Foundation Teaching Grants a great opportunity  John Shostak

May 29,2008

You have a great opportunity to tell teachers in your community about submitting a request for an Excellence in Teaching Grant of up to $400 to help fund an agriculture-related project or activity into their classrooms. Only five Excellence in Teaching Grants are awarded each school year and the application deadline is June 30, 2008 so be sure to encourage your teachers to submit a grant request soon.

What is the Excellence in Teaching Grant?

Agriculture is an important part of everyone’s life. Clothing, food, fuel, housing, medicine and much more are rooted in agriculture. Agriculture has no subject matter boundaries and can be a part of social studies, language arts, science, math, environmental education, art, music or in a combination of areas that effectively integrate key agricultural principles. The Excellence in Teaching Grant is awarded to exemplary teachers who integrate agriculture into their classroom lessons and curriculum. 

Who is eligible?

Kansas certified educators of Grades K-6 who are integrating agriculture into their classroom lessons. Teachers who have received a grant from the KFB Foundation for Agriculture within the past two years are not eligible. 

What is the grant?

Five grant winners will receive up to $400 to be used to purchase supplies related to agricultural lessons or projects including but not limited to: garden equipment, materials for hands-on activities, literature books and lab supplies. 

What are the criteria for selection?

The project must be creative and interesting to students and help them become more knowledgeable about the food, fuel and/or fiber system in the agriculture industry. Successful projects will:

■     Highlight creative strategies for integrating information, activities and resources about agriculture into core subject areas including science, social studies, math, and language arts

■     Correlate lessons and activities to State Learning Standards

■     Where possible, use local agriculture-related resources (K-State Extension, County Farm Bureau, Agricultural Cooperative, etc.). 

How can a teacher apply?

Grant applications can be accessed online at http://www.kfb.org/foundationforagriculture/teachinggrant.htm. Complete an entry form and include the information requested on a separate sheet in the order listed in the instructions. Applications can be mailed or submitted via email.  

All entries must be post marked by June 30, 2008 for the school year beginning in the Fall 2008.

All applicants will be notified of the status of their grant application within four weeks of the funding deadlines. One-half of the amount funded will be provided to start the project. The balance of the grant is payable upon submission of receipts and a final project report. 

For additional information, please contact me at 785-587-6608 or email me at shostakj@kfb.org.