Schoenbar Middle School
Ketchikan, AK

The "Schoenbar Student Success" program was created by the Response to Intervention (RTI) team at Schoenbar Middle School. The team consists of Smith, Hewitt, Nausid and O'Brien, a teacher, the principal, the dean of students and a counselor respectively. The team developed the program to provide the entire student body of 300 students with tools and support to be academically successful. It consists of three components: the opportunity for a nutritious breakfast, an organizational system with directed instruction, and after-school homework assistance. Having a nutritious breakfast will help the students start their day off right. For the organizational system, students will receive a notebook, folders, pencil pouch, planner, and flash drive and will learn how to use the system through the S.O.A.R Study Skills model. The homework component includes providing students with a quiet, teacher-supported environment where they can get help with homework at the end of the school day. An increase in organizational skills and test scores, as well as a decrease in behavioral issues and the number of missed and late homework assignments will determine the program's success. The RTI team hopes the program will increase school connectedness and improve the academic environment for students and staff.

Hazel Green High School
Hazel Green, AL

"Bringing Broadway to the Country" is the winning program developed by Merritt to provide students with the opportunity to have fun and express themselves through words, music, dance, and creativity. Since August 2007, theatre students at Hazel Green High School have produced 11 contemporary plays. They have been short, one-act plays with little to no set, and costumes provided by the students. With the funds from ING, the students will be able to produce a full-length play supported by a proper set and with all of the costumes, props and technical components needed to make a play successful. They will purchase copies of one new play, the royalties to perform the play four times, the materials for a theatrical set, and costumes that will be made or rented for that particular play. The production will involve 50-75 students; however, it will be seen by over 500 students during school and several hundred people in the community. Merritt, who lives in Madison, hopes that the program will build a bridge with the community by having a strong performing arts program.

Greystone Elementary School
Hoover, AL

Womack's "Diggin Up Bluegrass" program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for 690 students at Greystone Elementary School. The students will engage in broad-based musical experiences while participating in hands-on, cutting-edge lessons that connect bluegrass music of the past to future musicians of the genre. They will learn from project-based activities that integrate subjects across the curriculum including patterns in musical form (math), sound (science), historical events (history), maps (geography), CD cover design (art), and clogging (physical education). In addition, the students will participate in hands-on sessions to discuss musical elements and instrument techniques. They will also learn history and current trends from local and regional bands and will eventually participate in an interactive concert with the bands for their families and the community to attend. With the funds from ING, the students will have the opportunity to build their skill sets and learn how to read, arrange, and perform music. Womack, who lives in Hoover, hopes that the program will develop enduring music makers among her students.

Alma Bryant High School
Irvington, AL

The "Freshwater Lobster Aquafarm" is the winning program developed by Stewart. Bryant High School is home to one of the largest high school aquaculture programs in the country. The school is nearing the completion of a long-term project to establish a commercial aquabusiness that is operated by students. For the past 10 years, the students have conducted pilot scale research studies on various seafood species to identify one for commercial production and found that the top contender is a freshwater lobster called the Australian Red Claw. The students have been successful in growing this prize species and several local gourmet restaurants are awaiting the first crop of the lobsters. In addition to growing the lobsters, Stewart has conducted summer aquaculture camps for students to perform routine operations and activities, conduct scientific research, and go on related field trips. The funding from ING will help complete the project. Stewart, who lives in Mobile, hopes that the program will prepare students for a successful business life and encourage them to pursue post-secondary studies.

eStem Elementary Public Charter School
Little Rock, AR

Felton's winning program, "Astronomer Unleashed," will provide more than 300 second- through fourth-grade students at eStem Elementary Public Charter School with the opportunity to explore the field of astronomy and use current technology to study objects in space. Students will join an astronomy class and begin the project by establishing personal learning goals, selecting the information they need to gather, and determining what areas of the sky to observe. They will then document their findings by using observational notes with drawings, student journals, photographs, learning logs, and notes from guest speakers and interviews. In addition, the students will learn to use lab equipment to document and publish their learning, capture discoveries, and share information with other members of their group. The final publication will be a science journal with information, drawings, and research completed by the students. The goal is to have the information published into a student-created book about space for students. Felton hopes that the program will positively impact the students' ownership of their learning and their attitudes toward school. He lives in Little Rock.

Highland High School
Gilbert, AZ

Carroll's "Biotechnology in the Classroom" program will involve 21st century technology and concepts to expose students at Highland High School to real-world science and applications. It will be the only dedicated biotechnology program in the Gilbert Public Schools System and the first high school program in the district to really teach 21st century skills to students who are falling behind in math and science. The 150 participating students will extract and sequence DNA and do a transformation lab where they will take a gene out of one species and put it in another species. They will also learn how forensic laboratories function. Students will gain hands-on experience with new technologies using biotech equipment, the DNA electrophoresis chambers, power packs, and pipettes. Carroll will essentially set up a small-scale biotech lab in one location. He hopes the program will help students achieve more, become more, and want more from their education. Carroll lives in Queen Creek.

Skyline Ranch K-8 School
Queen Creek, AZ

Thompson's winning program, "The Skyline Ranch Monsoon Research Station," is a student-run weather center dedicated to the study of a weather phenomenon unique to the Sonoran Desert. With the guidance of science teachers, 300 students at Skyline Ranch K-8 School will gather and analyze weather data to gain a better understanding of monsoon thunderstorms and the effects of urban development on the local climate. Using state-of-the-art technology, the students will identify and catalogue weather conditions before, during and after a thunderstorm and record, analyze, and interpret data from the atmosphere. They will also construct charts and tables on the computer and design and execute experiments. The goals of the project are to ignite a passion for learning within students, provide a hands-on approach to learning in a real world environment, and to cultivate scientific reasoning skills. Thompson hopes that the students will be encouraged to use problem- solving skills to address issues facing their communities and that they will better understand the impact of human activity on nature. Thompson lives in Gilbert.

California Academy of Math and Science
Carson, CA

Fisher's "CAMS Inventors, Inc." is a program developed for high school seniors at the California Academy of Math and Science. The student-centered project will take the classroom environment and combine it with the real world as students interact with a variety of individuals, agencies, and institutions to learn and become entrepreneurs. The program is unique because it transcends learning about entrepreneurship and actually has students make real offerings to a consumer market. Participating students will develop a start-up company where they will create a business plan, conduct market research, and develop a professional marketing and advertising campaign for a product or service that has a social value for commercial use. They will present their concepts to venture capitalists and business and financial professionals from the local community in the form of a Business Convention where they will create display booths and make formal presentations. The students will then go out as "Entrepreneur Ambassadors" to teach two-hour classes on entrepreneurship to approximately 70 local elementary and middle school students. Fisher hopes the program will have far reaching effects and will become a positive entrepreneurial influence in the community for years to come. He lives in Laguna Niguel.

John W. North High School
Riverside, CA

"Taking the Sun With You!" is a program developed by Foutz to help students appreciate and understand the power of the sun and the basics of electricity. The 30 participating students from John W. North High School will construct their own "solar backpack," a backpack with a solar panel installed on it that can be used for charging their cell phones, MP3 players, and other electronic devices. The program will use a hands-on, minds-on approach to teach the students about the fundamentals of electricity and solar energy, help students appreciate technology, and give them confidence to study other ways to use solar power for larger projects. As the students carry their backpacks between home and school, the program aims to create curiosity and encourage conversations with hundreds of their peers, teachers, and community members regarding the use of solar energy. Foutz hopes her students will realize that they can make a difference in the world by applying their knowledge to make small and simple changes that can lead to larger ones. Foutz resides in Highland.

Will Rogers Learning Community
Santa Monica, CA

In an effort to infuse academic vocabulary with visual representation, Hamilton-Menjivar's winning program, "Digital Image Vocabulary Enrichment," was developed to push students to expand their vocabulary through the creation of a school-wide digital image database. Teachers at the Will Rogers Learning Community will use teacher-directed instructional strategies to emphasize the importance of vocabulary for 90 fourth-grade students. Students will learn creative ways to represent key academic vocabulary words visually through digital or hand-drawn images. Using digital cameras and scanners, the images generated by the students will be placed on a school-wide server and used by the entire school for creating media projects, presentations, and presenting new material. The program will begin with an introduction to the student "Vocabulary Word Journal." Each student journal will include sections on subjects such as math, reading, writing, science, social studies, art, and technology. Students will keep and sort words that are specific to the respective content area. Hamilton-Menjivar hopes the program will guide students to learn how to make and seek out connections to what they learn in and outside of school. She lives in Inglewood.

Community Magnet Charter School
Los Angeles, CA

"Solarbotics" is the winning program created by Saunders and his colleagues, where teams of third-grade students at the Community Magnet Charter School will build a remote-controlled, battery-powered robot. The 60 "scientists" will convert the robot to run on solar power while gathering data and conducting research to help them compare the environmental, financial, and performance factors of solar power and battery power robots. In addition, participants will learn what it takes to make a robot, the cost of purchasing and disposing of batteries, and how fast one can travel on battery versus solar power. Near the end of the project, the students will have robot races and develop written reports and graphs on their findings. They will also give oral presentations and display their work to the school, parents, and the community. With the funds from ING, these teachers will establish a full robotics program, and the participating students will get more hands-on experience. They hope that "Solarbotics" will teach their students that they can each play a personal role in the transition from conventional to reusable energy, deepen their understanding of robotics and solar energy, and empower them to teach others about the benefits of solar power.

