“Cooking Up Community: Life Skills & Hands‑On Learning for Every Student”
Leah Jones
ID-195
School Name:Cypress Palm Middle
Grant Request Grade:6-8
Grant Request Subject:Special Needs Students
Additional Details
My middle‑school students with diverse cognitive abilities learn best through hands‑on, real‑world activities. Our curriculum includes five cooking recipes and two science projects in every unit, allowing students to practice life skills, explore science concepts, and engage in meaningful learning experiences. This grant will help fund the materials needed for these recipes and projects so students can fully participate, learn, and thrive. I would like to increase student access to hands‑on learning by providing the ingredients, materials, and supplies needed to complete the five recipes and two science projects included in each curriculum unit. These activities support life skills, science understanding, communication, and independence for students with diverse cognitive abilities.
The students will participate in cooking lessons and science experiments that align with each curriculum unit. During cooking activities, students will measure, mix, follow directions, practice safety, and build daily living skills. During science projects, students will explore cause and effect, make predictions, observe changes, and engage in inquiry‑based learning. These activities will be adapted to meet each student’s cognitive, sensory, and communication needs, ensuring full participation and meaningful learning.
The students will benefit from increased engagement, improved life‑skills development, and stronger understanding of science concepts. Cooking activities support math, reading, sequencing, and independence, while science projects build curiosity, problem‑solving, and hands‑on exploration. These experiences help students stay motivated, regulate their emotions, and connect learning to real‑world tasks. The materials funded through this grant will ensure every student can participate fully, regardless of ability level.
The funding will be used to purchase ingredients, cooking supplies, and science materials required for the five recipes and two science projects included in each of the 10 curriculum units. These items include food ingredients, basic kitchen tools, science experiment materials, and consumable supplies that must be replenished throughout the year.
These activities are central to the curriculum, and consistent access to materials is essential. Many of the ingredients and supplies that are used in the recipes and Science experiments are consumable and cannot be reused, making ongoing funding necessary. This grant will ensure students have the materials they need to participate in hands‑on learning experiences that build life skills, support understanding, and increase access to instruction.
The investment directly supports learning by providing real‑world, functional tasks that help students practice independence, communication, and problem‑solving. These materials will be used throughout the school year and will benefit multiple groups of students.
325.52
consumable items average cost for 8 units average per unit 30.00
