Foundation 46 Directors Approve Full Support of 2013 Hovercraft Project

Foundation 46 held a very productive meeting last night. A special thank you to Nicole McRee, GMS staff liaison, Eric Detweiler & Jodi Cinq-Mars, Frederick School administrators, and Anna Kasprzyk, D46 Chief Business Official, for their participation at last night’s meeting and their continued support in helping Foundation 46 move forward in its mission!

Foundation 46 Directors unanimously voted to support 100% of district costs related to the expansion of the fifth grade Hovercraft Project. Prior to 2012, a fraction of fifth grade students  at Frederick School had participated in this exciting project. In the spring of 2012, Foundation 46 provided supplemental financial support to offset costs incurred by the district and the taxpayers, resulting in the project being offered to all Frederick fifth graders last year. This year, we’ve agreed to support 100% of the costs at Frederick School and also at Park Campus where the project will take place for the first time!

The D46 Hovercraft Project is an innovative project that is facilitated by Frederick teachers and Matthew Chase of Chase Business Services. The project involves students constructing 4' diameter hovercrafts in which they can apply math, science, and team building concepts.  These hovercrafts are powered by electric leaf blowers which inflate a skirt, allowing the craft to hover.  

The Hovercraft Project places students in a real world scenario in which they are part of a company developing and marketing a product.  They must test different skirt materials, determine how to best work as a team, decide how to market the hovercraft, and make the hovercraft attractive and marketable.  Each group of 6-8 students is led by a team leader (a student) and all team leaders report to a teacher titled the "Project Manager."  At the end of two days, students will have tested, developed, and readied their version of the hovercraft for market. Students must apply preexisting knowledge in math, science, art, and writing to contribute to the success of this project.

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