Grant Inspiration
Educators are constantly finding new ways to spark curiosity, collaboration, and creativity in every classroom.
Could you build upon one of the amazing grants the Foundation has funded in recent years - or adapt a grant for a different student population?
Creative Play and Active Learning
The WPSF funds grants that promote hands-on, movement-based experiences that spark imagination and physical engagement.
-
This past year, Loker School was awarded a grant to install an Adapted Traverse Climbing Wall. The wall, complete with adaptive wall hand holds, will provide students with a climbing wall for gross motor skills and confidence regardless of their varying physical needs.
-
The Imagination Playground grant awarded to Claypit Hill teachers provides a set of giant, foam, waterproof blocks in a variety of shapes and sizes to encourage collaborative, creative play, and an alternative to a physical playground.
-
WPSF funded a grant to make improvements to the Loker garden. The Foundation sees value in connecting students with nature and real-world learning. The improvements expand students’ classroom lessons with hands-on learning about sustainable gardening practices.
Can you envision a grant that allows more active learning and creative play for your classroom or curriculum?
Learning Spaces & Classroom Design
-
Our Middle School Math Team has installed white boards to build “Thinking Classrooms”, a research based instructional approach to teaching math that increases students’ participation, comprehension and engagement by working vertically.
-
Whiteboard tables for Elementary District Wide Programs have been funded by the Foundation. These tables offer writable surfaces for instant collaboration and kinesthetic learning for students. Additionally, the tables offer educators opportunities to differentiate instruction, and develop flexible lesson plans.
-
WPSF likes to fund grants that promote student independence and autonomy in their learning environments. A recent grant awarded the Claypit Hill art room funding to install new shelving and cabinets in order to support the innovative Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) instructional model- support the student as the artist and the classroom as their studio.
-
Outdoor learning is made more accessible through a WPSF grant funding the 8th grade English department with stackable stools to create learning environments outside, and flexibility for small group indoor learning.
The Foundation helps fund ideas for new teaching methods, as well as transforming physical environments to support independence, collaboration, and flexible teaching.
Are there other ideas to enhance Wayland’s curriculum and learning spaces?
Technology and Innovation
WPSF has established a tradition of promoting innovation in our schools.
-
The Foundation funded Wayland High School’s biology classrooms with 18 digital microscopes, fostering innovative educational experiences by integrating technology to improve student outcomes.
-
The High School also received a grant funding two new 3D printers for the MakerSpace. The printers are integral parts of the Innovation curriculum and the Robotics team.
Can you imagine how technology can provide a more robust student learning experience in your classroom?
Professional Development
-
A recent district-wide grant awarded by WPSF will allow for professional development workshops focusing on tools and strategies to support the development of students’ executive functioning for all WHS, WMS, and elementary faculty.
The WPSF believes in investing in educators to elevate teaching and learning for all students.
Can you think of an exciting initiative that could be funded across departments or schools to ensure consistency of programming in our district?
Think about the themes of grants the Foundation has supported. Do you have ideas within these themes or ways to update them to fit into the current learning environment?
Learn about activities in peer districts linked below.
Could these ideas be adapted to your classroom or our district?
Dream Big!
Get your creative juices flowing and brainstorm with friends and colleagues, in Wayland and beyond…
If you could have ANYTHING to transform student learning in your classroom, what would it be???