Hands-on Learning Grants

Hands-on Learning Grants

The foundation enhances classroom learning and inspires teacher creativity by awarding grants for a wide variety of projects

The grant application deadline for the 2024-2025 has now passed.

Did you know that the only source of funds for Seven Dreams’ Hands-on Learning Grants is from the generous donations our District 281 staff make during the STAFF CHARITABLE GIVING CAMPAIGN in late October. We encourage staff to donate Seven Dreams. These donations go back into the classroom as Hands-on Learning Grants!

Read a summary of all the grants we have funded since 2003 at the bottom of this page!

Grant spotlight: the PREMIERE of “Ready to Fly,” a piece of music commissioned for Robbinsdale Area Schools

Band teacher Tammy Wahlin commissioned the piece, with a Hands-on Learning Grant from Seven Dreams. The Robbinsdale All District Band premiered the piece on March 16, 2023. Canadian composer Cait Nishimura wrote "Ready to Fly" for Robbinsdale Area Schools! Listen at minute 35:47 https://rdale.granicus.com/player/clip/1120?view_id=4.... We thank Marlene Johnson, a RHS alum, for her donation to make this grant possible. Marlene dedicates this piece of music in memory of her brother, Arnold Johnson, who was a lover of birds. They are both graduates of Robbinsdale Area Schools.

Elementary school grant grew a garden and a community.

Getting your “hands in, hands on, hands dirty,” is how Zachary Lane Principal Phelps described a grant we funded; this is what Seven Dreams is all about! Watch this CCX News story about the Zachary Lane garden grant and how it has brought the community together and made learning fun.

WATCH: Zachary Lane Elementary Garden Video

Congratulations to the 14 staff members who were awarded a 2023-24 Hands-on Learning Grant! We awarded $27,422.

See the grant patrol surprise one of this year’s winners in this CCX news story:

WATCH: Northport Elementary Teacher Surprised with $2500 Grant

Once on this Island Theatrical Production FAIR Crystal, Laura Mahler

Co-Regulation Leads to Self-Regulation: “Calm Down Kit” New Hope Learning Center, Nicki Murphy

Props to Enhance Story Retelling New Hope Learning Center, Amy Jermstad

Create a Connection between Art and Emotions with Crafts FAIR Crystal, Heather Sasse

Circuit Playground Kits to Solve Real World Problems FAIR Crystal, Teresa Beaudette

Soft Start: Creative & Fun Morning Activities Forest Elementary, Natalie Larson

Newsgroup and Media Career Exploration Robbinsdale Middle, Aiysha Mustapha

Making the Invisible Visible Cooper HS, Teresa Esnough

Dcodubl Bks nedid in Kindrgrtn! (Decodable Books) FAIR Pilgrim Lane, Robin Sorheim

Connecting with Ceramics FAIR Crystal, Elizaberth Szymczak

STEM Imagination Station Neill Elementary, Matthew Cesare

Let Me Move…Then I’ll Learn FAIR Pilgrim Lane, Tanoa Miles & Cristy Larsen

Making a Scene with STEAM SEA Elementary, Martha Hovde

Literature Garden FAIR Pilgrim Lane, Tamara Rubin

To read more about these grants, read our May 6, 2023 Newsletter: https://conta.cc/3pjHf00

How does our grants program work?

Teachers and staff submit applications for Hands-on Learning Grants to the Foundation and we fund extra learning opportunities for students of Robbinsdale Area Schools. Projects that have been awarded grants in the past include: building nanobots (small robots that they imagine will help solve a real-world problem), funding a guest artist who uses storytelling, song and performance to tell African and African-American folktales; a puppet-making project to learn about ecology; and a vermicomposting project where students will learn how worms break down food scraps (and then use the compost to grow plants). WHAT’S YOUR IDEA? 

Grant Application Process

The Hands-on Learning Grant application process for the 2024-25 school year is now closed.

The Seven Dreams Education Foundation Grants Committee, made up of Board members, decide who will be awarded a grant. The grant winners will be surprised in their classroom by the Seven Dreams Education Foundation “Grant Patrol.” We will present the staff person with a large check for the grant and celebrate, for a couple of minutes, with staff and their students. Sometimes CCX Media video producers come along and you may appear on the local news.

Basic Criteria for a Grant Application:

• Is the instruction delivered through a hands-on learning methodology (also called “experiential learning” or “service learning,” when learning integrates content and the experience within the learning environment)?

• Is there a specific and identifiable learner need? 

• Is it creative, imaginative or introducing something new? 

• Is there an established plan to publicize the project within the school, with parents, the broader school community and the surrounding community? (Examples: newsletters, social media, announcements at grant-funded events, Seven Dreams Education Foundation stickers placed on physical items, etc.) 

• Is there a set of evaluation criteria to assess the success of the project? 

• Is there a detailed, reasonable budget for the project? Are there additional sources of funding for the program?

Would you like to schedule a grant workshop for a small group of staff at your school?  Or for questions, contact info@sevendreams.org

Hands-on Learning Grants have been awarded since 2003. Click on the school year link to see the grants awarded for that year. From 2003-2009 they were called Progress and Innovation Grants and in 2010 their name was changed to Hands-on Learning Grants to emphasize the importance of creating experiential learning opportunities for students.

Click on the year below to see the grants