Sample grant proposal - learningbynature.org

1 / Sample grant proposal Page 1 Hyalite Elementary School - grant proposal ** Sample ** (note: this proposal has been abbreviated to meet a grant -imposed word limit requirement) School name: Hyalite Elementary School School district: Bozeman School District Principal name: Contact person name: email address: School phone: Street: City: State: Zipcode: Project name: SCHOOL YARD CONSERVATION THROUGH THE CURRICULUM Project description: SCHOOLYARD CONSERVATION THROUGH THE CURRICULUM Because one of the key factors of an effective school is student engagement and motivation, Hyalite Elementary school makes it a priority to utilize the natural world around us in Bozeman, Montana as our outdoor classroom. We fully embrace the "No Child Left Inside" concept developed by author Richard Louv and an initiative of the federal government.

2 This concept aligns nicely with Bozeman Public Schools science and place-based standards as well as Hyalite s proposed SCHOOL YARD CONSERVATION THROUGH THE CURRICULUM project. SCHOOL YARD CONSERVATION THROUGH THE CURRICULUM will transform an existing irrigated & mowed outdoor amphitheatre area into a Habitat-themed learning site which will feature native trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses and local rocks found throughout our region in southwest Montana. Developing this site serves two key purposes: 1. Reduces the amount of water, energy and resources required to maintain the existing site and 2. Creates engaging year-round learning opportunities for students and teachers in all areas of the standards, including science, math, language arts, history and health education.

3 Numerous studies have found that when the environment and real-life experiences are incorporated into the curriculum or used as an integrating context for learning, students: perform better on standardized tests in all subject areas, show improved critical thinking skills, are more engaged in the classroom, have reduced discipline and classroom management problems, increased / Sample grant proposal Page 2 civic engagement and environmental stewardship, and demonstrate better problem-solving skills. The future of our world depends on the choices people make. Education is a key factor in what those choices are. SCHOOLYARD CONSERVATION PROJECT GOALS 1) Greatly enhance established classroom curricula and academic standards through expanded year-round and place-based teaching opportunities 2) Engage and involve parents, students, local clubs and community businesses and 3) Increase student, teacher and parent appreciation of environmental stewardship.

4 SCHOOLYARD CONSERVATION PROJECT OBJECTIVES Through the SCHOOLYARD CONSERVATION PROJECT, students from the Special Education Preschool classes to the fifth grade (a total of 299 students) will have the opportunity to: 1) observe, measure and chart changes in native plant and animal species throughout the school year, 2) learn about environmental processes, issues, energy conservation, and living things, 3) understand the benefits of making their school yard more energy- efficient and environmentally friendly, and 4) learn about, improve, and develop an appreciation and stewardship for the schoolyard and Montana s wildlife habitat through the use of native plants and features. A Leadership Team has been created to help teachers in all grades integrate lessons from their existing curricula into this new outdoor classroom throughout the school year, as well as helping to develop a sustainable long-term maintenance plan.

5 Students of all ages will be involved at various stages of the project design, growing & transplanting plants into the site, project installation and maintenance. Initially, the second grades will be involved in creating a list of native plants, specimens, and concepts to incorporate into the landscape plan and assist with mapping the SCHOOLYARD CONSERVATION PROJECT area. Currently a local civic organization has donated funds toward some native plants and supplies and will assist with planting trees on Arbor Day. Learning By Nature has donated development, facilitation and design services toward the SCHOOLYARD CONSERVATION PROJECT. The total estimated projected services and supplies donated is currently $5,400. Proposed itemized budget: supplies total per item Native perennials, bulbs $ 80 Seed planting supplies $ 100 Boulders & install $ 450 Pathway supplies & mulch $ 220 Shrubs & trees $ 450 Design services $ 200 TOTAL REQUESTED $1,500 / Sample grant proposal Page 3 Project evaluation: Results of Hyalite s SCHOOL YARD CONSERVATION THROUGH THE CURRICULUM will be evaluated through the following methods throughout the development and implementation phases of the Project.

6 Design & Construction Phase 1) The Leadership team and Learning By Nature will develop an annual project management plan and curriculum guideline for each grade level, 2) students will be involved in researching and native plant species to grow and transplant into the project, 3) students will be involved in the project construction per ability, 4) students will design and create interpretive signs, bird houses, feeders and other structures, 5) parents and community members will be involved in project donations, construction, education. Year-round Curriculum Integration Phase 1) Teacher - student use of project area (and opportunity to learn where to improve) will be measured through an end of year teacher-student survey, 2) students demonstrate enthusiasm for learning through active participation in classroom lessons instructed on the Schoolyard Conservation Project site, 3) each teacher integrates the Schoolyard Conservation Project area into at least two lesson a year 4) students use field guides to identify plants and animals found in/near the school yard 5) students enter wildlife observations into an online Citizen Science database to share with other students from throughout the region, 6)

7 Each grade will report annually on their specific Project lessons and responsibilities to the Leadership Team to help refine, improve, and share future learning and maintenance opportunities.