Classrooms Take Charge Announcement and Application

CLASSROOMSTAKECHARGEREQUESTFORPROPOSALS:
$3,000GRANTSFORPACIFICNWHIGHSCHOOLTEACHERS
ApplicationsDueMay18,2015
INTRODUCTION
TheCorvallisEnvironmentalCenterisacceptingapplicationsfromteacherstoparticipateinanew
climatechangeeducationandcarbonreductionprogramcalled“ClassroomsTakeCharge.”Tosupport
theuseofClassroomsTakeChargeinhighschoolsthroughoutthePacificNorthwest,theCorvallis
EnvironmentalCenterisofferingparticipatingteachersa$3,000grantfortheirtime,travel,and
classroomsmaterials.
CLASSROOMSTAKECHARGEOVERVIEW
TheCorvallisEnvironmentalCenterisdedicatedtoeducating,engaging,andinspiringpeopletocreate
healthy,sustainablecommunities.In2014theCorvallisEnvironmentalCenterreceivedan
EnvironmentalEducationawardfromtheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencytodevelopClassrooms
TakeCharge—aprogramandwebsitethatencourageshighschoolstudentstoadoptenvironmental
behaviorsthatreducegreenhousegasemissions.DuringtheClassroomsTakeChargeprogramstudent
learningwillbesupportedinthreeways:
1) In‐classlearningwithCarbonTIME(TransformationsinMatterandEnergy)curriculum,
whichhelpsstudentsuncoverthechemicalbasisoflifeandlifestyles.TheCarbonTIME
curriculumconsistsofsixresearch‐basedlearningunitsthatsupportstudentexplanationsof
thechemicalchangesthatareresponsibleforthestructureandfunctionsofalllivingsystems
andsupportourlifestyles—carbontransformingprocesses(combustion,cellularrespiration,
photosynthesis,biosynthesisanddecomposition).ClassroomsTakeChargefocusesonCarbon
TIMEUnit6:HumanEnergySystems.Thisunitrecognizesthatmanyaspectsofourlifestyles,
fromdrivingcarstoturningonlightbulbs,dependonenergythatcanbetracedbackto
combustionoffossilfuels,anditaimstohelpstudentsunderstandhowourlifestylesaffectthe
balancebetweenorganicandinorganicmaterialsonEarth.Allofthelessonsaretiedtostate
andnationalstandards.
2) OnlinelearningwiththeClassroomsTakeChargewebsitethatwillrevisitthekeyconcepts
fromCarbonTIMEandencouragebehaviorchangeasstudentsdiscoverhowtheirdailyactions
affectCO2release.
3) Aservice‐learningprojectinwhichstudentsinparticipatingclassroomswillinviteother
studentsandcommunitymemberstoadoptenergy‐savingbehaviorsusingtheClassrooms
TakeChargewebsite,whichwilltrackprogramenrollmentandCO2savingsforeach
participatingschool.
ELIGIBILITY
HighschoolscienceteachersinOregon,Washington,Idaho,andAlaskaarewelcometoapply.
GRANTINFORMATION
 Eachteacherwillreceivea$3,000granttocoverthecostoftraveltotheworkshop,planning
time,classroommaterials,developingaservice‐learningproject,andtimetogivefeedbackon
theClassroomsTakeChargeprogram.
 TheschoolthathasthehighestparticipationintheClassroomsTakeChargeprogramaspartof
thestudents’servicelearningprojectwillreceiveanadditional$2,000ClimateChangers
Award.Thewinningschoolmayusethisincentiveforapre‐approvedpurposethatfurthers
thegoalsofClassroomsTakeCharge(e.g.,towardastudent‐led,energy‐efficiencybuilding
upgradesuchasreplacing50%ofthelightsintheschoolwithLEDs;additionalCarbonTIME
curriculumforotherteachersintheschool;ortowardaschoolsolar‐electricinstallation).

Wewillhaveatleastsixadditionalspacesavailableforteacherswhoarenotawardeda
grantbutwhowouldliketouseotherfunds(e.g.,professionaldevelopmentfunds)for
participatinginthisprogram.Theprogramfeeis$500andincludestwonightsoflodgingina
privateroomonOregonStateUniversitycampusanddailyperdiemforfood.
CONTINUINGEDUCATIONCREDITS
OurapplicationforContinuingEducationCreditsisunderreview.
PROJECTTIMELINE
 May18,2015:Applicationsdue
 June1,2015:Grantawardsannounced
 August13‐14,2015:ClassroomsTakeChargeworkshopinCorvallis,Oregon
 2015–2016schoolyear:ClassroomsTakeChargeprogramlaunched
 November16,2015:Service‐learninglessonplansubmittedtoCorvallisEnvironmentalCenter
forreview
 April30,2016:Service‐learningprojectscompleted
 May16,2016:$2,000ClimateChangersAwardannounced
 June1,2016:Finalprogramevaluationandreplicationplansdue(includingashortonline
formandaservice‐learninglessonplan)
TEACHERSRESPONSIBILITIES
Beforethe2015‐2016schoolyearteacherswill:
 Attendatwo‐dayworkshopinCorvallis,Oregon.Theinteractiveworkshopwillgiveteachers
experiencewiththeCarbonTIMEcurriculumandClassroomsTakeChargewebsite.Teachers
willalsoworkcollaborativelytodevelopaservice‐learningprojectandlessonplan,and
teacherswilldevelopatimelineforincorporatingClassroomsTakeChargeandCarbonTIME
intotheircurriculum.