Hayden Valley Elementary School
Hayden, CO

Epp's "Classrooms Bridging Continents" project is designed to foster a sense of stewardship and global responsibility in her students at Hayden Valley Elementary School. Last year, Epp's class adopted a kindergarten class on the island of Gizo in the Solomon Islands whose school was destroyed by a tsunami. Since that time the school has been rebuilt; however, it has minimal supplies. Epp and her students now plan to expand the project for the entire school to participate in helping those who are less fortunate. The first-grade students will become the "ambassadors" to present the idea to the school and enlist the support of their fellow students. They will then send supplies and books to the school, including books with photos and drawings of themselves and their own school to provide the village children with a snapshot of what school and life are like in rural northwestern Colorado. Epp, who lives in Hayden, hopes the program will help improve the education for young children with limited resources and encourage leadership, teamwork, empathy, and an overall understanding among her students of the diversity of human lives.

Plainfield Central School
Plainfield, CT

"Lights, Camera, Documentary!" is a three-part program created by Grant where eighth-grade students at Plainfield Central School will incorporate language arts and social studies to develop and produce a series of motivational and inspiring instructional films, historical skits, and reenactments. First students will develop instructional movies on key lessons in reading and writing which will include techniques such as animation, claymation, video clips, news reports, voiceover lessons, and animated text. All of the movies the students create will be edited on their computers using editing software. During the second part of the program, they will focus more on the films by creating historical skits, reenactments and primary source documents. For the third part, the language arts students will write a series of short film scripts and produce the best scripts from each class. The final goal is to design the films as DVDs for the entire student body, community, and for the film festival. Grant, who lives in Norwich, hopes that through the constant exchange of ideas, the development of quality films, and consistent reading and writing, the students' learning will continue to improve.

Barnard Elementary School
Waterbury, CT

"Cultural Awareness Regarding Ethnicity (CARE)" is a project designed by McCasland and her team members Ieronimo and McKeeman that uses a unique approach to encourage first-grade students to enjoy reading, involve family members in reading, and improve reading proficiency. Approximately 55 students at Barnard Elementary School will have the opportunity to begin developing a home library. Innovative techniques and strategies including having the teachers dress the part of characters and portray roles will be used to promote reading among the students to enhance their reading skills and foster cultural awareness. During the upcoming school term, students will be introduced to five books that involve the awareness of various cultures from countries including China, Ireland, Mexico, the United States and certain African countries. They will learn about the history and traditions of these cultures such as Cinco de Mayo, Flag Day, St. Patrick's Day, Black History, and the Chinese New Year. McCasland and her team members hope that the program will promote a greater awareness of the importance and pleasure of reading, involve parents/family in shared reading, and ultimately help students develop skills for the Connecticut Mastery Test.

Terryville High School
Terryville, CT

The "World War I Memorial Restoration Project" was developed by Nave after visiting Washington, D.C., in 2007. He saw that the World War I Memorial was in need of repair. Upon his return to school that year, he formed a club with his U.S. history students at Terryville High School where they would research the memorial and determine what needed to be done for the restoration efforts. They researched World War I, identified all major people and organizations that would help bring the restoration to fruition and worked with members of Congress to discuss the feasibility to accomplish their goal. They also researched the building of the World War II Memorial, worked with the media to get public support, and networked/partnered with other schools across the country to partner with. During the process they learned of and joined with the efforts of the World War I Memorial Foundation and are currently working with the group. Nave, who lives in Waterbury, hopes that they will continue making restoration advances by the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I in 2014.

Selbyville Middle School
Selbyville, DE

Heck's winning program, "Teacher Researchers: Helping Students Find Their Math Voice", is part of a five-year professional development project that incorporates action research targeting at-risk math students at Selbyville Middle School. The program involves capturing and analyzing video and audio of instruction and interactions between students and teachers. Heck has had the opportunity to observe academic and social behaviors of students that may have otherwise been overlooked such as the student who turned in an assignment but did not fully understand it and the student who seems to pay attention in class but is really doodling on paper. Her eyes have been opened to many of the errors the students have been making and Heck has gained more insight into how to differentiate their instruction and their assessments. The program has resulted in the desire to spend more time listening to students and probing their thinking which will include interviewing the students about their questioning and solution strategies for problem-based tasks. Heck plans to share this information with her fellow colleagues and hopes they will use the research to integrate and balance proficiency and ultimately guide sustained teaching and learning of math at the middle school level. Heck lives in Dagsboro.

Manatee High School
Bradenton, FL

Through Brunner's "Gamble Plantation Historic Park Restoration Project," students at Manatee High School who are enrolled in the Center for Design & Construction (CDC) will partner with the Governor's Advisory Council of the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park to apply classroom skills into a tangible project. Participating students will review recent historical studies and the park's master plan to assist with the historical and overall renovations of the park and mansion located in the park. The first phase of the project will consist of students reviewing documents, visiting the facilities, and interviewing staff and community leaders connected to the park. The students will then begin gathering data and required specifications for the design software to create historically accurate designs for the interior and structural renovations and improvements. They will work in teams to propose their plans to the Advisory Council and park staff. The winning proposal will be chosen and used for the actual renovation. Once the renovations begin, the goal is for students to participate in the hands-on construction and restoration and to be involved in the selection, procurement, and decorating of the mansion's interior. Brunner lives in Palmetto.

Olsen Middle School
Danie Beach, FL

"Animals Around the World - Here's My Habitat" is a multidisciplinary project developed by Currie that incorporates geography, language arts, science, math and reading. Seventh-grade students at Olsen Middle School will explore major biomes located in specific countries and discover how the biomes interact with the environment and affect human actions. Students will be graded on the five parts of the project. In Part 1: Geography - the students will do research to create a map to establish place and location of their assigned biome. In Part 2: Language Arts - students will write an "adventure story" or "autobiography" chronicling facts about the life of their biome from birth. For Parts 3 and 4: Science and Math respectively - students will construct a three-dimensional model of their biome and study their biome's population. In Part 5: Reading - the students will give a presentation on their biome and will be critiqued on their speaking skills. Currie, who lives in Plantation, hopes that this unique project will allow students of all learning abilities to see the ways the various subjects are connected, reducing the fragmentation of learning.

Blountstown Middle School
Blountstown, FL

"Changing the World - One Molecule at a Time" is a biotechnology program created by Romer for the students in her Intensive Science Academy class at Blountstown Middle School. The unique program, which is the only one of its kind in Calhoun County, will provide students with an opportunity to explore fields and activities related to current scientific advances. They will study genetic engineering, commercial biotechnology, and forensic science by transforming bacteria, participating in a simulation and creating a gene clone of a medicinal rainforest plant. In addition, the students will extract their own DNA, separate and visualize DNA fragments at a "crime scene," and employ DNA profiling. The program will not only benefit the 25 students in the class but the resources will also be utilized by more than 100 additional science students. Romer hopes that the program will prepare students to live and compete effectively and prosperously, open their eyes to current events happening around them, learn about the types of scientific jobs available, and inspire them to enter the world of science. Romer lives in Bristol.

Monroe Area High School
Monroe, GA

Giacchino and her colleagues, Peacock and Sutton, developed "Genes to Jobs," a biotechnology project that will introduce students at Monroe Area High School to science professionals and allow them to operate equipment used in research laboratories. Students will complete laboratory experiences that represent the major techniques used in the biotechnology industry. Such experiences include conducting DNA fingerprinting with gel electrophoresis and genetically transforming bacteria and purifying proteins through chromatography. The students will also use Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques to test food for genetic modification and participate directly in long-term scientific research by performing genetic sequencing of local plants. This project will provide an academically rigorous and engaging learning opportunity to standard curriculum and expose students to biotechnology careers. The program will benefit approximately 450 students during the upcoming school year. The funds from ING will be used to purchase supplies to carry out the research and to buy durable, high-quality equipment that will benefit the students for years to come. Giacchino, a resident of Bishop, hopes the project will demonstrate to students that science is connected to real-world situations and give interested students an advantage in the biotechnology field. Peacock and Sutton live in Athens and Loganville respectively.

Brookwood High School
Snellville, GA

"Bio-teach-nology" is a unique peer mentoring and staff development program designed by Wetherington that incorporates new technologies and cultivates fresh approaches in science education. For the first time, Brookwood High School will enroll biotechnology students in the 11th and 12th grade in two biotechnology classes to receive advanced training in applicable and modern techniques in the biosciences. The goal of the program is to provide 60 students with materials and training needed for them to leave their own class and teach challenging concepts such as DNA technologies to freshmen in biology classes. In addition, students will take their new-found expertise and provide support for teachers in specific laboratory experiments. Wetherington, who lives in Lilburn, hopes that the program will improve the students' understanding of content areas, prepare them to serve as teaching assistants and peer tutors, and provide innovative training and instructional support to all teachers.

