THE GLEN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Receives STEM Grant from Toshiba America Foundation
Above image: Upper Elementary Students gather with Ms. Amelia, Brian Misho from Toshiba, and Ms. Jackie to accept a check generously supporting the dynamic Montessori Cultures curriculum with the funds to purchase science equipment.
The Glen Montessori School Receives a STEM Grant from the Toshiba America Foundation!
The Glen Montessori School is pleased to announce that it has received a $980 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation (TAF). The funds will support the purchase of materials for hands-on experiments that explore the properties and functions of air, water, and organic and inorganic compounds.
Elementary Program Director and Lead Upper Elementary Teacher Amelia Weishaar wrote the grant, requesting these funds, during summer break. This financial support will help purchase much-anticipated science materials (steel induction plates, glass beakers, vinyl tubing, thermometers, rubber stoppers, sugar metabolism kits, direction kits, etc.) to enhance the Montessori Cultures curriculum.
Students in grades 4th – 6th will be encouraged to work independently, select and gather materials, complete the experiment with a partner, and reflect on their observations by journaling how the experiment connects to broader concepts in the world around them.
The goal is for students to understand specific STEM concepts while cultivating a more profound sense of independence, responsibility, and a love for learning that will extend beyond the classroom and into their everyday lives.
Students can independently engage in hands-on experiments and experiences that spark their curiosity, making them want to ask questions and discover more about the world around them. These activities will also develop observational skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. The focus is on guiding them to explore and learn at their own pace, allowing them to connect the experiments and more significant scientific principles to what is happening in the world around them.
Toshiba America Foundation’s grants fund projects designed by individual classroom teachers. This “direct-to-teacher” approach brings immediate results. Teachers can change how they teach Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects because the grant supports equipment for hands-on experiments and inquiry-based approaches to the curriculum. TAF believes that STEM is more fun than just reading a textbook. TAF grants give teachers the tools they need to be more effective educators, making the classroom more exciting for teachers and students.