Sixteen Polk County teachers were awarded Splash! school grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.
Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Polk County to the strong partnership with Polk County Schools. Milt Huling, senior curriculum coordinator of science for Polk County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and helped get the word out.
"The District recognizes the critical role STEM education – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – plays in preparing students for the future," said Hull. "With the help of the grant program, students will learn the importance of protecting and conserving Florida's water resources through STEM-based education projects."
The Polk County awardees are:
* Linda Hughes, Bartow Elementary Academy, will receive $1,435. Students will collect meteorological measurements to analyze the precipitation, evaporation and water needs of plants on the campus.
* Jessica Fredricks, Bethune Academy, will receive $3,000. Students will work with civil engineers and biologists to create a map of Lake Boomerang and other habitats on campus.
* Jacqueline Hackney, Boone Middle School, will receive $2,735. Students will conduct water testing and create a book incorporating what they learned.
* Melanie Tucker, Daniel Jenkins Academy, will receive $2,895. Students will test water quality and plant a terrace garden.
* Kathi Decker, Eagle Lake Elementary School, will receive $3,000. Students will complete field studies and perform water-related classroom experiments.
* Lance Corlew, Frostproof Middle-Senior High School, will receive $2,540. Students will test water quality at Circle B Bar Ranch, and construct a photo diary documenting how water is conserved.
* Rachel Nicholson, Frostproof Middle-Senior High School, will receive $455. Students will study the ecology of a mangrove swamp, understanding the differences between freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, and learn how to reduce impacts on a watershed.
* Mijana Lockard, Lincoln Avenue Academy, will receive $1,615. Students will collect and analyze campus outdoor water consumption data, study the soil and plants in campus gardens and design a rain barrel-fed irrigation system.
* Dennis Dill, McKeel Academy, will receive $2,496. Students will conduct field studies to test water quality and learn about the Peace River watershed.
* Melissa Kelly, Polk Avenue Elementary School, will receive $2,950. Students will participate in water-related classroom experiments, view classroom presentations by The Florida Aquarium outreach staff and conduct a biodiversity study.
* Debra Porter, Southwest Middle School, will receive $2,991. Students will use a watershed model to study hydrologic systems and use a stream table to study karst topography.
* Sara Apple, Wahneta Elementary School, will receive $1,420. Students will take part in an outreach program to learn about freshwater animals, documenting their projects and sharing their findings with students and parents.
* Danielle Bilbrey, Wahneta Elementary School, will receive $1,212. Students will use the District's K–3 Watershed Resource Box and other educational materials to learn about water systems, the water cycle and conservation.
In addition to the county's public schools, three private schools were awarded Splash! grants.
* Fred Wiechmann, Lakeland Christian School, will receive $2,730. Students will investigate how activities introduce pollutants into freshwater resources and conduct a field study at an organic community farm.
* Scott Nelson, St. Paul Lutheran School, will receive $2,106. Students will visit Crystal Springs Preserve to study water quality and test water from the spring and Hillsborough River.
* Carol Polkowski, St. Joseph Catholic School, will receive $2,646. Students will compare aquatic native and nonnative plants and evaluate drinking water and pond water quality.
This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide teachers with funding to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources issues. Splash! school grants provide up to $3,000 per school on a reimbursement basis and are available to public, charter and private school teachers.
Past Splash! grant projects include student monitoring of local water quality, environmental field studies and outreach campaigns designed to encourage water conservation.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers free teacher professional development workshops and curriculum materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards and can also be ordered on the District's website at WaterMatters.org/publications/.
This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.
Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Polk County to the strong partnership with Polk County Schools. Milt Huling, senior curriculum coordinator of science for Polk County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and helped get the word out.
"The District recognizes the critical role STEM education – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – plays in preparing students for the future," said Hull. "With the help of the grant program, students will learn the importance of protecting and conserving Florida's water resources through STEM-based education projects."
The Polk County awardees are:
* Linda Hughes, Bartow Elementary Academy, will receive $1,435. Students will collect meteorological measurements to analyze the precipitation, evaporation and water needs of plants on the campus.
* Jessica Fredricks, Bethune Academy, will receive $3,000. Students will work with civil engineers and biologists to create a map of Lake Boomerang and other habitats on campus.
* Jacqueline Hackney, Boone Middle School, will receive $2,735. Students will conduct water testing and create a book incorporating what they learned.
* Melanie Tucker, Daniel Jenkins Academy, will receive $2,895. Students will test water quality and plant a terrace garden.
* Kathi Decker, Eagle Lake Elementary School, will receive $3,000. Students will complete field studies and perform water-related classroom experiments.
* Lance Corlew, Frostproof Middle-Senior High School, will receive $2,540. Students will test water quality at Circle B Bar Ranch, and construct a photo diary documenting how water is conserved.
* Rachel Nicholson, Frostproof Middle-Senior High School, will receive $455. Students will study the ecology of a mangrove swamp, understanding the differences between freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, and learn how to reduce impacts on a watershed.
* Mijana Lockard, Lincoln Avenue Academy, will receive $1,615. Students will collect and analyze campus outdoor water consumption data, study the soil and plants in campus gardens and design a rain barrel-fed irrigation system.
* Dennis Dill, McKeel Academy, will receive $2,496. Students will conduct field studies to test water quality and learn about the Peace River watershed.
* Melissa Kelly, Polk Avenue Elementary School, will receive $2,950. Students will participate in water-related classroom experiments, view classroom presentations by The Florida Aquarium outreach staff and conduct a biodiversity study.
* Debra Porter, Southwest Middle School, will receive $2,991. Students will use a watershed model to study hydrologic systems and use a stream table to study karst topography.
* Sara Apple, Wahneta Elementary School, will receive $1,420. Students will take part in an outreach program to learn about freshwater animals, documenting their projects and sharing their findings with students and parents.
* Danielle Bilbrey, Wahneta Elementary School, will receive $1,212. Students will use the District's K–3 Watershed Resource Box and other educational materials to learn about water systems, the water cycle and conservation.
In addition to the county's public schools, three private schools were awarded Splash! grants.
* Fred Wiechmann, Lakeland Christian School, will receive $2,730. Students will investigate how activities introduce pollutants into freshwater resources and conduct a field study at an organic community farm.
* Scott Nelson, St. Paul Lutheran School, will receive $2,106. Students will visit Crystal Springs Preserve to study water quality and test water from the spring and Hillsborough River.
* Carol Polkowski, St. Joseph Catholic School, will receive $2,646. Students will compare aquatic native and nonnative plants and evaluate drinking water and pond water quality.
This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide teachers with funding to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources issues. Splash! school grants provide up to $3,000 per school on a reimbursement basis and are available to public, charter and private school teachers.
Past Splash! grant projects include student monitoring of local water quality, environmental field studies and outreach campaigns designed to encourage water conservation.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers free teacher professional development workshops and curriculum materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards and can also be ordered on the District's website at WaterMatters.org/publications/.