Westford Networks for Education and Technology Partnership 

This project allows students to design, construct and test a structure against the forces of tension, compression, torsion and shear. The structure will be designed using existing CAD software and models will be built and tested on an earthquake simulation machine.

This project enables students to enhance their science, technology and math skills, incorporating principles of transportation, propulsion, buoyancy and hydrodynamics. Students will design model boats integrating current techniques acquired in class, along with using interactive Internet sites available to enhance their designs. Students will test their boats and compete for the most profitable boat owner/builder.

Teachers and pupils will utilize electronic portfolio technology to assess and showcase student learning. Students will engage in a constructivist approach to learning by building a portfolio of their own work. Students will combine text, graphics, sound and video to create a multimedia presentation of their overall performance. Because these portfolios can be sent home to parents or presented at conferences, they will be used as one of many channels for communication.

This project acquires Magnet Kits and Guides which will be used within the Grade 4 Physical Science study of Energy. The kits will allow the students to design many different types of experiments and use the scientific method. Through this unit, students will develop an understanding of the connection between magnetic and electrical energy.

This grant will allow a group of students at WA to participate again in a national competition. Last year, WestNET sponsored a WA team in the National Engineering Design Challenge which won the regional competition and was selected to compete in Washington DC at the nationals. This year's project has several project opportunities around a theme of developing products which assist physically disabled individuals.

Colonial Day is a hands-on experience for fifth grade students to learn about the utilitarian crafts which were important to the lives of American colonists. Students will experience crafts through a variety of hands-on activities including quilting, rope-making, stencilling, candle-making, whittling, lantern tooling and butter making.

This mini-grant allows the WA Art Dept to purchase a 400 piece slide set which focuses on all areas of art history from Paleolithic through present day. The slides will be used to present clear examples of various methods and materials that are relevant to the students pursuit of a complete understanding of the elements and principles of design.

"Peace-It-Together" is a social competency curriculum that strives to develop a school community that is cooperative, caring and respectful. In the first year, the school adopts a common language "I-Care-Rules". This project will provide digital movie camera to allow the staff to develop videos that will be integrated into the overall program.

This project will provide graphing tablets and materials for use in an interdisciplinary unit for fourth grade students that links Art, Science, Creative Thinking and Computer Skills. Students will research and examine the works of various artists' animal paintings and drawings. From their studies, they will apply what they have learned to portray an animal as part of their science reports.

This project enables students to create models of their community and other communities as they study them throughout the year. This project will acquire a package called the 'Community Construction Kit' which is an innovative hands-on program that allows students to design and build 3-dimensional buildings that are in their community, from around the world and throughout other periods of history.