Farrington High School
Honolulu, HI

Ho's digital media classes and media club at Farrington High School are constructing a recording studio for "The Farrington Show." Students will produce, direct, film, and edit shows that explore social issues, culture, historical aspects of schools in the Farrington Complex, and current events. The half-hour special will broadcast monthly on a community television station. It is Ho's objective for "The Farrington Show" to instill school spirit and civic pride in students as they produce shows about their school and community. She also hopes that the project will allow students the opportunity to gain experience using industry equipment and interact professionally with others through interview skills. The ultimate goal for the project is to broadcast daily and convert shows to podcasts that will be available online to share with a greater audience. Ho resides in Honolulu.

Weiser High School
Weiser, ID

At Weiser High School, Chavez will be instructing students to create a three-phased project entitled "Remembrance Camp" that depicts the Holocaust. The first phase will be transforming classrooms into learning stations to illustrate Hitler's rise to power, propaganda against the Jews, Kristallnacht, and the ghettos. The next phase is to have the gymnasium simulate a concentration camp including constructed walls with razor wire around the top. Visitors will view the exhibit riding a cattle car through a gate with the Nazi concentration camp slogan, "Arbeit Macht Frei," imprinted on it to see living conditions at camps. The final phase will be a survivor testimony where a Holocaust survivor will share his/her memories and answer questions. The camp will allow students to visually experience the monumental effects of discrimination, hatred, and genocide. Chavez, who resides in Weiser, wants to offer the school a powerful lesson to emphasize the importance of future generations not repeating or allowing such an atrocity to occur again.

Nicholson Specialty School
Chicago, IL

Sanks and her two colleagues Drake and Robinson, have developed the "Nicholson's Math/Game Week" to reinforce mathematical and technological skills. The project will promote strategic thinking and parental involvement among Nicholson Specialty School students. Students will apply problem-solving skills to create exciting games to advance mathematical skills. Games will be graded on originality, project design, presentation, and academic content. Parents will be invited to attend a family game night to play math games created by students. This project will be especially geared to empower special education students and those struggling in mathematics. Students will also film videos to demonstrate how to play the games. Videos will be uploaded to Nicholson Specialty School's Web site.

Jacqueline Vaughn Occupational High School
Chicago, IL

Bonness and Murray are planning to expand their school's garden program with the "Real Science, Real Food" project. Jacqueline Vaughn Occupational High School specializes in preparing its special education students for independence. "Real Science, Real Food" integrates science and culinary arts by introducing preparation and preservation techniques for produce grown in the school's garden, greenhouse, and hydroponics lab. Students will learn how to make delicious and healthy foods such as bread, pesto, and herb vinaigrette. Seniors will be responsible for marketing and selling goods at school events and on the Web site. The goal of the project is to foster self-reliance and social development in students who are quickly approaching graduation. The project may even spark interest in students to pursue employment in the production and marketing of food. Bonness and Murray are residents of Chicago.

St. John the Evangelist School
St. John, IN

Each year, St. John the Evangelist School explores a different world culture through an interdisciplinary project. "Egypt Unwrapped" is the selected project for the 2009-2010 school year. Cerwinske plans to integrate Ancient Egypt in all academic subjects for students in third through sixth grades to continuously investigate and learn about Egypt. Students will play Egyptian games, build pyramids, write using hieroglyphics, and even make ancient Egyptian instruments. Research will be conducted to gather information and develop presentations on the traditions, beliefs, and customs of Egyptians. A visit is scheduled to the "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" exhibit at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis. Lastly, the school will hold an Egyptian Fair for students to share projects, games, and food with parents and community members. Cerwinske resides in St. John.

Manning Community School
Manning, IA

"Community.com" is the newest project of Petersen's third-grade class at Manning Community School. The focus of the project will be for students to design a Web site based on the Manning community. Students will research the history and early settlement of Manning's first residents. The class will execute a number of research methods to gather a well-rounded perception of the community. Such methods include interviewing, taking field trips, scanning newspaper articles, and reading history books. Students will learn the importance of government by visiting the city hall to speak with the mayor and council members. Students will also travel to the fire station to learn about volunteer firefighters and visit the police station to learn about community safety. The "Community.com" project will introduce students to positive role models and develop social skills. Petersen is a resident of Manning.

Gardner Edgerton High School
Gardner, KS

The "Bach-n-Roll" mobile music workstation is a project designed by Easley and Burd to advance range of ability skills of students at Gardner-Edgerton High School. The interactive musical experience will engage students through singing, keyboard instructions, and musical composition. While improving musical skills, "Bach-n-Roll" will assist students' reading and math development, along with historical research and social skills. Students will receive immediate feedback after completing an assessment. General education and special education classrooms will have access to "Bach-n-Roll" including students not participating in traditional music programs due to social anxiety, communication deficiency, or being unable to perform musically at a high school level. Easley resides in Olathe and Burd lives in Gardner.

Wichita Public Schools
Wichita, KS

"Aces in the Community" is a student-driven project developed by Jones to improve the community. Jones will offer students a chance to positively impact their community through a hands-on experience. A theme will be introduced to the class and teams of students will conduct research to connect a community need with the classroom theme. Each team will draft and present a multimedia proposal suggesting a community service event to address the need in the community. The classroom will vote on and implement the winning plan. Jones, who lives in Cheney, will encourage students to reach out to parents and community members for information and assistance to improve the community.

Spring Hill High School
Spring Hill, KS

Environmental science students at Spring Hill High School will design and construct a series of six raised-bed flower gardens with built-in irrigation systems during the "Water Conservation and Raised Bed Gardening" project. Strohschein developed the program for the students to plant six gardens: a tulip garden, two butterfly gardens, a native Kansas plants garden, a cut-flower garden, and a perennial garden. Students will learn specifics about water conservation and erosion protection techniques, along with the importance and benefits of rain barrels in the community. This hands-on project will provide students interested in landscaping and horticulture with career experience. Students may volunteer to maintain gardens over the summer. Once the gardens are ready for observation, other classrooms may utilize them for various projects and enjoy the beautiful area for outdoor lessons. Strohschein, who lives in Edwardsville, would eventually like to add trees, walking paths, park benches, and a water feature to enhance the area.

Bethany Christian School
Baker, LA

"Waste Not-Want Not" is a recycling program developed by Hodges to encourage Bethany Christian School to save natural resources and reduce waste. Fourth and fifth-grade students will manage a school-wide initiative to increase the amount of materials recycled. Students will create an online interactive newsletter to encourage parents and community members to adopt recycling practices at home. They will also research environment-friendly and recyclable alternatives to replace wasteful and environmentally harmful products used throughout the school. Lastly, online lessons will help students apply scientific reasoning to understand how recycling can eliminate air pollution. The "Waste Not-Want Not" project is designed to build strategic problem-solving skills and emphasize the importance of environmental stewardship. Hodges resides in Baker.

Molly Ockett Middle School
Fryeburg, ME

Swank's winning program, "Maine Metaclassroom," will connect rural schools for collaborative learning among teachers and students. Swank, a teacher at Molly Ockett Middle School, plans to create partnerships with other classrooms using Google applications. Google Doc is a free Web-based word processor and spreadsheet, which will allow students to share assignments and create Web pages to showcase their learning. Adding audio and video capabilities to Google Doc will allow younger students to benefit from "Maine Metaclassroom." With the use of microphone headsets, middle school students can share projects in real time via Skype. Likewise, students can record performances using Web cameras. Swank, a resident of Stow, hopes to create a learning environment beyond walls so students may build relationships across age groups to teach each other. The "Maine Metaclassroom" will provide numerous, diverse and creative learning opportunities.

Greely Middle School
Cumberland, ME

"Physical Fitness Matters" is a project developed by Rozene to improve fitness curriculum at Greely Middle School. The four-component program reinforces the district's standards to educate students on proper exercise techniques and provide knowledge for students to design personal workouts to establish a pattern of healthy lifelong fitness. Rozene believes that physically-fit students are more attentive in class, have positive body images, and have fewer health concerns. Every Wednesday will be dedicated to fitness education and personal goal setting. Rozene will engage students using an aerobic and agility fitness workout that incorporates technology and music. Circuit training will teach proper exercises. Every two minutes, students will rotate stations that focus on one of the five-targeted areas of fitness: flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, agility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance. Eighth-grade students will be offered Fitness Friday to encourage achievement of personal fitness goals. The final component of "Physical Fitness Matters" is an after-school fitness program focusing on students not involved in sports. Rozene lives in Cumberland.

