BUENA PARK : Grant Lets Students Hook Into ‘Kids Net’
Charles G. Emery Elementary School has won a grant from the California Educational Initiatives Fund to pilot a new “global classroom” program.
Emery was one of 91 schools to receive the grant, which will be used to hook into National Geographic’s “Kids Net” project.
“Instead of learning about science from a textbook, they will actually be doing the experiments,” said teacher Kellie Weatherton, who will instruct the class along with fellow teacher Debbie Garriga.
The $8,000 grant will be used to buy a computer and special Kids Net software. Students from Emery will join forces with nine other schools from the United States and foreign countries to conduct environmentally focused scientific experiments. The students will communicate with their “research team” by computer.
After the required data is obtained it will be sent to National Geographic scientists, who will compile it and send it back to the students with conclusions. Gifted students will have access to the program during its inaugural year.
It eventually will be expanded to include all students, Weatherton said.
More than $128,213 was awarded to schools throughout the state. The California Initiatives Fund is an alliance of 11 corporations and foundations.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
