Grant Awarded to LC Middle School
by Kim Jones
February 02, 2010
Kern Family Foundation has once again selected Lewis Central Schools as a grant recipient for the nationally acclaimed program, Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Lewis Central’s high school currently has a full sequence of PLTW course that support the study of engineering. Four years ago, as the high school began its PLTW program, the Kern Family Foundation (based in Wisconsin) assisted with a substantial start up grant over three years. The Foundation’s new partnership with Lewis Central Schools includes a $25,000 grant over the next two years at the middle school level. This final addition of the middle school program, Gateway to Technology, will complete the PLTW sequence of courses at Lewis Central.
The Project Lead the Way (PLTW) middle school program, Gateway to Technology (GTT), is a project-based, activities-oriented program designed to challenge and engage the natural curiosity and imagination of middle school students. The program is divided into five independent units: Design and Modeling, Magic of Electrons, Science of Technology, Automation of Robotics, Flight and Space. Of these five units, Design and Modeling, along with Automation and Robotics, are required units. Instructors choose which other units to include in their curriculums. There will be a sixth unit available in the fall 2010, Energy and the Environment.
Eighth grade students at Lewis Central Middle School will have an opportunity to be introduced to the engineering field with these activities-oriented units. Current plans are underway to include Gateway to Technology in the fall of 2010. Courses already in place at the high school include two foundational courses, three specialty courses and the senior capstone course. Students who successfully complete each of these courses, and meet testing requirements, can earn college credit and position themselves more strategically for majoring in engineering at colleges such as Iowa State University and University of Iowa. Those interested in learning more about Project Lead the Way can visit their web site at www.pltw.org. More information regarding the Kern Family Foundation can be found at www.kffdn.org.
