BELLE — A Belle Elementary School (BES) paraprofessional on Aug. 21 was awarded a $500 Maggie Elder PEERS grant through the Missouri Retired Teachers’ Association (MRTA) - Foundation (MRTA-F).

Stacy Tellman was presented with a $500 check in her elementary school classroom on Aug. 21 by members of MRTA-F. Tellman is one of 712 applicants for the grant.

“This grant is part of the Foundation’s commitment to supporting outstanding educators who demonstrate a passion for enhancing the learning experience,” Maria Walden, MRTF board executive director, wrote in a press release.

“I’m always overwhelmed at the generosity of our retired members to support our active educators,” said Karen Miller, MRTA-F president.

The foundation gave seven $500 grants per each of the 14 MRTA Regions in the state.

The $500 grants are designed to bridge the gap and inspire continued excellence in education. When asked what she plans to use the grant for, Tellman said she and another teacher Caryl Koch are adding an outer space curriculum to the preschool classroom.

“After speaking with Mrs. Koch on what she would truly enjoy teaching in her preschool classroom, she quickly responded she would love to teach a unit on the solar system,” Tellman said. “Together, we compiled a wish list of items that we felt would provide an age-appropriate learning experience for our classes.”

Both educators agreed that preschoolers enjoy learning through explorative play and imagination. The wishlist for the unit is based on their knowledge of young minds. Most items are hands-on learning materials. As the preschool class participates in centers, the solar system unit has been added in the same style, which includes the following stimulus:

Dramatic play will be encouraged by setting up a learning center to look like the inside of a rocket ship. Students will have astronaut costumes to “blast off” into space. The rocket ship will include educational items, such as numbers and letters to identify, manipulatives, etc. that will be changed occasionally to ensure students have an interesting experience every time they visit the center.

A sensory table will be filled with black aquarium gravel, star pony beads, and glowing 3-D planets. The center will include string for the stringing beads, cups, and scoops for sorting and organizing the planets and beads, and tweezers for picking up the beads.

A math and science center will include the View-Master with Reels, a telescope, and possibly the space explorer set.

A fourth center will include a wooden stacking blocks puzzle, a solar system spy puzzle, and lacing cards to compliment the “Zoo in the Sky” book that describes the constellations.

Center five will include big blocks, shiny pie pans, and paint cans to engage students’ creativity.

Center six will include books on the topic. Once the books are read they will be added to the library for the preschoolers to read again. Funds permitting, a Solar System Flannel Board may also be added. Coloring books, crafts and worksheets may also be added to this center.

Teachers noted in their application that they did leave a small portion of the financial request open to cover teaching materials.

Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham said she is proud that the district’s teachers look outside the box for new curriculum and funding opportunities.

“We are very proud that Ms. Tellman and Ms. Koch worked together to put together this opportunity for their students,” Basham said. “We are excited for the kids and excited for the teachers. I think it is going to be a great addition to their preschool curriculum.”

MRTA-F has awarded $49,500 to 85 Missouri Public Schools, and 14 education projects.