Arcola Elementary School
Silver Spring, MD

"Arts Integration at Arcola" is a project developed by Hope to provide Arcola Elementary School staff with appropriate arts training and materials to expose students to diverse methods of achieving curriculum objectives. Specialty artists will conduct demonstrations in three art forms: music, drama, and dance/movement. English as a Secondary Language (ESOL) students will benefit greatly from the project as staff members use creative ways to engage students. Percussion instruments, puppets, dance scarves, and other materials will help integrate arts into traditional curriculum. The "Arts Integration at Arcola" project will foster collegiality among teachers and will bring new ideas about learning to parents. Hope resides in Silver Spring.

Neighborhood House Charter School
Dorchester, MA

"The Commotion about Motion" project was designed by Olmsted for second graders at the Neighborhood House Charter School to explore motion theories and apply creativity and problem-solving abilities. Olmsted will introduce students to themes of force, gravity, acceleration, friction, air resistance, and buoyancy. Students will conduct experiments following the scientific method - making predictions, collecting research, analyzing data, and reporting conclusions - in the KidLab. The KidLab is designed to engage learners in projects and experiments that activate students' understanding of scientific principles. Students will work in groups of 10 with a teacher once a week for 45 minutes on a specific unit of "The Commotion about Motion" project. Olmsted resides in Somerville.

Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Charlton, MA

Galeriu is introducing videogames to students at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School but it is not for pure entertainment. "Nintendo DS in the Classroom" is a project that uses handheld game consoles for mathematical computations, graphing applications, and computer programming. Students will even be able to use the gaming system to prepare for standardized exams. Software for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is already available. "Nintendo DS in the Classroom" will promote abstract and critical thinking while providing practical and theoretical experience. Galeriu, who lives in Worcester, hopes this project will motivate parents to encourage students to use video game systems for educational purposes at home.

Blanchard Middle School
Westford, MA

Huizenga is excited to introduce her winning project, "Go-Global 21," to students at Blanchard Middle School. The project includes building a video microscopy and communications lab to expand the boundaries of teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses. A rigorous curriculum will allow students to become active learners by conducting science experiments that contribute to scientific research on a local and global level. Students will conduct a three-year independent research project related to a scientific field. In the sixth grade, students will develop a hypothesis. Students will research in collaboration with universities and other members of the scientific community throughout middle school. "Go-Global 21" is designed to deepen students' understanding of life and physical sciences by developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to create solutions to real-world challenges using STEM studies. Huizenga resides in Burlington.

Everett High School
Lansing, MI

Cross will introduce her students to an innovative book report project called "Literature Alive!." As part of the project, students at Everett High School will be assigned a book to read. However, instead of writing a traditional book report, students will bring the books alive with video book reviews. Students will write, practice, and record book reviews. All of the recorded reviews will be uploaded to the school's Web site to share with teachers, parents, and community members. This winning project promotes readership to help students succeed in all academic subjects. Cross, who resides in Lansing, hopes to encourage students to become self-motivated readers in a technologically-advancing society.

Southfield Christian School
Southfield, MI

"The Game Plan" is a project developed by Bosch for students to create interactive computer games to increase learning abilities. Bosch will introduce students at Southfield Christian School in third through fifth-grades to a multimedia authoring software program. This technology will allow students to utilize multimedia tools such as graphics, animation, sound, and video to develop innovative games that demonstrate an understanding of concepts taught in class. Third-grade students will visit the Detroit Zoo to collect information and videos of animals in order to create learning games centered on a virtual experience at the zoo. Students in fourth-grade classes will research all 50 states to create games based on video tours of the country. Lastly, students in the fifth grade will create a multiple-choice style game that focuses on the lives of United States Presidents. The development of games will improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills while promoting creativity. All interactive games will be shared with lower grade levels. Bosch resides in Oak Park.

Taft Elementary School
Wyoming, MI

Jobson developed the "Mailbox Book Club" to promote year-round learning, including over summer vacation, for students at Taft Elementary School. Interested students are welcome to sign up to receive books over the summer to increase their retention of knowledge learned during the academic year. Students living in households where English is not the primary language are encouraged to participate to maintain communication skills. During the school year, students will be introduced to a book series. The first book will be read aloud in the classroom. Students who would like to continue the series will be responsible for reading the second book during the school year. Those who completed the second book will receive the third book in the mail at their home along with a pre-addressed and stamped envelope. Students will also have to fill out a form that asks questions about the book. They will continue receiving books until they finish the series or the summer ends. Jobson, a resident of Zeeland, believes this is a great solution for students who are not able to travel to their local library.

Saint Paul Central High School
Saint Paul, MN

Shipman is teaching a new English class at Saint Paul Central High School entitled "Analyzing Nonfiction Through Radio and Film Documentaries." The course will expand students' reading and writing skills by engaging them in creating documentaries. The project will require extensive hands-on work and oral communication skills. First, students will study and analyze the art of documentaries. Then the class will write essays and scripts for the creation of their documentaries. Students will have the opportunity to acquire concepts and skills used in the field of media production. Shipman, who resides in Minneapolis, believes the use of technological tools will motivate students to capture and tell an inspiring story.

New Summit School
Jackson, MS

"Voices of Our Past: Documenting the Stories of Segregated Schools in Jackson, Mississippi" is the winning program developed by Thach and Pickering. They are introducing students at New Summit School to an innovative method to preserve history. Oral history, a research tool used to collect interviews and storytelling, will allow students to capture the emotion and perspective of the speaker. Students will learn more about their local history while developing social skills and critical thinking abilities. Thach and Pickering find the topic very intriguing considering Mississippi schools were integrated in 1970; 16 years after the unprecedented Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education. The documentary will be presented to the student body and members of the Mississippi Historical Society.

Bernard C. Campbell Middle School
Lee's Summit, MO

Larson is a seventh-grade science teacher at Bernard C. Campbell Middle School who plans to use a portable media player and personal digital assistant as a way to reach her students in the classroom. "iLearn" is the winning program developed by Larson that incorporates prepared science lessons with the technology that today's students are accustomed to usinf. The software company that developed the media players offers several applications that could advance students' learning abilities. The portable media players and personal digital assistants will be used as multi-functional tools for students to conduct research, complete interactive virtual labs, blog, and connect with other students. In fact, students will be able to measure, calculate, and create graphs in the palms of their hands. Larson, who lives in Lee's Summit, believes that connecting with students through ways that they already connect with each other will increase their retention of knowledge.

Crestview Middle School
Ellisville, MO

"Face to Face - Friends Across the World" is a project designed to increase cultural awareness at Crestview Middle School. Spanish teacher Dawn Morris would like for her students to foster friendships with students from Spanish-speaking countries in an effort to improve foreign language skills. Web cameras will allow students to converse in real time during a video conference. This interaction and immersion project will illustrate to students that they are members of a global community. Students will discuss an array of topics from social issues to pop culture in order to build vocabulary and increase knowledge on a different culture. Conducting conversations online will encourage students to improve fluency. Morris resides in Wildwood.

Lesterville School District
Lesterville, MO

Smith's "Tech Art" project will allow students to blend traditional art methods with technology. Students in fifth through 12th grades throughout the Lesterville School District will create multiple blended projects to share with other art students online. An example of a blended project could be for students to draw a one-point perspective picture, scan it, and apply digital techniques provided by software to enhance pictures. To blend the two art methods effectively, students will have to utilize math skills and problem-solving abilities. A blog will be created for students to share their projects and art opinions with Smith and other students. The blog will exercise communication skills and art knowledge. Smith lives in Bonne Terre.

Capital High School
Helena, MT

Since 2007 students at Capital High School have been working on the "Restoration of Old Trolley No.3" project. Chancy and his colleagues have formed a partnership with a local historic preservation group and community volunteers for students to restore a historic trolley that operated in Helena from 1909 to 1927. This intergenerational, community project has pulled together students of different trades to achieve one goal — to display the restored trolley in 2011 for future generations to enjoy. This year carpentry students will continue to reassemble the trolley and build interpretive display cases. Students in the Clothing and Textile Design class will replicate original window shades. Welding students will fabricate metal bases for display cases. Art students will create signage and exhibits about the trolley to accompany the trolley on display. This process of restoring a historic artifact emphasizes the importance of teamwork and community service. Chancy and his colleagues describe the project as "a gift of living history made possible by hundreds of helping hands."

Wheeler Elementary School
Omaha, NE

Wheeler Elementary School is encouraging students to become proficient and strategic readers through a new project developed by Logan entitled, "iListen, iRead, iPod." Logan explains the program will allow readers on multiple levels to advance skills at their own pace and comfort. After teachers introduce words, phrasing, and expressions, students will complete lessons provided by digital texts downloaded on portable media players. This technology will engage learners in real life situations to increase vocabulary and fluency. Teachers will create podcasts for students to review and the students' podcasts will demonstrate their literacy ability. The portability of the media players will permit students to work on reading skills outside the classroom. Logan resides in Gretna.

East Valley Elementary School
Fernley, NV

"EVES Traveling Bank" is a project developed by members of the East Valley Elementary School's improvement team comprised of two teachers, two parents and the principal. The bank will teach students the importance of money management and economic principles and expose them to grade-appropriate financial concepts. Younger students in the second and third grades will use addition and subtraction to monitor simulated savings accounts, while fourth and fifth graders will be introduced to international currencies and exchange rates. They will use Internet resources to track currency rates and their implications on the economy. The hands-on experiences from the program will create opportunities for students to combine mathematical learning with practical situations.

