2021-22 Seed Grant Awards

Sparkman Middle School (Madison County, Alabama)
Ms. Kala Jo Grice-Dobbins
Python Coding to Apply to Real World Uses
Sparkman Middle School is creating a text-based coding course that uses physical computing devices. The course aims to increase student interest and proficiency in computer science by having students program circuit boards to solve technology problems encountered in the real world. Through this expansion, computer science students who start with touch based programming in 6th grade and progress to block based techniques in 7th grade can progress to text based skills in 8th grade.

Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School (Madison County, Alabama)
Mrs. Lynn K. McQueen
Watch Out It is Fixing to Change - Weather Forecasting is Not an Easy Thing to Do!
Students at our school are very interested in our local weather, how it can change or vary so much from day to day, even minute to minute sometimes. With that in mind we would like to enhance student knowledge about weather, what causes weather events, and how to stay safe during these catastrophic weather situations by incorporating a weather station in our outdoor classroom and a Student Broadcast Studio at our school. The TV Station would be operated by our middle school students and reporters would be students in every grade level.

Lincoln County High School (Lincoln County, Tennessee)
Ms. Mary E LeBlanc (Marty)
Lincoln County Schools Robotics After School Program
Students need the ability to create, design, innovate, and think critically in order to solve complex challenges. Every student should possess deep knowledge and strong skills in math, science, technology, and engineering and should be excited and ready to use that knowledge in the real world. To meet this challenge, we need to provide students with new tools and techniques that enable them to learn and then practice the knowledge they have acquired. A number of robotics kit platforms are available to schools and have introduced students to math, science, and engineering at all grade levels.

Skyline High School (Jackson County, Alabama)
Dr. Michael Muratet
Teaching STEM Skills with a Weather Station
We will use a weather station to provide hands-on experience for STEM skills. In the lower grades, it provides a meaningful opportunity to plot and interpret data. In the upper grades, it provides a means to meet study objectives for Earth & Space Science and Environmental Science. In all grades, it provides a sense of place to improve learning. The model proposed includes solar visible and UV radiation sensors, which will be useful in solar energy projects we have planned. The Weatherlink device will allow us to stream the weather data to the classroom, and to the community.

Hampton Cove Elementary School (Madison County, Alabama)
Mrs. Lori Nelson
Making the Jump to Text Based Coding with Jump Start
Learning how to write computer code is becoming an essential skill for students as they prepare for future careers in our technology focused society. Coding develops problem solving skills, an understanding of logic, and creativity. This proposal requests funds to purchase 2 class packs of the JumpStart hardware kit, which includes access to the CodeSpace software and curriculum. The Firia Labs Jump Start kit will enable our students to increase their coding skills by teaching them the Python computer language used in the CodeSpace software system while solving real world challenges.

Blanche School (Lincoln County, Tennessee)
Mrs. Suzy Reed
Blanche School Robotics
Studies have shown that the abilities to design, think critically, and innovate solutions to solve complex challenges are key to success. Getting excited and ready to use that knowledge is vital. To meet this goal, we need to provide our students with new tools and techniques that build these skills and enable them to learn, develop, and practice the knowledge they have acquired. Using robotics, we will introduce students to a multitude of opportunities to use STEM skills, along with communication skills.

Madison County Virtual Academy (Madison County, Alabama)
Amy LaRue
First LEGO League Challenge Robotics Team
Students in 4th-6th grade will create a First LEGO League Challenge Robotics Team. The robotics team will work together to solve a real-world based challenge using the scientific method, STEM skills, and a LEGO SPIKE Prime Robot Kit. Students will not only learn robotics and engineering basics but will also strengthen their leadership and collaboration skills.

Riverton Elementary School (Madison County, Alabama)
Mrs. Haley James
Removing Barriers and Creating Equity in STEM After School Clubs
Riverton Elementary School has partnered with several organizations to provide STEM opportunities to our students after school. Some of these organizations include Huntsville STEAM Works, Bricks 4 Kidz, and The Knight School. Students who are able to pay for these after school clubs are able to attend each month. However, we would like to identify students who receive free lunch that would benefit from attending these additional STEM opportunities, but who cannot afford it. With this grant, we would be able to offer 27 students on free lunch a spot in the Bricks 4 Kidz LEGO Club this fall.

Seed Grants for Previous Years

The following documents provide abstracts for the Seed Grant proposals that have been funded over the past several years.

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