & Physical Science) (7500 Character Maximum)Rationale & Potential Impact (5000 Character Maximum)Evaluation (5000 Character Maximum) Project Dissemination (2500 Character Maximum)Project Director Vitae (Up to 4 staff optional) Letters of Support (1-4 letters, one must be from Principal or Headmaster)Budget ($10,000), Justification & In-Kind Donations Project Calendar (June 1, 2011-May 31, 2012)

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers

Proposals may include: Innovative instructional strategiesCurriculum development & ImplementationCreative Uses of TechnologyInvolvement with the community and/or industrySolution of a local community problemCollaborative programs among students & teachersProfessional & staff developmentInvolvement with at-risk and/or minority studentsMultidisciplinary or interdepartmental participationIn-class or extracurricular activities

Toyota TAPESTRYGrants for Science Teachers

Successful Proposals:Demonstrate creativityAre firmly based in scienceHave director with clear goalsPromote exciting and innovative activities to motivate studentsIdentify a need or problem to addressState procedures for addressing the problemCite evidence of needState procedures for addressing the problem Highlight creativity or innovation in the approachAre specific about costs and limit stipends

Let’s pause for questions from the audience

Ginny’s Toyota Tapestry Storywith TIPS

• Toyota Tapestry Grant winner 1999• Title: CrabsCount: A Study of the Invasive Crab

Hemigrapsus Sanguineus• Ambassador to assist CT teachers in the grant process • Judge for the environmental grant applications• Mentor to grantees

Ginny’s TIP: Collaborate

Connect with other departments/grades

Art and BiologyMath and General ScienceHigh School and Elementary school

Please write other ideas on the chat!

Ginny’s TIP: Collaborate

Over 70% of winners in 2010 collaborated.

Successful school projects connected with:

a museuma local universitythe State Division of Wildlife Resources a commercial fish hatchery

Ginny’s TIPS: Collaborate

• Connect with an outside agencyFederal and State ParksNon-profit “Green” groups

• Discuss your project with the agency’s leader• Get a letter of support

Questions???: Collaborate

What organizations can be part of your collaboration? [Please raise your hand to volunteer]

1.

2.

Ginny’s TIP:Start with a Super Summary

State your goal at the beginning of the summary

Example: “This project will demonstrate ways to utilize marginal lands so as to increase their potential for capturing carbon while reducing erosion.”

Example: “A primary objective of this project is for students to develop a plan for removal of cogon grass from Tenoroc Wildlife Management Area, a reclaimed phosphate-mind land.”

Ginny’s TIP:Start with a Super Summary

Include your student participation numbers

Example: “Twenty-four teams of three students and one adult mentor will gather for a training event, be given collection supplies, and be sent forth to gather and rear out caterpillars on four different days throughout the school year.”

Example: “In this school-wide project, over 400 students in grades 6-8 will be involved in researching and analyzing the effects of Utica’s historical textile mills on various sites throughout the city.”

Ginny’s TIP:Start with a Super Summary

Include the specific steps of the project

Example: “Students will observe, record, and monitor the growth of the turtles, the amount of food eaten/day, and the water temperature.”

State the use of equipment

Example: “We will measure the dissolved oxygen with digital probes.”

Ginny’s TIP:Start with a Super Summary”

Stay away from jargon and the obvious!!!!

NO “Students enjoy experiences in the out-of-doors.”

NO “In this ever increasing environmental conscious world, it is important for our students to study the environment.”

Let’s pause for questions from the audience

Ginny’s TIP:Be Scientific/Technical

• Use the scientific method Test a hypothesisUse technologyMake quantitative measurementsDraw conclusions

• Be precise with your outcome

Ginny’s TIP:Be Scientific/Technical

• Address a specific local problem/issue• Examples from winning grants

Monitor abiotic factors to determine algae growth in a local stream

Utilize solar and wind energy to operate a sustained fish hatchery

Research the Purple Martin population in the inner city and build bird houses to increase the bird population.

Ginny’s TIP:Be Scientific/Technical

• Decide if project is “biotic” or “abiotic”• Choose a specific organism to research• Examples of organisms in 2010 grants:

White SeabassAtlantic Ribbed MusselSalt CedarsPurple MartinsCogon grassBlianding's Turtle

Ginny’s ProjectCrabsCount: A Population Study of the Invasive Shore Crab for Middle School Students

TIP: Good Field Research Location…US Fish & Wildlife Refuge

Ginny’s ProjectCrabsCount: Population StudyStudents count crabs per square meter at low, mid and high tide zones

TIP: Hands-on science skills and data collection

Ginny’s ProjectCrabsCount:Measurements

Students measure Asian Shore crab carapace width and body mass

TIP: Measurements with traditional and digital tools

•Visit the CrabsCount Websitehttp://crabscount.com/history.html

Ginny’s ProjectCrabsCount and Technology

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Outer-Island-CT-Crabs-Student-Research/156281157729621

•Visit CrabsCount on Facebook

Click on Research to see the long term effect of my original Toyota Tapestry Grant!