Belmont Middle School
Belmont, NH

Dwyer challenged her students to find a way to strengthen relationships between district schools and the community. The Gifted and Talented/Enrichment students in the fifth through eighth grades decided that "Student Broadcasting" would be a great program to unite their community. "Student Broadcasting" will replace traditional announcements at Belmont Middle School. Students will broadcast news, highlights from school events, charity fundraisers, community events, and other programming to connect students, teachers, parents, and community members. Students participating in the program will operate and facilitate the studio with training from community mentors at the New Hampshire Bar Association, WMUR News, Laconia Citizen Newspaper, and Plymouth State University. Broadcasts will be accessible beyond the school with assistance from a local news station and through podcasts. Dwyer resides in Alton.

Forked River Elementary School
Forked River, NJ

Forked River Elementary School is restructuring its library system to motivate more students to read. Blatt developed the "Fun Reading System" project to mimic a video game format. Students will collect cards as they read a variety of books. The more cards collected, the more incentives students will earn as they advance up levels. A "Life" card will be given when a student reads a biography. A "Companion" card is earned by reading a book about pets or animals. An "Imagination" card is for reading a fiction book, and a "Mad Scientist" card is for reading a science-related book. As students aim to collect cards, they will develop better reading fluency and comprehension skills. After reading 24 books, students will be advanced to the bronze level. The silver level is for students who read at least 60 books and gold level is 96 books. Blatt resides in Lanoka Harbor.

Chatham High School
Chatham Township, NJ

"Chatham Township Celebration of the Arts" is an event created by Roper for students at Chatham High School to honor literary and performing arts. Roper's project incorporates students from several classrooms. English students will write original poetry and short works of fiction to perform at the festival. Students in the Business Principles course will be responsible for marketing and promoting the event, which includes working with the Web Design class to create a Web site to feature highlights of the fair. The entire event will be filmed and edited by students in the Video Production course. Music ensemble classes, along with other students at Chatham High School and Chatham Middle School, will be invited to participate in the celebration. Roper envisions the festival as a source of spiritual renewal that will germinate hope and stimulate a reconnection to humanity. She lives in Plainfield.

Passaic Valley Regional High School
Little Falls, NJ

Conforth, several colleagues, and community partners are integrating technology in the science curriculum at Passaic Valley Regional High School with their winning project, "STARS (Students, Teachers, And Research Scientists)," to ensure accurate science knowledge is shared. Research scientists are experts in the fields of environmental science, medicine, genetics, anthropology, cellular biology, and toxicology. All "STARS" students will view a documentary and connect with the research scientists via videoconferencing to discuss the film in detail. This project challenges students to think about ethical and moral issues that arise through the advancement of science and technology. It also develops habits of inquiry, original ideas and problem solving. Workshops will also be conducted with "STARS" participants to ensure successful planning, implementation, and evaluation of projects. Conforth resides in Wayne.

Memorial Middle School
Las Vegas, NM

"I-Read" is a program developed by Tapia that utilizes technology to motivate Memorial Middle School students to improve reading skills. Tapia will download audio books on portable media players to allow students to listen to books being read aloud while simultaneously following along with printed versions of the books. This structure will satisfy visual and auditory learners. Students will write a book review after reading the book and complete an assessment to demonstrate their level of content understanding. Listening to audio books will increase correct pronunciation and word recognition while improving vocabulary. Students who are below reading level, easily distracted, or simply dislike reading will benefit greatly from "I-Read." Tapia, who lives in Las Vegas, hopes to shift students' attitudes about reading in order to increase additional literacy efforts.

Madison Central School District
Madison, NY

Saulsgiver is challenging the Madison Central School District to "Empower the Future!" The project will introduce students to alternative energy resources and the importance of energy conservation. High school students will assemble model energy kits and advise elementary school students on the mechanics of solar, wind, hydro, and other energy resources. In addition, students will install a small wind turbine and solar panel kit. A life-size powerhouse will be constructed and connected to turbine and panels for students to explore the dynamics of renewable energy. Teachers will be able to integrate selections of the Alternative Energy Environmental Studies Program into current curriculum. "Empower the Future!" is also sponsored by the SUNY Morrisville College's Renewable Energy Training Center and the Oneida-Madison Electric Cooperative. Saulsgiver resides in Earlville.

Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School
Rocky Point, NY

Fernandez's "Guess Whose Who in Our Community" project is geared toward English Language Learners in Kindergarten through second grades. Students will embark on a learning journey throughout their community. Each month, ELL students at Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School will read books related to a selected aspect of a community. Using their knowledge of the topic, students will write interview questions for an unidentified visitor from the community. Based on the prepared questions, students will have to guess who visited the classroom. Each student will also create a book entitled "Who's Who in Our Community," which is based on community visitors and field trips throughout the community. In addition, students will make maps of their community using the "Neighborhood Map Machine" software. The final component of the program is to encourage students to discuss similarities and differences between communities in the United States and their home country. The school has ELL students from a variety of countries including El Salvador, Russia, China and Poland. Fernandez, who lives in Miller Place, will promote multiculturalism and parental involvement by inviting parents to share pictures and stories in their native language about communities with the students.

Lower East Side Preparatory High School
New York City, NY

Devore designed a hands-on project for English Language Learners (ELL) at Lower East Side Preparatory High School to figure out "What Did a Plant Do for Us?." Students will conduct experiments to observe the lifecycle of plants. The usage and purposes of plants will also be researched. This winning project will teach students the protocol for conducting relevant science experiments, reporting lab results, and horticulture. Students will learn about specific plant usage in different cultures throughout history. After experimentation, the plants will be sold to community members in efforts to raise money to award a scholarship to a student who hopes to study science in college. Devore resides in Brooklyn.

Commack High School
Commack, NY

Kaplan, Kurtz, Nolan, and several strategic community business, social, and educational partners, created the winning program, "Real Problems/Real Solutions: Service Engineering Program," to encourage students to apply their engineering knowledge to solve real problems for people who are "differently-abled." The community service program offers students at Commack High School a hands-on experience to design and construct devices to improve the lives of those who face specific physical and mental challenges. Last year, the program began when a group of students designed and built a device to modify a workspace to help a staff member at United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). To expand the program for this year, students will first learn about specific physical and mental challenges individuals encounter daily. Then, they will interview persons with cerebral palsy at UCP, professional engineers, and teachers to determine the specifics for an invention to assist UCP participants. In addition, students will draft designs for adaptations to existing electronic devices that hinder use by those with challenges. By working directly with those who are differently-abled, the students will have the opportunity to apply their classroom studies to the real world. This project is fueled by the diverse groups collaborating toward one goal — finding solutions to real problems affecting members of the community. Kaplan will enter the students' project into the National Engineering and Design Challenge.

Jackson County Early College High School
Sylva, NC

Riser designed the winning project, "Utopian Quest," for students to investigate historic utopian societies. Students at Jackson County Early College High School will use their knowledge to create their own society complete with social, political, economic, and moral systems. The experience will be documented. The class will select occupations for each student and use proper telecommunication systems. Students will also write a Declaration of Utopian Commitment. The "Utopian Quest" project will give students the opportunity to discuss propaganda techniques, anti-utopia, conformity, and other related concepts. Riser, who lives in Webster, is presenting an opportunity for students to improve research and writing skills and develop critical thinking abilities.

Polk County High School
Columbus, NC

"The Magnolia Detectives" program is an innovative, hands-on research project developed by Allsbrook for students at Polk County High School to collaborate with professionals in the field. Allsbrook and John Vining from the Polk County Extension Center of the NC Cooperative Extension Service will lead students through DNA analysis of Sweetbay Magnolia located in the county. Students will collect samples and use technology to conduct DNA sequencing to determine the closest relative of the Polk County strand. Individuals from Western Carolina University, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, and the Smithsonian Institute will provide additional expertise, equipment, and materials to make this project a success. Allsbrook, a resident of Hendersonville, hopes her students add valuable information about Magnolia genomics to the science community. Students will share their findings through pamphlets, a Web site with a blog, and a published scientific paper.

Ben L. Smith High School
Greensboro, NC

"Using the Outdoors to Teach Experiential Science" is a project developed by Ross to provide students with real-life experiences to apply science knowledge. Students at Ben L. Smith High School will learn about the environmental benefits and functions of wetland areas located in their own neighborhood. A team of biology, chemistry and environmental science teachers will lead students to develop inquiry-driven observations and experiments to learn more about the local wetland. Water samples will be collected to test Ph and dissolved oxygen levels. Students will gather and identify microbial activity and macro-invertebrate samples. All observances will be documented using a digital camera. Students will also complete a series of soil analyses and use GPS technology to map the specific location of plants and wildlife habitats. Ways to improve conditions of the wetland will be presented to environmental community organizations using PowerPoint. Ross resides in Greensboro.

