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Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School is requesting funding in the amount of $11,236.93 to support conceptual learning activities in the classroom, engineering inquiries, and culminating engineering activities, known as Engineering Encounters.

On a daily basis and across all subject areas, students at Morriss Elementary are presented with hands-on learning opportunities tied directly to the engineering theme for each six week grading period. Using the Engineering Process, students imagine, plan, design, improve, and share their ideas. In order to complete this cyclical Engineering Process, many consumable materials are needed. Examples of these consumables include duct tape, transparent tape, modeling clay, and glue sticks. Creativity and imagination are encouraged through student choice of such material. Also, students are encouraged to experiment with their designs and to improve their designs using more material or different materials. Each grade level has identified those materials which were most frequently used in the 2007-2008 school year. All subjects were considered when creating this list. These materials are included in the screenshot below.

In addition to daily hands-on learning events, students and teachers at Morriss Elementary plan culminating Engineering Encounters. These events bring parents and family members to the student commons areas located in each grade level pod and provide the opportunity for them to experience elementary engineering first-hand. Students lead family members through activities related to what has been learned during engineering time in the classroom. (See attached pictures for examples of Engineering Encounter activities.) These Encounters promote pride in the Morriss curriculum and support the home-school relationship. The Engineering Encounters require additional resources to be purchased so that each grade level can host a meaningful learning activity. Funding for the 2008 – 2009 school year Encounters is included in this request.