Architecture in Education: Building in Community (Highcrest Middle School)
The Foundation is pleased to support a pilot grant for several Highcrest 5th grade classes to participate in the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust’s “Architecture in Education: Building in Community” program. Preservation Trust instructors will visit Highcrest to work with students on architecture and design. Students will learn how to use their measurement and math computation skills to lay out an architectural floor plan and design a building and community. Grant recipient Joe Taylor, a HMS 5th grade teacher, says “Doing this project will inspire students to learn math and build their confidence in their math problem-solving skills.”
This program complements the Foundation-sponsored “Math: Let’s Get Real!” program, where students learn how math is an important component of many careers. Last spring, a local architect, airline pilot, and basketball team statistician demonstrated to HMS 5th graders how math is vital to their everyday work. The 2010 HMS program, scheduled for mid-March, will feature composer, conductor, and music educator Gary Fry, who will speak on tempo and math in the music industry; and Liz Johnson, a Northern Trust portfolio manager, who will talk about math in the financial industry.
Lunchtime Mileage Club (Central School)
The Foundation will pilot PE teacher Carol Fritz’s lunchtime fitness program. Based on the The Feelin’ Good Mileage Club model, which has been successful at many schools nationwide, this program encourages students to walk, jog, or run on a designated course several times a week during recess. More than 2.5 million children in participating schools logged almost 30 million miles last year. Central students will earn tokens and other rewards for the miles they log. The goal is to broaden student physical fitness, as well as encourage goal-setting and enhanced student focus in the classroom after lunchtime. Carol Fritz notes that “It’s fun, it channels kids’ energy, it gets kids ready to learn, it aids in a child’s educational development, and it’s getting the child physically fit.” Central staff will also be able to participate.