Blue Ridge Elementary School
Warrensville, NC

Turner is adding detail to exploration with the winning project she developed, "Knowledge in Hand." Students at Blue Ridge Elementary School will be able to observe nature up close with hand-held microscopes. The portability of the microscopes will allow students to investigate nearby parks, rivers, farms, gardens, and caves to increase problem-solving skills. Students will have access to detailed observation on plants and insects. Turner, who lives in Jefferson, hopes to incorporate the hand-held microscopes into a science club and Blue Ridge's annual science fair. The school will also host a Family Science Night to promote parental involvement as families work collaboratively to investigate scientific wonders.

Max Public School District
Max, ND

Huettl's winning project, "Tools for Success," will help the Max Public School District expand its agriculture education. The project for district students combines agricultural education and community service. Huettl will provide hands-on learning opportunities for students to contribute to the improvement of the community. Examples of activities include constructing picnic tables for a local park, planting beautiful flowers and plants around neighborhoods, and crafting photo books that capture scenic sites to distribute to nursing home residents. All of the activities selected will provide a service to community members in need or benefit the environment. As a member of the National Future Farmers of America (FFA), the Max Public School District provides its members with the opportunity of "learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve" - the FFA motto. Huettl resides in Garrison.

Mother of Mercy High School
Cincinnati, OH

Rost turned a problem into a solution with "I Fit, You Fit, Wii Fit," a project she developed to motivate the entire school and community toward an active lifestyle. The pre-engineering students at Mother of Mercy High School will recycle old televisions into portable exercise video game stations. Anatomy and physiology lessons that are performed on the video game stations will enhance the school's current biology and physical education curriculum. The lessons will focus on cardiovascular fitness, muscle movements, and skeletal biomechanics. The exercise video game stations will be available before, during, and after school for students, parents, faculty, alumni, and community usage. Those who exercise will be encouraged to monitor their progress. The theme of the project is "Who wins? Wii all win!" Rost resides in Cincinnati.

Marion Local High School
Maria Stein, OH

Garman is helping students "Get Real!" with rigorous and relevant (R&R) community-based projects. At Marion Local High School, students have developed creative and innovative projects that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Garman is extending the current projects and adding more to involve all 310 high school students with a goal to include over 600 elementary students in the district. Students are motivated to professionally team up to execute their rigorous projects on a relevant topic to maximize learning opportunities. R&R projects are very technologically advanced with an emphasis on sharing projects and collaborating with other students in different grade levels and other fields. Garman lives in Fort Recovery.

Washington Elementary School
Tiffin, OH

"Harvesting Excellence" is a cross-curricular garden project designed by Felske for third graders at Washington Elementary School. Students will learn how to maintain a garden from planting seeds to selling produce. The experience will teach students how to grow their own food and offer information to maintain a healthy lifestyle. During the spring, students will research garden options and plant desired crops. Over the summer, Felske will maintain the garden and document its growth using a digital camera. When school begins in August, a new class of third graders will assist with the garden and will be responsible for selling the harvest to encourage the use of mathematical skills. Finally, students will dry out seeds and replant the garden in May in preparation for a new third grade class. Felske resides in Tiffin.

Dayton Regional STEM School
Fairborn, OH

Ninth-grade students at Dayton Regional STEM School will study the science, math, and engineering design behind solar cooking to figure out "How Can Solar Ovens Improve Quality of Life?." Hallinan will have students construct their own solar ovens, devise a test plan for evaluation, and reverse engineer a commercially available solar oven for optimum efficiency. Students will collaborate with mechanical engineering students enrolled in the Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities of Service learning program at the University of Dayton. In addition, students will plan a fundraiser involving food cooked in the solar ovens. Money raised from the event will help subsidize the cost of solar ovens to make them affordable for people in Bolivia. Hallinan resides in Dayton.

Parkway Elementary School
Alliance, OH

With Powell's winning program, Parkway Elementary School is expanding its "WPKY News" program. The news team has been broadcasting daily since 2006, and now, Powell is adding a weather segment to the newscast. "WPKY News" will construct a weather station in the school courtyard. As a part of the program, the students will use a large-screen monitor to show local and national forecasts. Having a weather segment will improve science and social studies concepts for students by focusing on meteorology and geography. The news team plans to share its programs with a different school across the country each month and upload clips to the Teacher Tube Web site. Connecting with students in a different region will expose the class to a new area without leaving their seats. Powell resides in North Canton.

Eufaula Elementary School
Eufaula, OK

Thanks to Goodwin, Eufaula Elementary School is constructing a "Know Zone." Students at the school will have a designated science lab and resources to conduct experiments. The lab will be equipped with scientific tools such as microscopes, thermometers, magnifiers, and more to assist students with learning. An area will be reserved for students to contribute to and observe the lifecycles of plants, insects, and water animals. All classrooms will have equal access to the "Know Zone" and materials. Goodwin, who resides in Eufaula, noticed a need for the "Know Zone" after realizing the lack of an established science curriculum for students in Kindergarten through second grade who have classrooms without the adequate space to practice science.

Hoover Elementary School
Tulsa, OK

Early childhood education meets yoga in Bennett's winning program, "Project C.A.L.M. - Children Achieve Learning through Movement." Hoover Elementary School lacks formal physical education for preschoolers. By introducing students to the fundamentals of yoga, it will enhance their developmental and academic achievement. Students will spend 20 minutes every weekday on structured yoga curriculum that focuses on mind, body, and self. The project will increase relaxation levels in the classroom as students learn stress management and how to increase their self-control. Academic studies have supported that slow, integrative, coherent movement supports brain function and maximizes learning potential. Bennett resides in Tulsa.

Riverbend Elementary School
Springfield, OR

Riverbend Elementary School, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Boston Mills Historical Society are joining forces to implement LaMar's winning program, "Parks to Projects." LaMar's students will work with experts to create an interactive Web site about Thompson's Mill Heritage Site State Park. The park is a development from Governor Ted Kulongoski's "Park-a-Year" initiative. The site will share valuable information using multimedia tools such as podcasts, virtual tours, and slideshows. This cross-curriculum project will ask students to apply research, writing, and oral communication skills. Creating a Web site will help students acquire fundamental skills to compete in a tech-oriented world. LaMar resides in Springfield.

Beaverton High School
Beaverton, OR

"Greening Our Classrooms" is a documentary series developed by Stoner to highlight environment-friendly practices in Portland and demonstrate how schools could take advantage of the procedures. Students in Stoner's News and Documentary course at Beaverton High School will divide into teams of three to report about green projects funded by federal stimulus money. Each team will be responsible for writing a script, filming, and editing a six-minute segment. "Greening Our Classroom" is an opportunity for students to apply their science knowledge with communication abilities and broadcast experience to tell an informative story about protecting the environment. Segments will be combined to create a 20-minute documentary to enter in local and national competitions. The series will be available online and broadcast on local cable television. Stoner resides in Tigard.

The Dalles Middle School
The Dalles, OR

Through the project "Caring Construction," eighth-grade students will discover how earthquakes affect various structures and how certain reinforcement techniques can be used to build affordable and more earthquake-resistant homes for people around the world. Students at Dalles Middle School will examine global earthquake data, including case studies that reveal the damage earthquakes can inflict on different types of buildings. Students will design and construct models of various structures, testing their resistance using an earthquake shake table where frequency and amplitude can be adjusted. Based on the findings, students will then reinforce and retest their models to make them more earthquake resistant. As a final project, students will select an area from around the world with a high need for affordable and earthquake-resistant construction, design and build models, and introduce those models to various volunteer organizations that help people throughout the world build affordable schools and homes. Approximately 220 students will be able to combine the disciplines of physics, geology, architecture, and social studies to define problems and creatively propose solutions. Peterson lives in White Salmon, WA.

Portage Area Junior/Senior High School
Portage, PA

Zelanko's winning program, "Project HorsePower," is a health and wellness project geared toward implementing the best-practice models for physical education at Portage Area Junior/Senior High School. Zelanko's project is based on advancing four premises of physical education: curriculum, assessment, professional development, and community engagement. The first stage is to develop a wellness program to promote individual fitness with a focus on cardiovascular and muscular health. The program will encourage a commitment to lifelong fitness by exploring nutritious eating habits. Instead of using a traditional grading scale, "Project HorsePower" will monitor individual success as a student works toward personal fitness goals. All physical education teachers will participate in professional development activities to remain up-to-date in the profession. Lastly, opportunities will be available for parents and community members to learn about implementing lifelong fitness in their own daily routines. Zelanko resides in Roaring Spring.

Upper St. Clair High School
Upper St. Clair, PA

"Physiology Understanding Week" uses a cross curricular approach to promote lifelong health and wellness. Erwin designed the project for ninth-grade biology students at Upper St. Clair High School to focus on the field of physiology and how the body works during exercising. A guest physiologist will speak to students about careers in physiology. Ninth-grade health and wellness students will concentrate on the benefits of developing healthy habits and maintaining an active lifestyle. A health fair created and operated by upperclassmen will conclude the week. Freshmen will be exposed to a variety of health topics to construct a plan to remain healthy. Erwin hopes that the project will become an annual event. She resides in Pittsburgh.

