GRANTS » Beyond Pencils & Crayons

Beyond Pencils and Beyond Crayons Grants are awarded to K-12 teachers throughout Marathon County to initiate INNOVATIVE and CREATIVE projects and programs that enhance their curriculum. Through a competitive review process, our selection committee looks for proposals that:

  • fill a specific need
  • are cost-effective
  • provide educational value, and
  • demonstrate a sense of community.

The Community Foundation is proud to award the following Beyond Pencils and Beyond Crayons Grants totaling $25,000 from the Wausau•Marathon County Fund, for projects and programs to be completed during the 2011-12 school year.

ATHENS HIGH SCHOOL: $900

Experiential Learning through Community Gardens
Students will design and build raised garden beds that will be planted and cared for by the students to provide healthy food for their families and the local food bank 

D.C. EVEREST MIDDLE SCHOOL: $2,360

Food for Thought...Building Family Bonds
The Family and Consumer Education Department will host four "food centered" evenings that will include activities that will focus on food related topics 

D.C. EVEREST SCHOOL FOREST SCHOOL FOREST: $5,000

Changing Environments, Changing Climates: Lessons from the Past
Sixth grade Environmental Enrichment students will research how the environments of central Wisconsin have changed in geologic history and how ecosystems are changing today. The creation of a large-scale mural reflecting Wisconsin' geologic history, designed by students and created in conjunction with a local artist, is a part of this project.

EDGAR HIGH SCHOOL: 1,000

Cents of Reality
An interactive financial literacy simulation to reinforce students' money management and budgeting skills

EDGAR HIGH SCHOOL:  $250

Mentoring with Puppets
Environmental biology students will create and perform a puppet show with an environmental message

EDGAR HIGH SCHOOL: $500

Immunology In-house Field Trip
A biotechnology lab will engage students in high-tech exploration to detect the presence or absence of antibodies in chicken eggs  

EDGAR HIGH SCHOOL

Food, Ecology and Local Economy: What's the Connection
Environmental Biology and Culinary Arts students will experience the impact of sustainable agriculture and the local food economy through a visit to a local community supported agriculture farm

EDGAR MIDDLE SCHOOL: $600

Hands-on History
Students will be involved in extensive research and presentation of historical events to be showcased to their peers, parents, and the community through the National History Day program

JOHN MARSHALL ELEMENARY SCHOOL:  $900

From Seed to Sandwich: Integrating Plant Sciences into the Curriculum
Students will be involved in a hands-on gardening experience and plant study that will include growing lettuce, spinach and tomato seeds, using these experiences in their reading, writing, and math lessons

MOUNTAIN BAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: $4,500

The Arts: An Expression of Creativity
Artist-in-residence, Joel Tanis, will teach students about imagination, creativity, and problem solving through the design and production of a 71-foot mural in the school 

MOUNTAIN BAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: $2,011

Enrichment Activities for Math Instruction
Teachers will utilize "Zupelz" and "Think Tanks" as resources to meet the needs of students at various math skill levels in terms of enrichment while instructing through a new differentiation model 

NEWMAN CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT ST. MARK: $1625

Future Scientist Program
Building on children's natural curiosity, teachers will develop mini-science exploration activities and centers that will stretch their knowledge and imagination of the world around them and beyond

ST. PETER LUTHERAN SCHOOL: $485

Dive Into Literacy
Students will be introduced to basic literacy concepts through fun themes and concepts in a variety of ways

ST. PETER LUTHERAN SCHOOL: 344

For the Birds
Life science lessons will be enhanced through the study of incubating duck eggs and a visit by an owl educator

STRATFORD ELEMENTARYSCHOOL: $3,300

"I Don't Want to Work, I Want to Bang on the Drum All Day"
Students are sure to become excited to learn in the music classroom by using new barred instruments that not only teach musical concepts but also develop life-skills and confidence

WAUSAU SCHOOL DISTRICT: EAST, WEST, JOHN MUIR & HORACE MANN: $2,560

Rhythm Nations: Developing the Rhythmic Abilities of Students through the Study of World Music
Through the study of the music of Ghana, students will have the opportunity to learn basic African drumming techniques, new approaches to rhythm, and polyrhythm, and connect comparisons with the role of music in their own culture with that of Ghana. The unit will culminate in a joint concert of all four schools

A WALK IN THEIR SHOES: $2,500

"First They Killed My Father"
Students from several school districts will gather in April to hear Loung Ung share her story of surviving the genocide in Cambodia as part of their social studies curriculum