Brownwood Middle School science teacher, Karen Carter, has been awarded a 3M Ingenuity Grant, which will be used for purchasing digital cameras, printers and support materials for her classroom. The 3M Ingenuity Grant helps teachers bring new methods and hands-on learning activities into the classroom. According to 3M, the purpose is “to bring new, ingenious learning opportunities into the classroom that further student learning, achievement and application of science, math or economics principles.”
Mrs. Carter’s class will use the digital cameras and equipment for a virtual plant collection. About 250 middle school students harvest plants for their collection every year. “The flowers are more likely to reproduce and spread if we do not pick them,” said Mrs. Carter. “The virtual plant collection will enable students to find the plants and document them, without harming them.”
The cameras will also have video capability, which will allow more options for the students in a lab setting.
Gregg Rice, Human Resources Manager for 3M in Brownwood, presented the check to Mrs. Carter and Middle School Principal, Bryan Allen.
“We are very excited and appreciative that our project was accepted,” said Mr. Allen. “The new equipment will be very beneficial for students. 3M has a great partnership with our school.”
Every year, 3M invites all of the local middle school and grade school math and science teachers to apply for the Ingenuity Grant. The maximum grant available is $3500, which is what Mrs. Carter received.
“We want all our local teachers to apply,” said Rice. “There is not limit to the number of grants that 3M will give.”
Photo Caption: Middle School Principal, Bryan Allen, accepts a check from Gregg Rice of 3M, along with grant recipient and science teacher, Karen Carter.
