Teachers receive STEM grants

Two Stillwater Elementary School teachers have received STEM grants from JCPandL.

Susan Pierson, a preschool teacher, will use her grant to help with this year's production of the musical, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Along with the materials needed to make costumes, she will receive a complete school size butterfly kit with 30 live caterpillars from the Nature Gift Store. Using a teacher-written script adapted from the story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the children will memorize lines, songs and dances. Props, scenery and costumes will be created with the help and active participation of the children. The final production of the play will be presented to parents, administrators and other classes.

Elaine Makarevich also submitted and received a Stem Classroom Grant from First Energy for the Pinwheel Program (Gifted and Talented). The title of her project is Solar Science Surprise. It will involve fourth grade students in the Pinwheel Program. Students will be exploring solar energy through a variety of hands-on and STEM activities, culminating with designing and building of their own pizza box solar oven.

The grant will provide funding for the supplies needed to allow the students to explore solar projects with solar panels and the materials needed for their ovens.