Registration | Log In

Search Grants | Fulfilled Grants | More About Find It, Fund It, Florida

Share

Please share this page to help in fulfilling this grant.

Goal

Students will explore our wonderful Naples Community! Students will think about the connections made between the classroom curriculum and the community. Students will discover that learning carries over from the classroom into the community.
Our goal is to immerse our grades 3-5, special needs students, into learning opportunities outside of the classroom. These learning opportunities will allow them to make real life connections from the Modified Unique Curriculum that is taught in the classroom to the Naples Community in which they live. Students will increase their understanding of classroom based instruction with the opportunity to also practice social skills by following social rules of the community.  

What will be done with my students

The students will be immersed into community based hands-on learning experiences. These experiences will allow our students to make connections outside of the classroom environment. There will be four planned community based experiences.
1) We will travel to Palm Cottage/Naples Pier in November to connect the information from the History Topic,Living in Early America. Students will look at life in Collier County and how it has changed over time. The connections made will be demonstrated with a poster project titled Then and Now.
2) We will travel to the local Publix in January to connect the information from the Health/Life Science Unit Topic, Keeping My Body Healthy. Through a tour of the various departments, students will explore the many choices for healthy eating. Students will also look at ways to earn money through the variety of jobs available at Publix. They will also have the opportunity to shop using a shopping list prepared in the classroom. The connections will be demonstrated by preparing a simple meal within the classroom to share with their peers. During this shared meal, students will be encouraged to discuss healthy eating and also the various workers and various jobs available at the local Publix.
3) Students will travel to the local Estates Library in March to connect information from the Earth and Space Science Unit Topic, Our Changing Weather. Students will listen to a variety of books regarding Earth and Space Science read by the local librarian. She will also share the spring/summer reading program with the students. Students will choose a book to check out that explores the relationship between seasons and weather. Students will also receive their own library card after filling out the application in the classroom. Students will demonstrate connections by preparing a poster project on Earth and Space Science.
4) Students will travel to the Botanical Gardens to connect information from the Life Science Unit Topic, See How They Grow. Students will focus on life cycles and how living things, especially plants, survive. Students will demonstrate connections by preparing a poster project on life cycles and plants.
 

Benefits to my students

All of our Modified Curriculum II-III students have Intellectual Disabilities. Typically students with Intellectual Disabilities (IND) struggle academically, socially and with communication skills. All students will practice these skills in a hands-on, inclusive setting within the Naples Community. This is also an opportunity to teach the public awareness and acceptance of persons with disabilities. We feel it is our job as teachers to help all students belong. Part of our job is also to educate the wider community about the needs of a child who may be perceived as "different" and to help them become embraced as part of the community.  

Budget Narrative

Each field trip will require an estimated 3-4 hours of transportation costs, including driver wages of 21.50/hour. Each trip would require no entrance fee, just transportation cost. Each trip would conclude with a packed school lunch picnic to a local community park. The picnic lunch will allow students the opportunity to spend time among their peers to discuss their observations and experiences of each field trip.
Due to a variety of circumstances,many of our Special Needs Students never have the chance to experience our beautiful Naples Community. These four community based trips would enhance their learning within the classroom and also allow them new experiences outside of the classroom.  

Items