Embedded Files
Community, post-secondary, business/industry partners and/or families actively support and are engaged with teachers and students in the STEM program.
Community, post-secondary, business/industry partners and/or families actively support and are engaged with teachers and students in the STEM program.
Community Partnership
Community Partnership
Munford Elementary was designed based on a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the Talladega National Forest. We continue this partnership by integrating opportunities for the U.S. Forest Service to collaborate with staff and to share their experiences with our students. Mrs. Kimberly Murray also serves as a liaison between the U.S. Forest Service and all three Munford Schools.
Munford Elementary has also partnered with Honda, Home Depot, Gadsden State Community College, Auburn University, Jacksonville State University, the University of Montevallo, the National Wildlife Federation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Munford Dispatch, Legacy, the Alabama Wildlife Federation, the Alabama Forestry Commission, 4-H, Desoto Caverns, Big Daddy’s BBQ, the Town of Munford, Southern Girl Coffee, C & C Manufacturing, Georgia Pacific, Camp Callers, the Talladega Super Speedway, Jacks, Regional Medical Center, Coosa Valley Electric, Alabama Power, Alabama Childhood Food Solutions, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and many more. Teachers and staff are continually looking for ways to involve and recognize our community members through learning partnerships.
Veterans came to MES for a program and spoke to the students.
In our main hallway, we have a Community Partnership display recognizing our community partners.
STEAM Career Day
STEAM Career Day
On Friday, April 12, 2019 students will participate in a STEAM Career Day at Munford Elementary School with over 25 stations featuring community partners in STEAM careers to provide students with real-world connections to the STEAM skills they have been learning this year.
On Friday, April 12, 2019 students will participate in a STEAM Career Day at Munford Elementary School with over 25 stations featuring community partners in STEAM careers to provide students with real-world connections to the STEAM skills they have been learning this year.
Coffee and Collaboration
Coffee and Collaboration
Munford Elementary School hosted their first Coffee and Collaboration session for parents and community members to learn about STEAM education at the school and the STEAM Certification Process. An invitation was sent home to every parent and invitations were mailed or delivered to various community partners.
Parents and community partners joined the school leadership team for a discussion of the AdvanceEd STEM Standards and the evidence the school had for the indicators. Participants learned about the schools STEAM journey and goals for the future. Everyone visited classrooms, the STEAM Lab, and the Makerspace Lab to see STEAM in action and reflected on their observations. Visitors left notes of bright spots and future considerations for the School Leadership Team to reflect upon to advance STEAM instruction at the school.
Authentic Learning through Community Partners PBL
Authentic Learning through Community Partners PBL
Students learned about different community helpers and how they help everyone on a daily basis. Students chose which buildings needed to be in their "community" project. Students created buildings, houses, roads, and trees using cardboard and construction paper.
Students collaborated to create a website using Google sites to present and share information they researched and learned about each community helper.
Munford Fire Department came to talk to the kindergarten students about fire safety.
Students were allowed to try on the fire department turn out gear.
Community partners share with our students.
Kindergarten students walked to the post office to learn about how they help our community.
Students participated in active learning with the post office staff.
Our resource officer, Mrs. Pitts, showed students how police work to protect us by stopping oncoming traffic so students could cross the road safely.
Making the Most of Community Partners
Making the Most of Community Partners
Jeff Rutledge, owner and editor of The Munford Dispatch and Munford Police Chief, spoke to the students about how they could partner with him to become published authors.
Students are more motivated when they know they will be presenting their finished products to a authentic audience. We want our students to feel valued and know that their thoughts and opinions matter. As the owner and editor of the local town paper, Mr. Rutledge partnered with teachers and students to provide them with an opportunity to share their writing with the community. Students worked hard to complete the steps of the writing process before submitting finished pieces of writing to be printed. By allowing student work to be published for the community, we opened the door for feedback from our family and community members.
Project Based Learning K - 5
Project Based Learning K - 5
Project Based Learning is not a new concept at Munford Elementary School. Many of our teachers have been trained by Buck Institute through the Project-kased Learning teaching model. As a result, our projects at Munford Elementary School are interdisciplinary and focus on digging deep into concepts that will help students develop personal connections to academic experiences.
In kindergarten, to wrap up a Community PBL, students participated in a Community Helpers field trip to learn about the roles various helpers play in our community. They visited the library, fire station, local bakery, post office, and bank.
Munford Elementary students participate in Get Outdoors Day each year, in which they visit various booths hosted by community partners. They received hands-on experiences planting tomato plants, using blacksmith tools, and petting animals local to our forests.
In second grade and fifth grade, students participated in “Liberty Learning” where they learned about our country and how to be a good citizen. They attended a kickoff celebration where they learned from Libby (Statue of Liberty). Students completed various lessons on American symbols, leaders, money, and the three branches of government. Students then chose a community hero to honor at the closing ceremony. There they awarded their hero with a pin to wear.
Mr. Evan Ingram (U.S. Forest Service) came to speak with the students during their National Disaster unit in science.
Dr. Cook from the Alabama Geological Association came to speak to fourth grade about Alabama's Earthquakes to kick-off a PBL on Earthquake Resistant Structures.
Alabama Power came to enhance students' learning experiences of electricity with a powerful demonstration of the importance of electricity safety.
In fifth grade, students became 4-H innovators by creating and following made-to-order car assembly instructions. Students and teachers collaborated with Jera Culberson, 4-H, Auburn University, and Alabama A&M Universities. The meeting was held on February 13, 2019. Students were assessed on following directions and using the design process.
In addition, fifth grade kicked off their water filtration PBL unit by having Jeff Stephens, Civic Engineer, Water Management Consultant, and Munford Water Department board member come speak to the students about the water filtration and water quality.
Building Relationships
Building Relationships
Students attend Get Outdoors Day each year where community members and partners showcase their industry and share with our students. Over 1400 people attended the Get Outdoors Day event in 2018. Get Outdoors Day is an opportunity for students to expand their leadership influence in their school and community. Many community partners attended the event from the town of Munford including Mayor Jo Ann Fambrough, the Senior Center, Munford Fire Department, City Hall, Munford Water Authority, and the local library. This event was a unique opportunity to provide Munford Elementary students with a positive and enlightened view of agriculture, natural resources, community, and the outdoors.
Fifth grade students on the Flag Team were trained by Bobby Jones, (RET) LTC on how to properly raise, lower, and fold the flag. Each day, the students on the Flag Team raise and lower our national and state flags.
Mrs. Kim Murray, science resource teacher and Forestry Service liaison, spoke to the Munford Elementary School Faculty about the Go Green with STEAM Project, Alabama Bicentennial, and current PBL (Project-based Learning) activities. Mrs. Murray partners with every grade level to embed environmental PBLs into the curriculum.
Pumpkin Chunking
Pumpkin Chunking
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