Peters Township Middle School
McMurray, PA

Brown is teaching her eighth-grade class to embrace history's pains with the "Holocaust and WWII Web Pages" project. This multimedia project encourages students to conduct traditional and non-traditional research techniques to learn information about World War II. Brown is adding an oral history component to the project that includes students recording interviews with Holocaust survivors, veterans and others affected by WWII. The project promotes media literacy, as students are responsible for capturing, editing, and uploading their own video. Students will also learn about global awareness, social responsibility, and civic literacy. Using Web pages as a medium to display the students' assignments will allow for their work to impact the lives of individuals around the world. Brown resides in Bethel Park.

Father John V. Doyle School
Coventry, RI

Sixth graders at Father John V. Doyle School will create their own "Greek Wax Museum" under the direction of Amore. The students will be divided into groups to build an exhibit related to their selected topic. Topics will include: The Olympic Games, Spartan Way of Life, Greek Theater, and other topics to represent Ancient Greece. Each team of students will be responsible for constructing a backdrop, designing props, and creating costumes for their exhibit. For the display, students will wear costumes and become wax figures as spectators from the community and other classrooms tour the museum. The sixth graders' reward for their hands-on activity will be sparking interest throughout the student body and faculty. Amore resides in Coventry.

Blythewood High School
Blythewood, SC

"Chemistry is a VErB" puts learning into action. Hill's winning project requires students at Blythewood High School to develop an interactive chemistry textbook wiki. Students will be encouraged to create multimedia tools to construct their textbooks. Examples of such tools are photos, movies, podcasts, and music. Student teams will represent a chemical company, and each company will have a name, motto, and logo. Hill will assign a topic to each team to study and prepare an interactive wiki. Wikis must demonstrate the team's knowledge and understanding of content. Hill, a resident of Columbia, believes that student-created textbooks intended for students add relevance and meaning to science and ensure a stronger science foundation before graduation.

Erwin Elementary School
Lancaster, SC

Fourth-grade students at Erwin Elementary School are "Bringing History to Life with Claymation." Figuero has designed an interactive learning process by adding clay to the Declaration of Independence. The process of claymation involves taking a series of photographs of models made of clay. Between each photo, the model is slightly moved to express full motion when pictures are combined in post-production. After researching the Declaration of Independence, students will be responsible for writing a script that includes key characters and appropriate settings. Thereafter, the students will begin constructing their characters and props out of clay. Markers and construction paper will also be available to create backgrounds for each setting. Students will use digital cameras and upload photos using software designed to produce rich-media presentations. In the final stage the students will record their voices for the characters using Audacity. Combining photographs with audio results in a claymation to share with classmates and parents. Figuero, who lives in Rock Hill, believes that this project is a creative way for students to connect with abstract ideas presented in textbooks.

Chestnut Oaks Middle School
Sumter, SC

Cheek designed "Enhancing Math through Technology (EMT2)" to encourage students to become better decision makers and problem solvers. The project will engage Chestnut Oaks Middle School students by using interactive InterWrite ClassPads with Easiteach, also known as slates. The technology will assist with developing proficient mathematical skills needed to solve real-world problems and pass the State Assessment. Slates will help students visually focus and understand math concepts and problems. As classrooms transform from teacher-centered into student-centered classrooms, students will be able to receive adequate and precise assistance from striving students and teachers. Cheek, a resident of Sumter, believes the slates will enforce virtual manipulatives, which increase achievement by giving meaning to abstract concepts.

Beresford High School
Beresford, SC

The "Watchdogs and Wellness: A Healthy Tomorrow" project developed by Klungseth is a comprehensive wellness project to fight overweight and obesity issues within the Beresford community. Students at Beresford High School will mentor pre-school and elementary students, as well as the community, about outdoor physical activity and conservation. Mentoring will include topics from class (camping, kayaking, geocaching, fly-fishing, conservation, survival, etc.). The project has the potential to expose and teach students and entire families a variety of ways to increase physical activity levels in an effort to fight overweight and obesity issues. According to Klungseth, the project will also be a great opportunity for students to develop mentoring and community service skills that will serve them for a lifetime. Approximately 325-500 youth and adults will directly benefit from this project. Klungseth lives in Beresford.

Jones Cove Elementary School
Cosby, TN

Students will not be the only ones tested at Jones Cove Elementary School this year. Balch has developed a project that will have the students testing the quality of Yellow Breeches Creek, which is located at the foot of the hill upon which the school sits. "Stream Ecology" is a science-based project that will allow students to monitor water quality. The students will collect chemical data from the Breeches Creek stream, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen content, nitrates levels in parts per million, and turbidity (cloudiness) of water. The physical data captured will include the identification of macroinvertabrates (immature insects, crustaceans, worms, and mollusks) in the stream as well as stream discharge (the measurement of the amount of water that flows by a certain point in a particular time). Approximately 65 students in sixth through eighth grades will participate in the water quality project. Balch resides in Cosby.

Ravenwood High School
Brentwood, TN

In an effort to develop cultural awareness among students, Lewis developed "Windows On the World (WOW)," a multi-faceted program designed to expose Ravenwood High School students to information and knowledge that cultivates a broader understanding of the world community. General music, ecology, world geography, and sociology students will research a country and write about that country's values, customs, political or religious beliefs. According to Lewis, students will create a poster, tri-fold, or educational handout to share the spectrum of information on their given topic. Art students will design three-dimensional pieces that give a personal reflection on a culture. First year percussion students will participate in a workshop with a local musician to learn traditional South American Samba music. Ultimately, all of the participating students will showcase their work, in partnership with school counselors and community members, at the Ravenwood High School International Food & Music Festival in February 2010. Between 400-500 students will benefit from this program. Lewis lives in Nashville.

East Texas Christian Academy
Tyler, TX

More than 215 students at East Texas Christian Academy and 10-15 participants at the Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County, an adult day group, will have the opportunity to interact, learn and grow from knowing each other thanks to "All Living Things Are Special," an intergenerational project. Students at all grade levels will learn science, language arts, and math concepts through planting, growing, and observing living plants while interacting with individuals with Alzheimer's. Science and math lessons will include observation, measurement, comparisons, graphing, charting, and determining expenses and income from potential plant sales. Language arts lessons will include research into the appropriate types of plants, writing stories about plants, describing plant life cycles, developing business plans, flyers and advertisements for plant sales, and preparing PowerPoint and other presentations. Additionally, students will learn patience, compassion, respect, and a sense of giving back to others.

Judson High School
Converse, TX

Parma's innovative project, "Real-Time Data Rocks!," is a project that will jointly serve the Advance Placement Physics students at Judson High School and students in third through fifth grades at Coronado Village Elementary School. Teams of eight (two students per laptop) from the high school will travel with Parma to the elementary school at six-week intervals to lead small groups of students through the following experiments: matching motion graphs, bouncing balls, magnetic fields of bar magnets/electromagnets, insulating properties of layers of clothing or fabric types, temperature and boiling/freezing of water, and transmission and reflection of light. Nearly 30 Advance Placement Physics students will benefit from the project. They will be able to conduct a wider range of experiments and make their physics lab mobile. Participating younger students will benefit from exposure to real-time data presented graphically and the interaction with positive role models from the high school. Parma lives in New Braunfels.

Corpus Christi Catholic School
Houston, TX

Students at Corpus Christi Catholic School will have the opportunity to grow their own organic garden through "Project GOFER (Gardening Organically to Further Earth Renewal)." Approximately 40 middle school students will plant and tend to four sizeable vegetable gardens using organic methods for germinating and cultivating seeds and plants. Students will cultivate seeds using earth-safe organic posts, create fertilizer using compost bins, and tend the garden beds on a weekly basis. According to Miller, an art and conservation teacher, "Project GOFER" will provide students a platform to explore conservation, good nutrition, and to nurture self-esteem as they see the plants they tend blossom and grow. They will even use the harvested vegetables and herbs to prepare a salad to share with the student body. By using the garden as a living, ever-changing educational tool, students will observe and learn about the natural world around them, and enhance their math and science understanding. Miller lives in Houston.

Morningside Elementary School
Salt Lake City, UT

White's class at Morningside Elementary School in partnership with the Utah Department of Transportation and the Salt Lake City Sustainable Division, will develop a demonstration elementary education program that informs and inspires participants to make smart transportation choices. The "Pathways to School" project will promote critical thinking skills, teaching students to value different modes of transportation such as riding bikes, walking, taking the bus, and car-pooling to school. It will also help students and families examine ways to save money, stay fit by commuting to school by bicycle or walking, and creating and planning routes with the bus driver. The project will be tested on White's 30 students before being rolled out to the Salt Lake School District to pilot, with the ultimate hope of introducing the program to the state and across the country. White lives in Salt Lake City.

