Seven Dreams Education Foundation awards $35,000 in Hands-on Learning Grants to Robbinsdale Area Schools

Carrying noisemakers, musical instruments and oversized checks, members of the Seven Dreams Education Foundation recently travelled to various Robbinsdale Area Schools’ locations on Friday, April 17, as part of a “prize patrol” to distribute more than $35,000 in 2015-16 Hands-on Learning Grants.

Hands-on learning, also called “experiential learning” or “service learning,” is when learning integrates content and the experience within the learning environment. All grant applications were evaluated according to specific project criteria and were reviewed by a committee.

Here are this year’s winners:

· Linda Goering - Robbinsdale Middle School - Collaborative Planning and Learning Center

· Sarah Henning - Lakeview Elementary - “Ukuleles in the Music Classroom”

· Christian King - Cooper High School - “3-D Printing for Everyone”

· Paula Wagener-Lutz - Forest Elementary - “African Drumming in the Upper Elementary Setting”

· Gretchen Enselein - Robbinsdale Middle School - “Balancing our PRIDE”

· Patti Arntz - Zachary Lane Elementary - “‘Hands-On’ Rhythm for All Students”

· Laura Grant - Cooper High School - “Future in Focus”

· Molly James and Judie Bomchill - Lakeview Elementary - “Garden Classroom”

· Diane Dickmeyer and Theresa Zingery - Community Education - “Swimming is Essential for All”

· Lesley De Paz and Maureen McCullagh - Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion - “The Moon and Earth: Let’s learn how this all works...hands-on style”

· Mary Kay Olson - Neill Elementary - “Sensory Junction”

· Lauren Pagel - ECFE - “Family Stories, Handmade Books: Learning Through Shared Legacy”

· Erica Lauinger - Robbinsdale Middle School – “Chickens in our Backyard”

· Amy VanderMeeden - Neill Elementary - “K-5 Story Telling and Drama Integration”

· Michael Hastert - Robbinsdale Middle School - “Hip-Hop After School: Beatz & Mindz”

A grant celebration and Teacher of the Year/Education Assistant of the Year presentation will take place from 4-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, in the Armstrong High School Auditorium.