CRESTVIEW SCHOOLS District to use $500 grant for math, science and tech

High school students, elementary pupils and teachers work together in physics and biology studies.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
COLUMBIANA -- Crestview schools will use a $500 grant from First Energy to supplement a $35,000 grant awarded to the district this spring by Hewlett Packard.
Both grants are in support of math, science and technology programs.
Susan Kersner, the district's instructional technology coordinator, wrote the proposals for both grants. Qualifications for the First Energy grant were that the grant would be used for projects that involve pupils directly, incorporate matching funds, utilize community resources, encourage interdisciplinary projects and involve various age groups.
Kershner said the First Energy grant will be used to buy reference and trade books, hands-on materials, and binoculars with digital camera capabilities.
Crestview school officials used the HP grant to buy projectors and other video equipment, digital cameras and PC tablets to integrate new technology into science and math lessons, with elementary pupils and teachers working on projects with high school students and teachers.
Trade books will supplement science content, and teachers will develop scientific, research based lessons, she said.
Experiments
High school physics students will explore the science of sound with elementary pupils. Experiments will be conducted to develop the concepts of pitch, vibration, sound waves, amplification, and the speed of sound, Kershner said. Students will record real-world applications of the physics concepts, such as the Doppler Effect, radar, a vacuum pump, recording studios and a musical performance with digital cameras and then create a digital journal of their work.
Biology studies with high school and elementary pupils working together include creation of a bird habitat, bird identification, and creation of a multimedia bird field guide.