From Pond Life to Whales, Grants Give Life to Class Projects : Education: Simi Valley Unified School District presents show and tell for lessons funded by $30,000 in incentives.

As they studied the ecosystem of a pond in the fall, a group of Simi Valley second-graders didn’t need to search far for samples of tadpoles, lily pads, snails and water hyacinths.

Sitting on a counter in their classroom at Township School was a 10-gallon tank containing freshwater plants and the food chain of a typical pond.

“They saw an interdependence,” teacher Gail Penn said. “They were able to see the roots grow darker as the plants cleaned the water in the pond.”

The tank, along with pond-theme books and art materials, was purchased by Penn and teaching partner Connie Hopkins with $550 from a special grant program begun last year in the Simi Valley Unified School District.

Organized as an incentive for teachers, the program divided $30,000 among 70 teachers who collaborated on about two dozen projects. In addition to Penn’s pond lesson, teachers created projects on whale watching, Native Americans, nutrition and cultural diversity.

Others used the money to purchase computer software, including a program that allowed severely handicapped students to communicate better, and an interactive video on racial prejudice.

“This seemed to be a good way to get teachers thinking about improving classroom instruction,” Simi Valley Supt. Mary Beth Wolford said. “It will also provide a way to try out things that could be adapted to other classrooms if successful.”

Teachers said the mini-grant program--supported by district general funds, not special grants--proved to be a morale booster while allowing them to add depth to lesson plans by purchasing literature and resource books. They said it also makes up, in part, for personal money spent on supplies.

“Last year, I estimated I spent 10% of my income on teaching supplies. You just can’t do it,” said Sandy Nash, who co-authored a project called “Maharaja’s Tasks” that combined math skills with a study of the rain forest.

Nash’s project partner, Lori Rangel, said that although the mini-grants are competitive, they are much less time-consuming than applying for larger, formal grants from the state or private foundations.

“It’s an easier way to get money to buy stuff for kids,” said Rangel, a fourth-grade teacher at Hollow Hills Fundamental School.

Although the grant money was dispersed in October, it was not until Monday that the recipients had a chance to show and tell.

In a crowded room at the district office, teachers spent 90 minutes explaining their projects to colleagues, scanning others for ideas and picking up applications for next year.

“They’re going to go back to the schools and really spread the news to other teachers,” said Leslie Hatland, who teaches at Sycamore School. “I think next year, a lot more people are going to apply.”

Regardless of the number of applications, the district will probably spend about the same on the grants next school year, officials said.

While many of the projects were completed months ago, Hatland said her “Bug Museum” lesson is just getting under way.

With the $250 she won, Hatland has purchased supplies--paper, paint and books--to help her class create giant bug beetles, spiders and dragonflies.

“My kids are making a museum for other kids to come to,” she said. “They’re learning about the bug life cycles, characteristics and nontoxic ways of dealing with them.”