Written by Claire Schmaltz
When Jessica Morgan and Amy Abner applied for the Giving Tree Grant they wanted more than recognition, they wanted to make a difference in their students' academics and offer them a fun activity.
The Giving Tree grant was given to the SMS STEAM and social studies programs from the Washington County Community Foundation to allow students the opportunity to make their own button pins and build their creativity. This grant included a button stamp with the supplies needed including markers.
Morgan and Abner had an idea for their students to be able to learn about their first amendment rights in their sixth grade civics class with Abner and access the STEAM lab with Morgan to create their own button that they can wear around the school.
¨Mrs. Abner and I have talked about this since October, but did not know what to do because we did not have enough supplies,¨ said Morgan. She then happened to see an email about a grant they could apply for.
She said the application process was straightforward. A paragraph about how much money they would need to make their idea work and what they would do with the money was required. Morgan also added their grant goals and what they hoped students would get out of this activity.
Once they found out they were accepted for the grant, Abner and Morgan were both very excited and relieved. They thought it would be a very fun and engaging activity for the students to experience and a good way to learn about the first amendment.
Morgan and Abner very quickly made up a lesson plan so their students could get in the lab as soon as possible. The students first went to the STEAM lab, measured how big their paper would need to be and then decided which amendment they wanted to advertise on their button.
“We did not want them all to just pick freedom of speech; we made them do more research and pick different ones,” said Morgan.
Once they completed measurements and design, the students went to Abner’s room where the button maker was located. The students printed their buttons and were then able to wear them around the school.
Both teachers received positive student feedback.
“The students loved the creativity of the assignment and being encouraged to use art and text to create something that they could wear to teach others about what they were learning in class,” said Abner.
Sixth grader Ella Schmaltz was one of the first classes to do this project.
“I liked the project,” she said. “It was a good change because we usually do not do a lot of hands-on stuff in class. My favorite part of the project was drawing the design on the pins and picking my own colors.”
Although this grant recognizes Morgan and Abner's commitment as teachers, they also see it as so much more than a personal achievement. To them, it was an opportunity to create a new experience for their students and create long lasting memories for the future.