Habitable Hornets is the title of a Bright Ideas grant that I have applied for. I first found about about this grant opportunity through our July advancement institute. At this point I have successfully submitted the grant application.

The project will consist of a team of fifth grade students leading our school in starting a composting program. In addition to recording data from the compost, students will design and implement a plan to train and monitor students in lower grades.

The project consists of three main goals:

1. Sustainability-authentically introduce students to one method of sustainable living: composting.
2. Leadership skills- fifth grade students will develop leadership skills by researching how to use a compost and create an implementation method for the entire school.
3. Content-this project relates to many specific content goals in math and science at various grade levels. For example, as part of the project fifth grade students will be responsible for monitoring the temperature of the compost to make sure that it remains stable. Reading and interpreting data would be a mathematical content goal as well as a science goal of using instruments to make accurate observations.

In addition to the PD opportunity to speculate ideas for the grant through our institutes, I also attribute my interest to composting from my fellowship at Bayer. Understanding the mission of Bayer and need for their mission helped me realize the limits that farmers are currently working with in order to sustain and feed a world. I have always been aware of the need for sustainable living, but working more closely with the numbers and furthering my understanding has increased my interest.

Apply for this grant is just one example of how the Kenan fellowship has already impacted my school year, I look forward to seeing what comes next!