SCHOOL GRANT REQUESTS WHITTLED BY HALF

Eighty-four grants totaling $50,107 have been awarded to teachers in the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, to be used for supplies, projects and programs during the 2011-12 school year.

Teachers made 118 grant requests totaling almost $108,000. All but 34 were funded, although some received only partial funding, said board President Vera Blanquie.

The following are a sample of the programs that received support.

Middle School Robotics

Lawrence Jones Middle School was awarded $1,700 to purchase reusable robot kits. They can be used by seventh- and eighth-graders in an elective course and in the school's robotics club, which encourages science, engineering and math. This type of activity can lead to more focused work at Technology High School. The advanced-level Lego kits include moveable parts that can be used to create various humanoid and other creatures for competitions. Advanced Placement Book Sets

Rancho Cotate High School English Department was awarded $1,755 to purchase two book sets for its new AP English Language and Composition. About 400 AP and standard English students will read from "100 Great Essays" by Robert DiYanni and "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. The latter book is part of the California State University system's new Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum for high school juniors and seniors, which prepares them for state universities.

Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? The Teeth will Tell You!

As part of the first-grade life science curriculum, more than 130 Monte Vista Elementary students will learn from this hands-on program, covered by a $319 grant. Students infer what animals eat by the shape of their teeth, using clean, life-sized replicas of alligator, Grizzly bear, coyote, African lion, gorilla, hippopotamus, baboon and even human teeth. Activity booklets and lesson plans accompany the teeth.

Think! Imagine! Create!

More than 200 students at Technology High School will be using eight new Flip video cameras, purchased with a $600 grant as a way to integrate contemporary media into their work.

The school's philosophy promotes project-based learning, and the cameras will be used as tools for student projects and exhibitions, and in competitions. The goal is incorporating effective visual and verbal communication into student work in a variety of academic disciplines.

History Alive!

Evergreen Elementary School was awarded $1,423 for History Alive!, a program that will be used by nearly 100 students. The school had a partial set of books focusing on early civilizations, but with this money it can complete its set. The program provides resources to make ancient history come alive for students as they work in pairs and use hands-on methods.

For more information about the foundation or to make a donation, visit www.educationfoundationofcrp.org, or call 795-3648.