Use Technology

• Establish a website• Publish photos on Flickr• Start a blog on Facebook• Create a U-tube video

Ginny’s Tip

Use Technology

What are some exciting tech components that you might use in your project?

Please respond in the chat…

Ginny’s Tip

Lets talk Budget!!!!

• Science Equipment

• Assistance and support

• Student travel

• Technology

• Printing and Web Publishing

Budget

• Budget ($10,000), Justification1 Equipment must be essential to project2. Numbers of students using equipment3. Long term use

Budget

• In-Kind Donations

Use of existing school equipment

Donated materials

Assistance from volunteers

Support from professionals

Use of school printing facilities

Budget & Technology

The use of the technology in the project must be very well defined and justified

Let’s pause for questions from the audience

Ginny’s TIP: Rewards

• Chance to see your own ideas flourish

• Empowerment in your school and district

• Creation of a unique curriculum guide

• Possession of new equipment for your class

Ginny’s TIP: Rewards

• Opportunities for professional recognition• Prestige within NSTA• Opens the door to future grants and funding• You will own a repeatable environmental project!

CrabsCount has thrived for TEN years following the initial Toyota Tapestry Grant!

Ginny’s FINAL TIP

• Proofread your application• Use the spellchecker• Find a “critical” friend like your English teacher

colleague to read over the grant application!

Please chat….. What is another TIP to pass along?

Dwight Sieggreen 

Students studying the animal kingdom focused on a specific form of life, amphibiansWe, as a group, decided it would be great is we could learn more about frogsStudents researched several species of frogs and were excited about the various species found in tropical areas around the world

I received the NSTA Reports magazine and found the Toyota Tapestry Grants announcement.We discussed a project in class and came up with the idea of raising exotic frogs in class to give to Zoos and reduce the impact on wild populations.Kids in class brainstormed what we would need to accomplish this task….an idea was born

First of all, no one had any experience about how to raise exotic frogs. We did not know where to begin.We contacted the National Amphibian Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoological Society and the Curator, Dr. Kevin Zipple , who was very excited about working with us.We promised to give the offspring to the National Amphibian Conservation Center.

We followed the guidelines to the letterWe had experts help usWe had to anticipate what our needs would beWe submitted the application timelyWe had the English teacher in English Class review our documents

We submitted the application and constructed and artificial rainforest in our school.  Approximately 252 students took some role in the project each year for eight years.We procured additional funding for the projectWe had a core leadership team of about 40 students per year who carried on maintenance activities

We needed someone to help usWe needed expensive equipmentWe needed expertiseWe needed commitment from students and parentsWe needed a facilityWe needed breeding stockWe needed to make it happen 

Let’s Pause for Questions from the Audience?

The male Pipa pipa places the eggs on the mother’s back where the stay for about 90 days.  The complete cycle takes place in the egg and baby pipas emerge after about 3 months.  There is a mating dance and the enclosures needed to be large enough for the dance to take place.

Can the goal of the project be accomplishedGet help from expertsBe persistentMake adjustments in the project as necessary to make the project workFind additional fundingCommitments from experts and studentsSupport from school and school administration

Our first Toyota $10,000 grant produced no offspring.We applied for a second Toyota grant and argued the issue that we were close to success. Within three months of the second grant, the first offspring were born and three months later, were transferred to the Detroit Zoological Society’s National Amphibian Conservation Center

To keep the project alive, additional funding was necessary to continue to try breeding new species. We were very fortunate to raise significant additional funds (more than our two Toyota grants) over a period of 8 years to keep the project alive.We received a personal visit from Mrs. Toyoda from Toyota International to see the frog nursery

Let’s Pause for Questions from the Audience?

You can win the grantPersistenceKids need to be part of the idea generation, planning, implementation and entire processGet expert help to insure successPlan on a lot of extra time at schoolAdvertise the success as it helps increase fun ding

Thank you to the sponsor of tonight's Web Seminar:

http://learningcenter.nsta.org

http://www.elluminate.com

National Science Teachers AssociationDr. Francis Q. Eberle, Executive Director

Zipporah Miller, Associate Executive Director Conferences and Programs

Al Byers, Assistant Executive Director e-Learning

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NSTA Web SeminarsPaul Tingler, Director

Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator

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