Fourteen Sumter County teachers are among the educators who were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.
This year 206 "Splash! grants(Splash! School Grants)":/education/schoolgrants were awarded to educators across "the District's 16-county region":/data/map.
Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Sumter County to the strong partnership with Sumter District Schools, which helped get the word out to teachers. Christine Burke, curriculum specialist for Sumter District Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers.
"These teachers are receiving a small amount of money but are able to accomplish so much," said Hull. "Grant recipients also use the District's collection of curriculum materials and other free educational resources."
The Sumter County awardees include:
* Carol Johnson, *Bushnell Elementary School*, will receive the K-3 Watershed Resources Box. Students will learn about the importance of watersheds in a program that integrates science, mathematics, social studies and literature in hands-on learning activities.
* Melynda Shea, *Bushnell Elementary School*, will receive $2,255. Students will build a freshwater habitat for fish. They will test quality of water collected from natural systems found in Sumter County, compare those samples to human-made freshwater systems and use microscopes to identify organisms found in the water samples.
* Tiffany Ward, *Bushnell Elementary School*, will receive $2,460. Students will take a field trip to Silver Springs Park to learn about Florida's natural springs and how plants, animals and people depend upon them. They will create brochures to educate the community about water conservation.
* Michael Atherton, *Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School*, will receive $1,413. Students will compare the irrigation needs of a traditional garden with a water-conserving garden.
* Rachel Habhab, *Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School*, will receive $750. Students will prepare container gardening systems that will yield vegetables using less water and fertilizer than conventional gardens. Students will also take a field trip to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park.
* Sherri Robinson, *Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School*, will receive the K¬-3 Watershed Resources Box. Students will learn about watersheds in a program that integrates science, mathematics, social studies and literature.
* Diana Elysee, *Webster Elementary School*, will receive $75. Students will learn about the water cycle. Students will put on a puppet play and re-enact how to keep water resources clean. Students will also write an essay on the importance of clean water.
* Peggy Furtado, *Webster Elementary School*, will receive $757. Students will provide water conservation tips and water-saving methods for homes and at school during the daily school morning show as well as during the school's annual Save A Drop Day.
* Lynn Thomas, *Webster Elementary School*, will receive $664. Students will participate in a year-long study of wetlands and the Withlacoochee River watershed. They will teach other students about water conservation during the school's annual Save A Drop Day.
* Benachoice Caruthers, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $1,003. Students will take a field trip to Silver Springs Park and Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. They will also participate in water activities throughout the year to prepare for Wildwood Elementary School's Water Awareness Day and the Sumter County Environmental Education Center's Earth Day celebration.
* Cheryl McKinney, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $770. Students will visit Silver Springs Park to see how Florida's water sources affect diverse populations of animals. They will also locate places water is being wasted around the school, document problems and suggest solutions.
* Jennifer Russ, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $850. Students will perform skits using puppets, deliver presentations to other students and take a field trip to Silver Springs Park.
* Andrie White, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $936. Students will keep a journal about fresh water and will create books at the end of the year.
* Christopher Wright, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $672. Students will participate in a water-focused environmental program at the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida's Camp Wildwood in Sumter County. They will also be able to learn about the current restoration project that is removing peat from the 80-acre, on-site lake.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide hands-on learning opportunities that teach students about their local watersheds and the freshwater resources within them. Splash! school grants provide up to $5,000 per school on a reimbursement basis only and are available to public, private and homeschool teachers.
"Past Splash! grant projects(2009 Splash! school grants)":/education/schoolgrants/projects.php include water quality monitoring of local lakes and rivers, the development of water-conserving gardens on school properties, and outreach campaigns designed to promote awareness of water-conserving practices.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers educators free teacher training workshops, speakers for classroom presentations and free educational materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Sunshine State Standards and can also be ordered on the District's web site at "WaterMatters.org/publications/(Free publications)":/publications.
This year 206 "Splash! grants(Splash! School Grants)":/education/schoolgrants were awarded to educators across "the District's 16-county region":/data/map.
Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Sumter County to the strong partnership with Sumter District Schools, which helped get the word out to teachers. Christine Burke, curriculum specialist for Sumter District Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers.
"These teachers are receiving a small amount of money but are able to accomplish so much," said Hull. "Grant recipients also use the District's collection of curriculum materials and other free educational resources."
The Sumter County awardees include:
* Carol Johnson, *Bushnell Elementary School*, will receive the K-3 Watershed Resources Box. Students will learn about the importance of watersheds in a program that integrates science, mathematics, social studies and literature in hands-on learning activities.
* Melynda Shea, *Bushnell Elementary School*, will receive $2,255. Students will build a freshwater habitat for fish. They will test quality of water collected from natural systems found in Sumter County, compare those samples to human-made freshwater systems and use microscopes to identify organisms found in the water samples.
* Tiffany Ward, *Bushnell Elementary School*, will receive $2,460. Students will take a field trip to Silver Springs Park to learn about Florida's natural springs and how plants, animals and people depend upon them. They will create brochures to educate the community about water conservation.
* Michael Atherton, *Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School*, will receive $1,413. Students will compare the irrigation needs of a traditional garden with a water-conserving garden.
* Rachel Habhab, *Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School*, will receive $750. Students will prepare container gardening systems that will yield vegetables using less water and fertilizer than conventional gardens. Students will also take a field trip to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park.
* Sherri Robinson, *Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School*, will receive the K¬-3 Watershed Resources Box. Students will learn about watersheds in a program that integrates science, mathematics, social studies and literature.
* Diana Elysee, *Webster Elementary School*, will receive $75. Students will learn about the water cycle. Students will put on a puppet play and re-enact how to keep water resources clean. Students will also write an essay on the importance of clean water.
* Peggy Furtado, *Webster Elementary School*, will receive $757. Students will provide water conservation tips and water-saving methods for homes and at school during the daily school morning show as well as during the school's annual Save A Drop Day.
* Lynn Thomas, *Webster Elementary School*, will receive $664. Students will participate in a year-long study of wetlands and the Withlacoochee River watershed. They will teach other students about water conservation during the school's annual Save A Drop Day.
* Benachoice Caruthers, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $1,003. Students will take a field trip to Silver Springs Park and Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. They will also participate in water activities throughout the year to prepare for Wildwood Elementary School's Water Awareness Day and the Sumter County Environmental Education Center's Earth Day celebration.
* Cheryl McKinney, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $770. Students will visit Silver Springs Park to see how Florida's water sources affect diverse populations of animals. They will also locate places water is being wasted around the school, document problems and suggest solutions.
* Jennifer Russ, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $850. Students will perform skits using puppets, deliver presentations to other students and take a field trip to Silver Springs Park.
* Andrie White, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $936. Students will keep a journal about fresh water and will create books at the end of the year.
* Christopher Wright, *Wildwood Elementary School*, will receive $672. Students will participate in a water-focused environmental program at the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida's Camp Wildwood in Sumter County. They will also be able to learn about the current restoration project that is removing peat from the 80-acre, on-site lake.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide hands-on learning opportunities that teach students about their local watersheds and the freshwater resources within them. Splash! school grants provide up to $5,000 per school on a reimbursement basis only and are available to public, private and homeschool teachers.
"Past Splash! grant projects(2009 Splash! school grants)":/education/schoolgrants/projects.php include water quality monitoring of local lakes and rivers, the development of water-conserving gardens on school properties, and outreach campaigns designed to promote awareness of water-conserving practices.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers educators free teacher training workshops, speakers for classroom presentations and free educational materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Sunshine State Standards and can also be ordered on the District's web site at "WaterMatters.org/publications/(Free publications)":/publications.