Duringthe2015–2016schoolyearteacherswill:
 IncorporateCarbonTIMElessonsandactivitiesintoclassplans
 Participateinmonthlyconferencecalls(~1houramonth)
 Providequarterlyprogramfeedbackonline(~1hourperquarter)
 CompleteaClassroomsTakeChargeservice‐learningprojectwithstudents
 Submitafinalprogramevaluationandlessonplans  SharetheClassroomsTakeChargeprogramwithatleasttwootherteachers
FUNDINGAGREEMENT
Ifyouareawardedagrant,wewillaskyoutosignafundingagreementwithCorvallisEnvironmental
Centeroutliningthedetailsoffundingandtheexpectedprojectdeliverables.Thiswillformalizethe
commitmentbetweenCorvallisEnvironmentalCenterandtheparticipatingteacher.
HOWTOAPPLY
ApplicationsaredueonMonday,May18,2015.Pleasecompletetheapplicationformbelowandemail
ittoCarlyLettero(Carly@CorvallisEnvironmentalCenter.org).
PROPOSALSELECTION
TheCorvallisEnvironmentalCenterwillselect16teacherstoparticipateintheClassroomsTake
Chargeprogram.
FORMOREINFORMATION:PleasecontactCarlyLetteroatCarly@CorvallisEnvironmentalCenter.org.
CLASSROOMSTAKECHARGEGRANTAPPLICATION
ProposalsDueMonday,May18,2015
TEACHERINFORMATION  Name:______________________________________________________________________________
 Emailaddress:_____________________________________________________________________
 Phonenumber:____________________________________________________________________
 Gradelevel(s)taught:_____________________________________________________________
 Numberofstudentsperyear:____________________________________________________
 Schoolname:______________________________________________________________________
 Subjectarea(s):___________________________________________________________________
 IsyourschoolaPrioritySchool?ClickhereforalistofPrioritySchoolsinOregon,
Washington,Idaho,andAlaska.
YES NO
TeacherStatement:WhyareyouinterestedintheClassroomsTakeChargeprogram?What
kindofsupportorcollaborationdoyouhopetoreceive,andwhatparticularskillsorexpertise
wouldyoubringtotheprogram?(300wordslimit)
ClimateChangeCurriculum:Areyoucurrentlyteachingclimatechangecurriculuminyour
classes?Ifso,whatcurriculumareyouusingandhoweffectivedoyouthinkitis?
ServiceLearningExperience:Whatexperience,ifany,haveyouhaddevelopingservice‐
learningprojects?(Pleasenotethatnoexperienceisnecessarytoapply.)(300wordslimit)
Availability:IfyouareawardedaClassroomsTakeChargegrant,willyoubeabletocomplete
thefollowingprogrambenchmarksbythedateindicatedbelow?
Yes Maybe
No
August13‐14,2015:Attendatwo‐dayworkshopinCorvallis,
Oregon
November16,2015:Submityourservice‐learninglessonplan forreview
April30,2016:Completeyourin‐classservice‐learning
project
June1,2016:Submityourfinalprogramevaluation(short
onlineform),revisedservice‐learninglessonplan,and
replicationplan
PROJECTBUDGET
Pleaseoutlinehowyouwillspendthe$3,000grant.Seebelowforanexamplebudgetand
explanationofthebudgetcategories.
Category
Cost
Explanation
Teacher Salary
Travel to
workshop
Lodging during
workshop
$46/night x 3 nights for a single room during the workshop
Standard rate of $46/day x 3 days Per diem
Classroom
materials
Total
ADDITIONALINFORMATION
Ifyouarenotawardedagrant,doyouhaveotheroptionsforfundingyourprofessional
developmentforparticipatinginthisprogram?(Thisquestionwillnotbeweighedinthe
reviewofyourapplication.)
YES NO MAYBE
PROJECTBUDGETCATEGORIESEXPLANATIONANDSAMPLEBUDGET
Salary:Werecommendbudgeting40‐70hoursforthisproject.Pleaseincludea
minimumof40hours(16workshophours,8hourstraveltime,12hoursformonthly
conferencecalls,4hoursforreporting).
Travel:Yourexpensesfortraveltotheworkshopmayincludethefollowing:
o Lodging:WehavereservedablockofroomsattheInternationalLivingand
LearningCenterontheOregonStateUniversityCampus.Thecostforasingle
roomis$46pernight.
o PerDiem:$42perdayforafoodperdiem.
o Flights:TheclosestairporttoCorvallisisEugene(45minutes)orPortland(1.5
hours).ThereisaHUTshuttlebetweenPortlandandCorvallis($44oneway).
o Train:ThenearesttrainstationisinAlbany,whichis12milesfromCorvallis.
Thereislimitedpublictransportationbetweenthetrainstationanddowntown
Corvallis.TheLinn‐BentonLoopBusrunseachhourfor$1.50,andthe
Greyhoundbusisavailablefourtimesperdayatvariableticketprices.
o Rentingacarordrivingyourowncar:Ifyouwillberentingacartodriveto
theworkshop,youmaybudgetthecostoftherentalplusthecostofgas.Ifyou
willbedrivingyourownvehicletotheworkshop,youmaybudget$0.575per
mile.
ClassroomMaterials:Classroommaterialsmayincludematerialstohelpteachthe
CarbonTIMEcurriculumandtopilotyourservice‐learningproject.
Pleasenotethatyourlodgingandfoodperdiemwillbedirectbilledanddeductedfromthe
totalgrantamount.
ExampleBudget
Category
Cost
Explanation
Teacher Salary
1,755
65 hours @ $27/hr
Travel to
workshop
Lodging during
workshop
350
$350 flight to Eugene
138
$46/night x 3 nights for a single room during the workshop
Per diem
Classroom
materials
138
619
Standard rate of $46/day x 3 days
Materials for the service learning project including printing ($200)
+ tabling supplies ($100) + poster making supplies ($19) + laptop
for registering participants at events ($300)
Total 3,000