DNR Offers $1,000 Grant to Elementary School Science Teachers

Elementary school teachers who teach life sciences will want to take advantage of a grant being offered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The Nongame Conservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is offering a $1,000 grant to a Georgia third-, fourth- or fifth-grade public or private school teacher who demonstrates exceptional energy and innovation in teaching life sciences.

The purpose of the grant is to recognize and help an outstanding teacher who uses Georgia’s nongame wildlife as the context for learning third-, fourth- or fifth-grade curriculum standards.

Nongame wildlife refers to native animals that are not fished for or hunted such as gopher tortoises, and rare plants not harvested such as the Georgia aster.

“Students who learn about plants, wildlife and habitats often develop an appreciation for these diverse natural resources and are then motivated to be good stewards of the environment – not just during childhood but also as adults,” said Linda May, DNR environmental outreach coordinator.

This fall, another teacher will be selected to receive funding based on project design and how well the grant proposal questions are answered.

Projects that are especially creative and teach about Georgia’s rare or endangered species, as well as those that can’t be funded otherwise, will earn bonus points.

Teachers can go online to www.georgiawildlife.com/education/educator-resources for details.  The deadline to apply is Sept. 16, 2013, the funding will be awarded in October.

The grant opportunity is possible thanks to support from The Environmental Resource Network, or TERN, friends group of the Nongame Conservation Section.