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2005 Northern San Joaquin
Valley (Stanislaus and Merced Counties)
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| ELEMENTARY |
Orff-ing All the Way to College Scholarships
This music program is based on a dynamic approach to
music education developed by the German composer Carl
Orff and will be available to first- through fourth-grade
students at three area elementary schools. This approach
to music is characterized by active involvement in music
making through the body, voice, movement, and work on
specially designed Orff instruments. It recognizes the
many doors through which a child can enter the musical
world and provides opportunities for aural, visual,
and kinesthetic learners to feel successful in music
via a multi-dimensional approach.
Donna Baker-Matson
Crowell Elementary School
Cunningham Elementary School
Sandra Tovar Medeiros Elementary School |
Money Management Skills = Semi-Independent Life
Money management skills will be taught to a class of
severely handicapped students, ranging from ages 5-12.
Many of the students have the potential to live semi-independent
lives, and money management skills will only increase
their independence. Skills to be taught include the
ability to recognize coins, their value, and counting
and receiving the correct change.
Rick Calbreath
Harmony Elementary School |
Electricity for Fourth-Graders
California State Science Standards require that fourth-graders
learn and be taught about electricity. Fourth-grade
teachers will be trained to use kits as a tool to teach
students about electrical circuits and explorations
in math and science with hands-on projects using wires,
batteries, and bulbs. The kits will be loaned out to
trained teachers throughout the district for use in
their classrooms.
Liselle Clark
Merced County Office of Education |
Growing a Business
In this program, students will have a hands-on experience
with money, create their own businesses, and examine
the historical and present condition of the area's economy.
Local community members will visit the classroom and
share details about their occupations with students.
Cinidi Gorang
Sam Vaughn Elementary School |
City Wildlife Exploration
The Ceres Unified School District has adopted Open Court
as its primary reading and language arts program. One
of the major units of study is "City Wildlife,"
emphasizing the individual's responsibility to their
own community. The class of third-grade students, many
for whom English is their second language, and who are
enrolled in the Academic Intervention Program, will
tour downtown Ceres, hear guest speakers on city life,
governments, and wildlife education, and be given resources
to discover elements of city wildlife independently.
Ruth Ramsey
Sam Vaughn Elementary School |
Survival Cooking Skills
Based on the book, Look 'n' Cook, this program is designed
to aid both parents and severely handicapped students
by teaching the skills of using a microwave to cook
meals and snacks safely. Specifically, the students
will learn to cook breakfasts, soups, beverages, main
dishes, side dishes, vegetables, and desserts. These
skills are aimed at preparing students for semi- to
fully-independent lives as they move into adulthood.
Rebekah Fox
Sipherd Elementary School |
| JUNIOR HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOL |
AVID Study of Colleges
One element of the AVID program is to expose students,
many of whom do not aspire to higher education, to the
idea of college and the potential they have to attend
one after high school. The study includes interviews
of teachers on campus, learning about the benefits of
having a college education, investigating what it takes
to go to college and how college can help them in career
paths they are interested in. They research specific
colleges and take field trips to the Universities of
California at Davis and Berkeley. Following their field
trips, they reflect on their experiences and complete
an art project.
Patricia Gurney
Waterford Middle School |
| SENIOR HIGH |
Drama Dynamos
Drama Dynamos is a program where students will select,
direct, act out, and produce a one-act play. The values
learned by students while working in a theatre -- creativity,
teamwork, and exposure to diverse idea and people -
will guide them through their lives.
Lindsay
Gill
Davis High School |
"Show Me the Money" Virtual Business in the
Classroom
The virtual business class is a simulated business that
is set up and run by students to prepare them for working
in a real business environment. The students determine
the nature of their business, its products and services,
its management and structure, and engage in the daily
operations of running a business. Students use the Internet
for business transactions and to access an online virtual
bank to manage their personal finances. Students have
an opportunity to explore their areas of interest and
are able to "apply" for a job within the five
departments of accounting, human resources, sales/marketing,
technology, and administration.
Jimme Sevick
Johansen High School |
AVID
One of the major elements of the AVID elective class
is the tutorial period, occurring twice a week in the
high school grades throughout the academic year. The
period is designed to help students develop the ability
to independently establish study groups, develop higher
level questions to drive discussion, and focus specifically
on subject areas that they are struggling in. The funds
will help to make tutors available, and cover their
fingerprinting process.
Susan Blickenstaff
Modesto High School |
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