Middlebury Union High School
Middlebury, VT

With the vision to keep physical fitness top of mind with students, Monninger and Altemose developed "The Heart of P.E." project at Middlebury Union High School. Students enrolled in the physical education classes will put on a heart rate monitor to track their heart rate, duration of exercise, and alert the student to when they are exercising in their training zone. The teacher will then be able to asses what the student's average heart rate was and how long the student's heart rate was in his/her training zone during the activity. The information on the monitor can then be downloaded into a program on the computer, allowing record keeping of the student's daily heart rate information and progress over time. About 260 students per school year will be impacted by this project that incorporates technology in physical education classes. Monninger and Altemose live in Middlebury.

Deep Run High School
Glen Allen, VA

The winning project submitted by Nolen was "Wii'll Learn Together." The proposed project combines video gaming technology with real-time input and display of student-generated data from classroom instruction and laboratory experiments using off-the-shelf video components and school-supplied laptops. Deep Run High School students will use remotes to trace the path of objects and choose answers. The remotes will allow real-time, complete data generation from moving objects. The ultimate goal is to enhance learning during classroom instruction. The use of video game remotes has a built-in "wow" factor that is attractive to teenagers. By having students actively use the remotes, class participation rates will increase, resulting in more focus on the instruction and higher retention of material. It will also help students relate video game-only experiences to lab setting investigations and further connect to real-world applications. Initially the project will impact approximately 150 physics students. Nolen lives in Henrico.

York High School
Yorktown, VA

With a vision of increasing independence for special-needs students, Nestor and Leach's innovative project is the "Transition Kitchen." It will provide special education students at York High School with real-life opportunities to learn and grow as they transition from the classroom into independent or assisted-living environments. It is designed to provide teachers with the tools they need to develop and deliver educational programming regarding the safe use and operation of all equipment and materials. Overall, the "Transition Kitchen" is for students with mild to moderate disabilities to learn the art of safely cooking and cleaning in a structured environment. While directly impacting 80 students annually, students in surrounding special education programs will also be able to benefit from the knowledge and resources gathered from this project. Parents will see the benefits of having children who possess a much higher level of independence, helping students to qualify for more independent-living situations. The community will receive individuals with more advanced skills, prepared to take on employment and contribute to their community.

Bull Run Middle School
Gainesville, VA

Elam's winning project, "Flipping For Foreign Language: A Tour of Latin America," will allow Spanish students at Bull Run Middle School to work in collaborative groups to create a virtual tour of a Latin American country using camcorders and audio recording devices. As a culminating project, students will act as travel agents to create a multimedia presentation to advertise their country to potential tourists. The students will also be required to include spoken language in both English and Spanish. One of the library computers will display each final project, and at the end of the project, students will take a virtual "Tour of Latin America." The project gives the students the opportunity to practice writing and speaking Spanish as well as increase their technology literacy by utilizing cameras. They also get to learn important editing software. Elam resides in Gainesville.

Cave Spring High School
Roanoke, VA

The innovative project Biscotte developed is "The PIT Crew: Physicians In Training," a career development program. It is designed to incorporate real-world experiences and career-driven assignments into the anatomy and physiology curriculum, giving students at Cave Spring High School a taste of what it is like to be a real healthcare professional right in the classroom. Components will include a book club with guest speakers, a chance to develop their own experiments, and an opportunity to access cadavers and university lab equipment to see what it is like to work in a clinical university setting. Through these activities students can see what it really takes to achieve the careers they desire. Biscotte lives in Roanoke.

Kimball Elementary School
Seattle, WA

In an effort to increase the literacy level of Kimball Elementary School's bilingual students, who represent 40 percent of the student body, Fitzpatrick developed an innovative project called the "Sibling Reading Program." The program awards incentives to intermediate readers who have primary level siblings. They are "hired" as student teachers. Their job is to read one primary book a night to their younger sibling. They are given the books and a folder with a tracking sheet. After the student- teacher has read 30 books to his/her sibling, he/she receives a book for their home library. According to Fitzpatrick, the pilot has been very successful. Students are telling her that they enjoy reading to their siblings, and the parents are telling her that in some cases, the reading time has brought the siblings closer together. Fitzpatrick lives in Seattle.

Montessori Children's House
Redmond, WA

Champoux's innovative project, "Living Roof," will expand the experience of students at Montessori Children's House at all education levels. The students will be able to conduct indoor and outdoor experiments. The project will start by having the children study the campus' water cycle to gather data on rainfall; water quality; garden, curriculum, kitchen and building usage; costs and available solar energy. Then they will explore the sizes, shapes, functions, and attachment patterns of leaves and branches on local native plants. With the help of the parent community and an architect, they will build and install a structure that will help with simple resource collection, monitoring, and reuse. Younger children will talk about what they've learned and will bring first-hand results of their class projects home to their families. Older children will be able to write stories about their projects and give oral reports. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage thoughtful usage of new resources. Champoux lives in Seattle.

F.S. Key Elementary School
Washington, DC

Bergantino is shaping motivated, active readers through her "Reaching All Readers" project. Fourth-grade students at F.S. Key Elementary School will have the opportunity to select books that appeal to their individual interests on the appropriate reading level. They will use an MP3 player, preloaded with over 400 children's books, to help improve individual reading skills at a comfortable pace. Students will also be able to listen to the MP3 players while following along with the printed versions of the books. Listening to audio books will increase word recognition and improve vocabulary. The media players will also be loaded with educational songs and performances to assist students. Bergantino, who lives in D.C. hopes the MP3 players will demonstrate the importance of reading aloud to encourage parental involvement at home.

Hodgesville Elementary School
Buckhannon, WV

The "Paw Print" newsletter project for Hodgesville Elementary School will be developed as a collaborative technology project coordinated between the school's primary and intermediate students. According to Phillips, the upper-level students will create two bi-monthly newsletters, using available technology, to develop their word processing and publishing skills. One newsletter will be for older students and parents to read. The other one will be for the younger students. The students will benefit by practicing concepts being taught in their classroom and will be able to incorporate language arts and English concepts into a "real life" product to share with the community. It will also allow parents to "refresh" their memory of various language concepts. This will allow them to provide additional assistance when their children are completing assignments. The "Paw Print" will directly benefit 150 students and indirectly benefit their parents and the community. Phillips resides in Buckhannon.

Frankfort Middle School
Ridgeley,WV

"21st Century Music: Integrating Technology and Creativity" is Calder's winning program to transform seventh-grade students at Frankfort Middle School into composers. Calder will teach lessons in music theory and composition to guide students toward creating an original piece of music. This project will give students the opportunity to explore their creativity while enhancing computer and keyboarding skills. It will also require students to apply math, writing, and critical thinking skills. Using a computer software program will allow the students to hear their music as they create with 108 instruments and 20 drum kits. They will identify and notate rhythmic and melodic notation, explore grand staff notation, and interpret dynamic and tempo marking. Calder resides in Cumberland, MD.

Oconomowoc Area Schools
Oconomowoc, WI

In an effort to promote and teach digital literacy skills, global awareness, and collaborative learning within a meaningful curriculum, Witte and Herro, developed the "Global Connections Broadcast" project. Geared toward fourth-grade students in Oconomowoc Area Schools, they will work in small groups to research such global issues as peace, security, environmental concerns, or human rights. They will also investigate Web sites for credible sources to analyze and discuss their group's issue. Teachers will guide students to make connections between local issues and the larger world. Students will collaboratively write a script with the intent of producing a podcast that details the facts, controversies, and arguments surrounding the issue. Approximately 350 fourth graders in all five elementary schools in the district will benefit from this project.

Carey Junior High School
Cheyenne, WY

"Creative Kindness" is a project developed by Beffert and Warnygora to empower students with emotional disabilities to gain a sense of community, volunteerism, empathy, and an increased work ethic and self-esteem. Educators at Carey Junior High School hope to eliminate discriminating labels such as trouble-maker, emotionally disturbed, and juvenile delinquent and encourage students to be recognized as positive members in the community. Beffert and Warnygora believe that through implementing the following projects, behavior and perceptions will change: pillows for foster children, blankets for the Veterans Administration, neck coolers for military troops, and teddy bears for the highway patrol. Initially, six students will be involved with the hope of increasing that number to 30 students with additional funding.

Star Valley High School
Afton, WY

The innovative project submitted by Eberspacher, "The Final Step - Understanding the Federal Reserve," is designed to help more than 60 students at Star Valley High School experience and understand banking at the federal level. Students in his finance class will get a chance to interact with a bank president, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Directors/Kansas City branch, and actually visit the Federal Reserve Bank in Salt Lake City. By doing so, students will learn about the Federal Reserve and the United States economy and develop analytic and teamwork skills while working with new technology to create presentations. They will utilize business magazines and newspapers to find deeper meaning in national economic data and understand the importance for citizens to engage themselves in their democracy. According to Eberspacher, teaching the unit on the Federal Reserve System is one of his most difficult challenges. By bringing subject-matter experts to the students and taking students to the Federal Reserve Bank, he hopes to increase the level of understanding about the complex system. Eberspacher resides in Afton.