Dr. Darlene Panvini, professor and chair of the biology department, and Dr. Lauren Lunsford, associate professor of literacy in the education department and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, were recently awarded a Tennessee Higher Education Commission grant for their proposal “Cooking and Gardening: Strengthening Middle School Math Competencies Across the Disciplines.” Related Belmont faculty who are working on the project include: Dr. Sally Barton-Arwood and Kate McGowan (education), Dr. Kim Daus (chemistry), Dr. Ryan Fox (mathematics) and Dr. Bonnie Smith Whitehouse (English). The grant will fund a week-long institute for teachers during the summer of 2015 as well as books, a cooking kit, a gardening kit and ongoing support during the fall semester.
This is the second year in a row that this team of faculty have been awarded funds to provide professional development to teachers from four area school districts. The workshop that was held in the summer of 2014 is featured in an article in the Earthbox Education Newsletter this month. The Earthbox Gardening System can be used to grow produce virtually anywhere, and it will again be given to the participants in the 2015 workshop hosted by Belmont faculty members. The photo from the 2014 workshop shows Belmont faculty cooking together.
