This week, the Coastal Electric Cooperative Foundation awarded over $40,000 in Bright Ideas Education Grants to local teachers. Co-op staff surprised teachers with the good news in their classrooms at schools across Bryan, Liberty and McIntosh counties.
Primarily funded by Coastal Electric Cooperative members who allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar through Operation Round Up, Bright Ideas Grants bring teachers’ innovative classroom project ideas to reality.
Since the Bright Ideas program’s inception in 2002, around half a million dollars has been awarded to give local teachers the power to put their creative teaching ideas into action.
Summary of Bright Ideas grants awarded in Bryan County:
Richmond Hill Middle School
“Ozobot Expeditions: Unveiling Mars” By Mary Bowden
Students will create a plan to explore the surface of Mars through programmable Ozobots.
“Showing the Motion of Coastal Erosion” By Audra Esquivel
Students will research coastal erosion prevention by building and experimenting with different models.
“Weather from the Hill” By Amy Beasley, Haley Keller, Amy Peters, Malie Shumway, Audra Esquivel
Students will analyze data and predict future weather forecasts and conditions using sliding models.
“The Impact of Temperature on the Heart Rate of Daphnia Magna: A Comparative Analysis Using Digital Microscopy” By Nicole Harrington
Students will use digital microscopes to learn about the effect of temperatures on microscopic life.
“What’s in a Wave?” By Kelli Waldrop
Students will learn about specific wave properties using a wave generator. Students will then compare and contrast electromagnetic and mechanical waves before building a model of a concert venue to be judged.
“The Chemistry of Garden Fertilizer” By Robert Hodgdon
Students will research how different elements and compounds are essential to plant growth, then mix and brand their own fertilizer.
“Build a Generator” By Abbey Robertson, Breanna Appugliese
Students will learn concepts of magnetism and electricity through guided experiments building small electric generators.
“RoboRaptors: Engineering Dinosaurs” By Philip Lyons
Students will program robotic arms to simulate feeding a dinosaur.
Frances Meeks Elementary School
“Meaningful Mural Project” By Brenna Baluh
Students will research the culture, history and values of the community to design a mural for their school, then vote on a winning design to paint.
Richmond Hill High School
“Take Flight” By Stephen Peterson, Corey Fickiesen, Joshua Romain
Students will design, model, construct and launch a rocket using the engineering design process.
“Rain Garden for Flood Mitigation: A STEM Initiative to Capture Runoff” By Cassandra Breckenridge
Students will research, design and construct a rain garden to prevent flooding on campus and capture runoff water.
Carver Elementary School
“Learning with Legos” By Katie Linder
Students will be briefed with a problem scenario related to a student learning objective and will use Lego bricks to build and explore solutions to the presented challenges.
Richmond Hill Elementary School
“Life Cycle of a Chicken” By Jessie Ratton
Students will learn the life cycle of a chicken and how to properly care for a flock. Students will start with reading about chickens as they incubate care for the chicks after hatching, and transfer the young chickens to an outdoor coop when ready.
Summary of Bright Ideas grants awarded in Liberty County:
Liberty Elementary School
“Broadcasting Brilliance: Students on Air” By Jessica Cook
Students will learn the basics of broadcasting to present information to other students, teachers and parents. They will also create backgrounds using green screen technology, record and edit their broadcasts.
“Space Patches” By Natalie Modesir
Students will learn to sew patches using conductive thread and LED lights. Students will design a patch that represents a milestone or favorite activity and present their creation to the class.
Snelson-Golden Middle School
“Garden to Plate Greenhouse” By Rebekah Holton and the Transition Academy Team
Special needs students will gain valuable life skills as they prepare to transition to adult life. Students will learn the principles behind plant growth, conservation and sustainability through building and maintaining a greenhouse. They will also learn how to use the necessary tools to plant and maintain a garden.
“Building Community One Square at a Time” By Sascha Moody
Students will work together to build a 9‑Square game, fostering the development of social skills, teamwork, communication, empathy and respect for others.
Button Gwinnett Elementary School
“Learning Through Exploratory Tables” By Amy Bloom, Paulette Leasure, Shana Odom, Ashley Schrader, Mercedes Colon-Renta, Dana Paul
Students will engage with exploratory tables that allow sensory, social and fine motor skill development. Students will explore weekly lessons in a physical, hands-on learning environment.
“The Hybrid Harvest Garden” By Wendy Underwood
Students will journal their observations as they design and build hydroponic gardens and soil planter boxes for different plants and vegetables. Students will then present their findings at the end of the project, reflecting on the differences and similarities between both methods of gardening.
“Incredible Machines” By Jeni Lee
Students will begin with step-by-step STEM kits that introduce simple machines like levers, pulleys and inclined planes. Students will then advance to make creations and solutions of their own.
“Project FutureForge: Empowering Men and Women Engineers” By Jeremy Meadows
Students will be introduced to advanced 3D printing technology that mimics professional manufacturing environments. Students will be able to design a prototype and create it with a normal 3D printer, engineer their design further, and then have access to carbon-infused printing used in modern manufacturing, collaborating with peers along the way.
Liberty College Career Academy
“VirtuCare: Simulating Success for Tomorrow’s Essential Workers” By Denisia Pope
Students will be trained for the healthcare field with VR and AI simulations that mimic real-life scenarios. Students will practice medicine, therapeutic services and patient care in a risk-free environment that offers real-time feedback on how they respond to every scenario.
Summary of Bright Ideas grants awarded in McIntosh County:
McIntosh County Academy
“Engineering Essentials” By Christine Stutler
Students will collaborate to design, build, code and then test solutions to problems using an engineering kit.