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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 1995
95-151
CONTACT:
Lucinda J. Callahan, Madison Middle School, (206) 281-6140 935-5085 (home)
Annie Phillips, Ecology (360) 407-6408
Mary Getchell, Ecology (360) 407-6157
ECOLOGY AWARDS MAGIC APPLE GRANT TO WEST SEATTLE TEACHER
OLYMPIA, WA -- This school year, a sixth grade science teacher at Madison Middle School will get extra help for environmental education projects from a Magic Apple grant of $750 from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Lucinda J. Callahan plans to use her grant to buy water testing equipment and a dissection microscope.
Last May, Ecology presented "Magic Apple" grants to nine teachers throughout the state in recognition of outstanding water quality education projects and to support activities in the coming school year. The money is part of a larger environmental education grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"Teachers can really influence whether a student grows up to cherish or to misuse our natural resources," said Linda Crerar, Ecology assistant director for the water and shorelands division. "These educators are teaching stewardship along with their traditional subjects of science, language arts and social studies."
Last year Madison Middle School staff, students and their parents created a pond on the school grounds. In addition to scientific studies, language arts classes will visit the pond to write, art classes will replace the old graffiti on adjacent walls with new water-related designs and students will discuss the political, economic and ecological impacts of freshwater systems. Callahan plans to use the pond as a living classroom to teach about freshwater ecosystems.
"Both students and parents can learn that they can make a difference as individuals if they work toward environmentally sound goals,” Callahan said. "Our student population at Madison is rich in ethnic diversity and enriched by many newcomers to America. Both students and their parents can become better Americans by learning about the environmental heritage of this land.”
Teachers interested in applying for a "Magic Apple" grant should contact Annie Phillips at the Department of Ecology, (360) 407-6408.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
